Zion National Park Wedding Locations
If you're looking to get married and you're confused about the Zion National Park wedding location options, we're here to help! We're a local Zion elopement photography team and we've helped over 200 couples plan and document their special day in this incredible landscape! Between Zion's six wedding locations and the wealth of options in the surrounding area, we can help you find the perfect spot!
“Their constant support, positivity and calm demeanor made us feel extremely confident in them especially since we were planning this entire experience from across the country.” — Jerebelle, read full review
Where can you get married in Zion National Park?
Planning an adventure wedding or elopement in Zion National Park always starts with this question. The National Park has strict regulations for where marriage ceremonies, no matter how small, can occur. If you are making a legal commitment of marriage or your ceremony has the appearance of a ceremony (like including an officiant and/or guests) your ceremony falls under these regulations. To have your ceremony in the Park, you'll need to pick from one of the six sanctioned locations and apply for a permit:
#1 The Temple of Sinewava
Nestled amidst the narrowing canyon along the Virgin River, the Temple of Sinewava offers a beautiful setting for small weddings. For more info about the Temple of Sinewava, check out our full guide here!
#2 Menu Falls
This little oasis in the Park is an ideal location for couples wanting a very small ceremony with a little bit of privacy. Check out our full guide to Menu Falls here.
#3 Zion Lodge Lawn
Surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs and majestic cottonwood trees, the Zion Lodge Lawn offers a breathtaking backdrop for a wedding ceremony and boasts one of the largest group limits of the six. See more on our full guide to the Zion Lodge Lawn
#4 Nature Center North Lawn
While it's only available during the off-season, the Nature Center North Lawn offers a conveniently accessible location with a moderate group size. (Our full guide for this location is coming soon!)
#5 South Campground Amphitheater
(Currently closed for construction) The South Campground Amphitheater boasts the large group size and a space with built in seating, making it one of the most convenient location options! (Our full guide for this location is coming soon!)
#6 Timber Creek Overlook
Timber Creek Overlook is the only wedding location in the Kolob Canyons section of the Park. It's small group limit makes it ideal for small ceremonies with huge views! (Our full guide for this location is coming soon!)
Can I have my reception in Zion National Park?
Not really. None of the locations above have spaces that would be able to hold a reception and the permit restricts you from providing food service and amplified sound. If your reception involves hanging out with family and friends around a bonfire, you could reserve the group sites in the Watchman Campground! Aside from that, if you want to have a reception, you’ll need to look into venues outside of the Park for that!
Is a ceremony inside of Zion National Park right for you?
Having your ceremony inside of Zion may be a good fit for you if you resonate with any of the following:
Zion National Park is meaningful to you and it’s important to you to be physically inside the Park for your ceremony
Your group fits within the limit for the location you like best
You love the views at one of the six wedding locations
You don’t mind sharing the space with other visitors (Permits do not grant exclusive use of the approved wedding area)
You don’t mind managing the extra logistics of getting married in the Park, including riding the shuttles when required.
However, it may not be a good fit for you if you want any of the following for your ceremony:
Privacy - Permits do not allow for exclusive access to the wedding area and we rarely get these spaces all to ourselves.
Amplified Music - Your permit explicitly prohibits amplified sound in the National Park, this includes music and any public address system for your officiant, as an example.
You want your ceremony and reception at the same location.
You don’t want to deal with using the shuttles to get to your ceremony.
If you’re beginning to feel like maybe a ceremony inside the Park isn’t a good fit for you, no need to worry! Keep reading, we have lots of alternatives for you to consider!
Alternative Locations Inside of Zion National Park
We've made multiple attempts over the years to get approval for other locations inside the park, but with no success. To quote the permitting officer, "We will under no circumstances approve special use permits for locations that are not the approved wedding locations."
Can we just do it if we don’t get caught?
No. The consequences for getting caught without a special use permit or operating outside of the regulations for your permit can be up to a $5000 fine and possibly jail time. Plus, it would be a huge vibe killer to have your ceremony interrupted by a ranger. So, it's best to not risk it and stick to the rules.
Aside from the consequences, we firmly believe in the mission of the National Parks. They are not wedding venues, the Park Service's role is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for as many visitors as possible. We culturally give weddings a lot of space, so having a wedding ceremony will naturally impact the experience of other visitors. The Park has chosen to limit that impact to the sanctioned locations.
What about wedding photos in Zion?
The good news is, those regulations only apply to ceremonies. For portraits, we are allowed to go anywhere the general public is allowed without a permit. So we can still get to your favorite trail or view in Zion and take epic portraits in your wedding clothes!
So what if you don't love the six options for ceremonies in the Park? We got you! We have a ton of scenic locations outside of the National Park boundaries where we can do ceremonies! We offer personalized location recommendations for your ceremony and portraits, all specially tailored to you and your elopement!
“Kyle and Tori take care of every detail, help you pick wonderful locations and when taking pictures make you feel like the world is standing still with only the 2 of us in it.” — Erin, read full review
The Perfect Venue for your Zion Wedding
If you're planning a destination wedding with guests or you want a guaranteed spot with amenities, we have some great options for venues near Zion National Park! Booking a venue makes it easier to have things like an arbor, chairs for your guests, tables for your reception, etc. The more set up involved, the more difficult it's going to be to get a permit for a location on public land. Plus, when you rent a venue, you get a guaranteed spot with no one else around, something that can't be said for any of our options on public land!
Venues near Zion National Park
These venues are able to accommodate your ceremony and/ or your reception. Some can host everything in the same spot, which can simplify your logistics for your wedding day. All of these options would work great as a reception spot after your ceremony in the National Park or other public land! Some of these venues even offer lodging on site!
