How to Guide : Planning Zion National Park Weddings
The Ultimate Guide for Planning Zion National Park Weddings
(complete with pricing and photos)
If you are interested in planning Zion National Park Weddings this guide is for you! Once you walk amongst the red rock you will be in immediate awe and wonder of this magical place, thus making some awesome photos and memories! Amidst the natural beauty and marriage of sandstone cliffs and water are beautiful spots worthy of some awesome wedding photos. Read below for a breakdown of what you need to do before your wedding in Zion National Park.
Locations for Weddings at Zion National Park
Weddings at Zion National Park must adhere to the park’s regulations. You have to obtain a permit to have your ceremony at one of the six sanctioned Zion National Park wedding venues : the Temple of Sinewava, Menu Falls, Zion Lodge Lawn, Nature Center North Lawn, South Campground Amphitheater, and Timber Creek Overlook. There’s no likelihood of anyone getting permits for locations other than these. You can take photos anywhere else in the park, but wedding ceremonies must be in designated places.
After you have decided on the date(s), you can check the availability of the locations, and if they match your plans, you can continue with booking. Weddings at Zion National Park are best during spring when flowers are blooming and trees are budding, and if you’re lucky, the river water level is just about right. Summer is also great with all the greenery, but the crowds are twice as large. Therefore, if you wish to have an intimate wedding, summer might not be the best time to have it. Every other season can still be great. It all depends on what you prefer for your elopement.
Permits for Zion National Park Weddings
As with all national parks, Zion National Park weddings require a permit for the location chosen. It is always recommended to get permits for weddings in Zion National Park much earlier than you think to avoid any potential headaches. It is a minimum to get it at least 21 days ahead of time, but I highly recommend getting it as soon as you set a date. You will also need to have a marriage license with you during the event, and since it’s only valid for 30 days, get it after everything else is set. The wedding costs here are lower than elsewhere, so you can have your dream wedding at a dreamy cost too!
Vendors for Zion National Park Weddings
Working with an organized vendor who already knows the park makes things a lot easier. You can get a wedding planner to take care of every detail and choose your favorite photographer (hi!!!) to capture the special moments. The rest of your dream wedding team can have a stylist, florist, caterer, cake designer, officiant, and anyone else you need. Read the reviews on the vendors and get someone who can match your style and unique requirements. Some planners and vendors are available locally, while others may need to fly in.
If you are wanting some awesome candid photography for your once in a lifetime wedding celebration, please CONTACT ME to discuss ideas!
Suggested Hikes in Zion National Park
The beauty of Zion National Park doesn’t just lie in having an elopement, but also the many options to hike! Ones that I have done and personally recommend include Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, Emerald Pools, and Canyon Overlook.
Conclusion
After getting married, you have to explore the rest of Zion National Park. Take as many photos on creeks, canyons, and other beautiful spots as you like. Afterward, you can have cocktails at any of the nearby resorts or tacos at the Whiptail Grill.
As a side note, you can have your wedding outside of Zion National Park, especially if you have more guests than they’ll allow in the actual ceremony. There are plenty of places you can choose from, which offer the same magical taste of Zion National Park. Some places worth considering include St. George and Springdale, whic are just a short drive from the park.
If you would like to have a Zion National Park wedding, please CONTACT ME to discuss ideas!
20+ Places for an Elopement in San Francisco
20+ Best Places for an Elopement in San Francisco Ultimate Guide to the 20+ Best Places for an Elopement in San Francisco(with prices, photos, and packages) Eloping and curious about the best places for an elopement in San Francisco? Want to say your vows in the outdoors but don’t want to drive too far away from the City? Elopement locations in San Francisco range from redwoods to rooftops, and choosing a venue setting can be just as varied. While everyone raves about Yosemite or Lake Tahoe (with good reason), the reality is we don’t always have the time or desire to drive several hours one way to get married. This being said, I created this list of best places for an elopement in San Francisco (and locations outside of San Francisco proper) to help those who still desire an intimate and beautiful location in the San Francisco Bay Area for their wedding. If you would like to see what an elopement might look like, check out these full galleries from previous Bay Area elopements: SF City Hall Elopement (Mayor’s Balcony)SF City Hall Elopement (Rotunda)Golden Gate Park ElopementOld Mill Park ElopementMuir Woods ElopementMarin Civic Center ElopementHastings House Garden Weddings Elopement Where to Elope in San Francisco – My Top Picks 1) Muir Woods2) Shelldance Orchid Gardens 3) San Francisco City Hall4) Palace of Fine Arts5) Filoli Gardens 6) The Mountain Terrace7) Hastings House Garden Weddings8) San Francisco Botanical Garden9) Shakespeare Garden10) Deer Park Villa Where to Elope in San Francisco – My Top Picks 1) San Francisco City Hall Marriage License : $110Ceremony Fee : $901 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA 94102 This is easily the most popular and best place to elope in San Francisco hands down. The stunning interior and exterior rival actual wedding venues and its centrally located in SF so you can easily explore the City afterwards. With over 200 weddings photographed here, I always strive to give you images that aren’t so cookie cutter and like anyone else’s. If you want to keep things as simple as possible, let San Francisco City Hall do it all for you! They will provide the officiant, standard vows, and your ceremony will be done in less than 5 minutes. Check out my Ultimate Guide to San Francisco City Hall Weddings for more detailed information! 2) Palace of Fine Arts Reservation Fee : $506Hourly Rate (2 hr min) : $144Refundable Deposit : $5003601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123 One of the most recognizable landmarks and best places for an elopement in San Francisco, the Palace of Fine Arts is known for its rotunda and architecture in the heart of San Francisco. For such a popular and ornate location, just having your ceremony is surprisingly affordable since it belongs to SF Park and Rec. Take a look at my ultimate guide to a Palace of Fine Arts Wedding for more detailed information! 