The groom in a cowboy hat embraces the bride on a sandstone ledge at Dead Horse Point State Park above a desert canyon

Dead Horse State Park Elopement

Elopements

12/08/24

A fall elopement in Moab & a reception at Sunset Grille

Moab is the perfect backdrop to have your adventure wedding. Between the arches, vast landscapes, sunsets & starry skies there’s no shortage of epic and breathtaking views to say “I Do’ in. As your Moab wedding photographer, I’m on your team from day one. From permits to timelines I help bring your unique vision to life. I prioritize intentional moments filled with love and capture the best day exactly how it feels. I’ll help you plan the most unforgettable day that feels like you, and document your adventure in a way that feels like art.

The groom in a cowboy hat embraces the bride on a sandstone ledge at Dead Horse Point State Park above a desert canyon

M & M are adventurers at heart and wanted their wedding to reflect that. Moab is one of their happy places and they loved it so much they came out from Northern Nevada and brought their closest friends and family to celebrate with them. They had a peaceful morning getting ready and then an intimate first look at dead horse state park.

Wedding stationery with a Moab Arches National Park card, a dried flower bouquet, leather boots and silver jewelry on cowhide
A silver ring with a turquoise stone rests on a dried flower bouquet with yellow strawflowers and red roses
Close-up of a silver squash blossom necklace set with turquoise stones on a cowhide rug
A squash blossom necklace laid out on cowhide beside a dried bouquet and a pair of leather heeled boots
A family member ties the crisscross straps on the back of the bride's lace wedding gown
Black and white close-up of hands lacing up the open back of the bride's lace dress

Sunlight falls on the bride as she sits in a leather armchair putting on her shoes, her lace train across the floor
The bride, with tattoos down her arm, slips on a leather heeled mule while getting ready
Wearing a wide-brim hat, the bride fastens layered silver and turquoise beaded necklaces

The bride adjusts her felt hat in profile, showing her tattooed arm and the open back of her gown
The bride smiles out a window as she puts in an earring, wearing a tan wide-brim hat
Seen from above, the bride walks down a carpeted staircase holding her hat

The bride and groom stand apart on the rim of Dead Horse Point before their first look, canyon spread out below
The couple holds hands at the canyon overlook during their first look in Dead Horse Point State Park

The bride smiles back at the groom as he reaches for her during their first look on the canyon edge
The bride and groom hug tightly in their hats with the red canyon walls of Dead Horse Point behind them
Black and white portrait of the couple standing on top of a sandstone pedestal above the canyon
The groom dips the bride for a kiss as she holds a hat beside their faces above the canyon
Holding her hat, the bride leads the groom by the hand along the edge of the canyon rim
The bride and groom smile at the camera in front of large red sandstone boulders near Moab

The couple stands together on a layered red rock ledge with boulders behind and a canyon view to the left
The bride, hat in hand, faces the groom at the canyon edge with miles of Moab desert behind them

The groom tips his hat while standing on stepped sandstone in suspenders and a boutonniere
The bride and groom clink drinks together on the canyon rim at Dead Horse Point
The bride grins and holds the brim of her hat, her braids and beaded necklaces in the desert light

After settling some wedding day excitement and cracking a cold beer, we headed to Sunset Grille for a ceremony with their friends and family and reception. Sunset Grille is a great option for small receptions, it has a private space and overlooks the valley in Moab and perfect for sunsets and city lights. These two had such a fun reception including a fun surprise performance from the bride’s mom!

The bride walks down stone steps beneath a large tree toward her ceremony at Sunset Grille in Moab
The groom beams as he waits at the ceremony site in his hat and suspenders, officiant behind him
The bride is walked down a grass aisle by a man in a cowboy hat and a woman, holding her bouquet
The couple faces each other with the officiant in front of a wooden mountain-shaped arch overlooking Moab
A guest holds a small round wooden ring box during the ceremony
The bride and groom share their first kiss in front of a wooden mountain arch with red cliffs beyond

The newlyweds laugh as they walk back up the aisle hand in hand after the ceremony
A guest table with a wooden card box, leather guest book and an unplugged ceremony sign
A table set with a wine bottle bearing a custom photo label of the couple and an amber jar with fairy lights
The couple embraces beside the wooden arch, where a lit national park style welcome sign hangs
A wooden tray s'mores bar with marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars and small burners
The groom lifts the bride in a hug in front of the wooden mountain arch on the Sunset Grille deck

The bride wraps her arms around the groom during their first dance on the reception patio
Guests gather at the Sunset Grille reception under string lights as a pink sunset fills the sky

A bartender hands a guest a bottle of beer over a bar lined with liquor bottles
Two loaves of bread on a wooden cutting board with small cups of butter on a reception table
Guests dine along a long table beneath a tree wrapped in lights as dusk falls over the mountains

The couple cuts a white wedding cake hand-painted with colorful wildflowers
The bride feeds the groom a bite of cake under trees wrapped in string lights
The couple kisses beside their wildflower cake at the nighttime reception

Three performers in sparkly costumes sing into microphones and point to the sky during a surprise performance

The bride and groom laugh from their seats with guests as they watch the reception performance
A performer in a sequined top dances with a microphone and tambourine as others sing behind her
The groom and the bride, now wearing an orange feather boa, dance by the wooden arch at night

A performer in a sequined outfit sings alongside the bride on the reception dance floor
The groom laughs as the bride dances in a feather boa while performers and guests watch
A performer in a silver sequined top dances with the groom, who wears a feather boa

The groom raises the bride's hand to twirl her on the dance floor as guests dance nearby