Anu Restaurant
This restaurant is located in the Hotel De Novo in Springdale and offers a Peruvian inspired menu (it's one of Kyle's favorite dinner spots in Springdale!). They have private rooms and a banquet area that would be perfect for your reception! Plus, you'll have access to incredible drinks from the Wilder Lounge! (Get in touch with us to get the contact info for receptions here!)
Located 30 minutes from the East Entrance of Zion in the nearby town of Kanab, Angel's Landing is a natural amphitheater formed by the same red rock Zion is famous for. The amphitheater is located in the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill animal rescue refuge (and where we got Juniper!) This is a beautiful venue for both your ceremony and reception!
Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon
This restaurant is a local favorite, serving southwestern faire with ample outdoor seating, a stage, taco food truck, and open lawn area all in one spot! The stage and taco truck area are perfect for small receptions and the open lawn is perfect for a ceremony!
Cliffrose Lodge
As part of the Hilton Curio Collection, the Cliffrose Lodge is one of Springdale's most luxury hotel experiences. They have a gorgeous lawn by the Virgin River with views of one of Zion's towering red rock peaks in the background. They have a variety of reception area options as well!
Nestled in the Elkheart Mountains, 25 minutes from Zion's east entrance, East Zion Resort's manicured 73-acre private estate can accommodate up to 300 guests outdoors, up to 100 guests in their 1500 sqft. event tent, and up to 36 people in on-site lodging.
The Gathering
This reception space is conveniently located in the heart of Springdale, just 5 minutes from the Park's main entrance and located by a town shuttle stop. The large event space can accommodate groups of up to 150 people indoor and up to 250 when incorporating the 1200 sqft outdoor courtyard. Black Walnut Events, the owner of the space, also offers onsite catering and two nearby options for ceremonies.
Open Sky Zion
This luxury glamping resort is 25 minutes from Zion's main entrance. It features an onsite restaurant and close access to a variety of public land, this spot is the perfect getaway for a small wedding or elopement.
Rising Moon Ranch
This 23 acre ranch is located 20 minutes from Zion's east entrance. The ranch has 360 views and a plethora of options for your ceremony. They also have a big event tipi that can accommodate 70 people, in house event rentals, an airstream bar, a homestead cabin, and views for days!
Situated below the views of the Black Ridge and Pine Valley Mountains, this wedding venue in Toquerville, UT is 20 minutes from Zion's main entrance. This venue offers an indoor/outdoor event space with enough space for up to 125 guests. They also have 1 onsite AirBnB that has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
This historic family ranch sits on top of Smith Mesa, one of the mesas that forms the Virgin River Valley, and offers views of Zion's northern peaks. This is a primitive venue, there are no amenities accept for a few porta-potties spread out around the property. The road to this venue is often rough when it's dry and impassable when it's wet. What it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in some of the most breathtaking views of Zion!
Zen Nest
This luxury rental sits on the edge of the Cedar Breaks rock formations that closely resemble Bryce Canyon. The property consists of two houses that when rented together can accommodate groups of 20 guests. The property is 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Zion's east entrance and 1 hour and 5 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park.
Zion Wildflower Resort
This luxury rental sits on the edge of the Cedar Breaks rock formations that closely resemble Bryce Canyon. The property consists of two houses that when rented together can accommodate groups of 20 guests. The property is 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Zion's east entrance and 1 hour and 5 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park.
Zion Zen Ranch
This collection of two beautiful homes in Leeds, UT can sleep 51 people when combined! Located 45 minutes from the Park's main entrance, it overlooks the Washington County Valley with views all the way out to the Arizona Strip and the Pine Valley Mountains!
Some local venues are restrictive on vendors they allow to work on site and charge vendors fees to work on site. We currently are able to work at all of the local venues, but have to charge accordingly when we are charged a commission to work on site.So what if you're planning a simple adventure elopement and you want something a little more wild?
Elopement Locations Near Zion
If you're looking for something a little more unique and you want to let the scenery be your decorations, then it's time we start looking at the incredible options we have available to us on public land around Zion! The land outside of the park boundaries is managed by a variety of agencies, primarily the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. Generally, the permitting requirements are much more relaxed for these agencies, though that is not a universal rule. The requirements will depend on the location and the agency's policy for that specific area. If you work with us, you'll get to access our deep local knowledge of the surrounding area to help you find the perfect Zion elopement location!
“Kyle and Tori's extensive knowledge allowed us to schedule our day so it felt like we had the park to ourselves at times - we even had some portrait locations completely to ourselves. They are prepared for everything!” — Mack, read full review
Your Zion Elopement Experts
Exploring the Greater Zion area is easily one of our favorite past times. We'll take just about any excuse to adventure down some random dirt road to find epic views. Our library of locations is always growing (currently, it's over 150 unique spots!), this area offers a seemingly endless variety! Whether you're looking for a secluded slot canyon, rolling sand dunes, or sweeping views of the Virgin River Valley, we'll help you pick the perfect place to elope!
How do we get access to your location library?
By working with us! We invest a lot of time in exploring this beautiful area, so we have locations in our library that many other photographers don't know about. Many of them have names we made up because they don't exist on any maps! Most of these locations have little to no infrastructure and wouldn't be able to handle an influx of people. So, in keeping with Leave No Trace ethics, we reserve our specific location information for clients who have booked with us.
If you're looking for a Zion wedding expert to help you make the most of your time here and help you find the coolest locations, we're just an email away from getting started!
For more tips on getting married in Zion National Park, be sure to check out our full guide to eloping in Zion!
In the meantime, check out all of these amazing ceremony locations we have in our library!
Looking for a Zion National Park Elopement Photographer? We’ll you’ve come to the right place!