3) Stern Grove (currently unavailable – under construction 2022) Reservation Fee : $50 – $150Hourly Rate (6 hr min) : $153 – $178Outside Fees : $200Refundable Deposit : $75019th Avenue and, Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132 Locals will know this location for its free summer concerts, but for most of the year it is a quiet park that occasionally holds smaller weddings. This park sits near the edge of the City and offers a small redwood grove seemingly meant for intimate weddings. The Trocadero Clubhouse can also be rented out if you want to host a little reception as well. Since it’s not the most centrally located SF venue on this list, it is one of the more forgotten wedding venues, which makes it one of the best places for an elopement in San Francisco in my opinion. Check out my “Ultimate Guide to a Stern Grove Wedding” for more details! 4) Shakespeare Garden Reservation Fee : $506Hourly Rate (2 hr min) : $144Refundable Deposit : $500335 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118 One of the more popular and best places for an elopement in San Francisco, this small garden in Golden Gate Park allows a great setting for an intimate place to say your vows. Because of its size and isolation from the other more popular gardens, this is a preferred setting for those wanting a more natural background with less natural foot traffic compared to the Botanical Gardens. Check out this Shakespeare Garden Wedding for inspiration! https://youtu.be/JIF4ytamSm0 CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS YOUR ELOPEMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO 5) San Francisco Botanical Garden Reservation Fee : $875 – $10,000 (5 locations to choose from)Golden Gate Park1199 9th Ave San Francisco, CA, 94122 This well manicured Garden in the middle of Golden Gate Park is a passed over gem from even San Francisco residents. With 55 acres showcasing plants from all over the world, they offer the perfect natural backdrop for your wedding ceremony. Several locations within the Garden are available for your elopement, with even a 1 hour rental package available. The more popular places to elope are the Moon Viewing Garden and the Redwood Grove. Check out my SF Botanical Garden wedding planning guide for inspiration 6) Fay Park Reservation Fee : $289Hourly Rate (2 hr min) : $72Refundable Deposit : $5002366 Leavenworth St, San Francisco, CA 94133 Located a short walk from the crooked street that is Lombard St, this small park has gazebos that act as natural backdrops for your elopement. Blocks away from North Beach and the Marina districts, it is conveniently located in between two of San Francisco’s more popular areas for food and nightlife. If you are wondering the less known places for an elopement in San Francisco this elopement venue is not as popular for now so take advantage of it while you can! Check out this previous Fay Park elopement gallery for inspiration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf42y9sNZRk 7) Fuchsia Dell Reservation Fee : $289Hourly Rate (2 hr min) : $72Refundable Deposit : $500Conservatory Drive E, San Francisco, CA 94117 This site is a hidden area in San Francisco right next to the Conservatory of Flowers. With the Conservatory garnering all the attention, it is easy to miss this secret garden in Golden
Elope to Tennessee – Where and How to Elope
Elope to Tennessee – Ultimate Planning Guide (updated 2025) The Ultimate “How to” Wedding Planning Guide to Elope to Tennessee(complete with pricing, paperwork, and locations) Many couples choose to elope in Tennessee because of its spectacular natural beauty, diverse culture, art, cuisine, and, most importantly, its picturesque wedding venues. You will find a wide range of destinations – it doesn’t matter whether you’re eloping to a town or headed for the mountains. Why Elope to Tennessee Tennessee is among my favorite elopement destinations, with its southern charm and a great party and music scene in the music capital of the world in Nashville. The following is an ultimate wedding planning guide that should help answer any and all questions you may have if you decide to elope to Tennessee. How to Elope in Tennessee – Legal Stuff Eloping is exciting and enjoyable, and what makes it even better is if its in an ideal location. So, if you’ve set your heart to elope to Tennessee and decide to marry in one of the breathtaking wedding venues in Tennessee, you’ll need to look into some laws as well. The legal age to get married is 18 years old. Also, you have to go to the county office. Only after that, you will be able to apply for your marriage certificate. You and your partner must present valid identity proof and your SSN- social security number. There is no waiting period as the marriage certificate is issued immediately. Your marriage must be ordained by a legally ordained officiant. The State of Tennessee does not accept weddings that have been officiated by a person ordained online. If you decide to elope in TN, there is no requirement of any witness, and only the legal officiant is sufficient. How to Get to Tennessee If you want to elope to Tennessee, you should fly into the Nashville International Airport or Memphis International Airport. Both are not far away from the city. You could also rent a car to visit nearby towns. Best Time of the Year to Elope to Tennessee Because Tennessee has such a diverse culture, it hosts various events and festivals. So, first and foremost, you must examine the calendar for significant events. The weather here varies slightly from east to west, but it has a mild climate. All the four seasons have their advantages. Most couples prefer the fall to get married here. So September, October, and November are the best months to elope in Tennessee. The weather is beautiful, and the temperature is just beginning to drop. The trees are aesthetic then and it makes the perfect backdrop for your beautiful wedding photos. Best Places to Elope in Tennessee Elope in Gatlinburg Tennessee If you’re a fan of beautiful mountain scenery and love a mix of adventure, Gatlinburg has it all. Known as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg sits near the border with North Carolina. Visitors will enjoy beautiful mountain views and miles of hiking trails. A variety of museums, restaurants, and attractions also await. If you’re a couple that love to ski or snowboard, Gatlinburg sports several ski resorts. This