sunrise elopement — M. Felt Photography | Destination Wedding Photographer - Zion National Park Weddings and Elopements

Imagine standing on top of a cliff overlooking the breathtaking views of Zion National Park, watching the mountains turn pink and purple as the sun rises. You are in your wedding attire, waiting to share a intimate first look with your bride or groom before the wedding ceremony. You have timed everything so that the light is at it’s most magical for this moment. No big deal right? Ha! Let’s walk through it.

Depending on the time of year the sun usually rises around 6am. It can take a 30 to 45 min to drive to the Canyon Overlook trailhead from Springdale and an additional 30-45 min to hike to the top of the Overlook. For those doing the math you may need to leave your hotel at 4:30 AM or earlier depending on how close you are staying. Leaving the hotel at 4:30 you say? That’s not awesome, but it is doable. Don’t forget that you are going to need to leave time for hair, makeup, oatmeal and coffee! What about when to put on the dress? Some brides hike in their dress, while others change at the top.

Are we starting to paint a picture?

The light at the top of Zion Canyon is absolutely stunning but it moves fast and can be tricky to shoot in at sunrise. So whenever you see an effortlessly beautiful bride standing on the edge of the canyon, please know that it didn’t just happen! We work closely with our couples to plan everything accordingly so we are in the right place at the right time for optimal light and views of the canyon.

One of the reasons that we love photographing elopements and weddings in Zion National Park is because of the type of couple that this place attracts. Julie and Kevin traveled across the entire US, bringing their closest friends and family. The entire group was up and ready at the crack of dawn to meet up with us in Springdale, Utah, located just outside Zion National Park. We caravanned up the canyon and began our hike to the top in the pitch black of early morning. Huge props to this crew for being on time and ready to go! The air was crisp and fresh and the stars were bright. A beautiful morning. It’s not a super difficult hike, but it can be a bit tricky in some spots, especially in the dark. Luckily we had the best crew and we got to the top of the canyon with a little bit of time to spare. Zion is absolutely magical before sunrise and it was worth it.

You need to have a wedding permit to get married or elope in Zion National Park and Canyon Overlook is not one of the permitted locations. We met up at sunrise just for the first look and photos afterwards and then chose a private location on BLM land that still opted for some great views of the canyon.

Julie is a bride that has a passion for film photography and requested that we cover the day with a lot of film. We are camera dorks that love documenting on film and so we brought out all of the cameras on this day! Both 35mm and medium format make an appearance in this gallery so we hope you enjoy. We got set up just in time for the magical light show of sunrise to begin. We love the way the sun starts to slowly fill the canyon with its light. The way it begins to turn on all the features of the canyon one by one as if on queue.

The type of couples planning their weddings and elopements in the beautiful desert of the southwest are looking for an experience that is bigger than them. There is something so lovely about the way it all unfolds. Zion National Park offers a drama and a sacredness that man can’t compete with. We can only place ourselves into these scenes and let nature change us with its elements. This morning was special and one that we feel privileged to use our cameras to bear witness to. Thank you to Julie and Kevin for inviting us to be a part of your wedding day!