Eloping at the Utah Bonneville Salt Flats
When two people are ready to run away together, there’s something so beautiful about capturing that moment in time. For this young couple, the vast and stunning Utah Bonneville Salt Flats became the perfect backdrop for their intimate elopement. It was a day filled with love, joy, and the kind of quiet connection that only comes when you're surrounded by breathtaking beauty and the person you’re about to marry.
“You’ve chosen to run away to this breathtaking place, where the earth stretches forever- a symbol of your life from the beginning to the end. There’s no audience here, no distractions, just the two of you and the love that brought you here.”- a small glimpse into their ceremony script.
The Salt Flats: A Perfect Setting for an Elopement
When most people think of Utah, they picture a variety of terrains: the fiery red rocks of the desert, the glistening snow capped mountains, and the large alpine trees that dot the higher elevations. But there is another, more unworldly landscape to experience in Utah. The Bonneville Salt Flats. This otherworldly terrain, with its vast white expanse, offers a dramatic setting unlike anywhere else.
We parked at the westbound rest area, the starting point for this afternoon elopement. The landscape stretched out before us, a mesmerizing design of salt patterns leading to the brown, purple, blue and white mountains. We slowed down enough that every exchanging glance between the couple was meaningful and full of love, gratitude and honor that in a short time, they will be married.
For a unique and personal touch, the couple brought their own arch, a beautiful frame for their vows. To add a playful element, they attached small disco balls to the arch. The sparkle and shine of the disco balls complemented the surroundings of the Salt Flats, blending fun and elegance into their ceremony setup.
A Quiet, Intimate Ceremony
Because the Salt Flats are public land, we didn’t need a permit to hold the ceremony and take portraits, making the experience even more relaxed and natural. My husband, Jace, who is an ordained officiant, had the honor of writing their ceremony script and marrying this wonderful couple. It was a deeply personal and meaningful ceremony, one that reflected their quiet connection.
This couple knew exactly what they wanted: a private, intimate celebration. While they loved their family and friends, they preferred to share their vows only with each other and the breathtaking landscape around them. The way they loved one another, with intensity and joy, was a beautiful sight to witness.
A Joyful Celebration
The day was simple but magical. After getting ready at an Airbnb, they traveled to the Salt Flats and made their vows beneath their custom arch. They kissed, ran around, laughed, and celebrated in their own way. They were free to touch, embrace, and simply enjoy each other’s company in a peaceful and joyful setting.
This elopement was a true reflection of their love: unhurried, unfiltered, and entirely their own. It was a moment they could savor forever, knowing that they chose this day, this place, and this feeling for themselves.
It was an elopement worth celebrating—a day that was as joyful as it was serene, filled with a kind of quiet beauty only found in places like the Bonneville Salt Flats and the kind of love between two people who, more than anything, just want to be married.
