Doug and Riley’s elopement has us a little lost for words. Just… WOW. After 10 years together, they chose to say ‘I do’ among the sculptural red rock formations of Moab, set within Utah’s high desert region. It’s a landscape so striking it feels almost otherworldly. Safe to say, we’ll be mentally filing this spot away under ‘cool places to get married’. “We fell in love with Moab years ago and had previously taken our golden retriever, Nyx, on the Corona Arch hike. Moab has always held such a special meaning for us. We knew it would be the perfect spot for our ceremony,” share the couple, who called on Adventure + Vow photography to capture the breathtaking beauty of the day.
The newlyweds admit in hindsight that they may not have been entirely transparent about the intensity of the hike their 10 guests would experience on the journey to this awe-inspiring location. “What we described as a ‘short hike’ included a section of the trail that required some minor rock climbing.” But, as Doug and Riley say, everyone made the trek safely, and while they were just a little sweatier than originally planned, “it only added to the adventure and made the day that much more memorable.”
Connect with wedding suppliers who specialise in magical elopements and micro-weddings on the Hello May wedding directory. Or, if this wed has got you feeling wanderlust, explore honeymoon destinations we can’t stop thinking about. But first, scroll on for Doug and Riley’s highlights’n’happy snaps.
DESERT WEDDING | DESTINATION ELOPEMENT IN UTAH
“The inspiration was actually pretty simple after deciding that we would do it in Moab. We wanted two things: first, for our dog Nyx to be part of it, and second, for the day to truly be about us. Once we were clear on those priorities, every other decision felt easy and naturally fell into place.”
WEDDING MORNING | DESERT EXPLORING
“We feel really fortunate that we got to spend several days in Moab exploring before our guests arrived. We really value our 1-on-1 time. Some of our favourite memories from the day of the elopement were getting Nyx ready for the ceremony, hiking to the Corona Arch with our guests, saying our vows, and the sand ceremony. The sunset hike back after the ceremony was also magical.”
MONOCHROMATIC TONES | COMFORTABLE WEDDING SUITS
“We knew we wanted our look to be monochromatic from head to toe. Riley chose grey, and Doug went with a darker beige. The tones complemented each other beautifully and blended perfectly with the natural backdrop of the Moab desert. We both love Theory and immediately fell in love with how comfortable the suits were — especially since our adventure photoshoot had us walking and exploring throughout the day. Style was important, but comfort was key.”
MEMORABLE ELOPEMENT MOMENTS | ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
“I know it may sound cliché, but our wedding day truly was the best day of our lives. Our favourite moment was reciting our vows to one another, with our dog lying peacefully between us the entire time. The feeling in that moment was indescribable. It was so spiritual and filled with love, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us. Everything felt absolutely perfect. The air felt completely still, the sun was shining so bright, and there was this overwhelming sense of peace. Traci and Bill (Adventure + Vow), our elopement photographers, made the entire experience seamless and unforgettable. They captured the magic of the day while allowing us to be fully present in every moment.”
THE PARK CITY RECEPTION | POST-ELOPEMENT CELEBRATION
“After Moab we met the rest of our wedding party in Park City, UT where we held our dinner reception and events for the rest of the weekend.”
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer & Officiant Adventure + Vow Ceremony Venue Corona Arch State Park Reception Venue Palomino, Riverhorse on Main Hair Anti-gravity Salon Makeup Pilars Vanity Aesthetician Brows by Lauren Baye Wedding Invites Scriptura Engagement Party Fire House Loft Suit jackets, pants & Shirts Theory Shoes Christian Louboutin Rings Cartier
