Arches National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in the U.S. and has become a top destination for adventure weddings as well! It's understandable too, because its unique features and red rocks make it a stunning backdrop for photos. It's certainly a beautiful experience being there in person, which is truly something that you want to remember of your wedding day.
When Adilene & Servando reached out to me to document their wedding day, they already had their minds set on this park, and we can all agree that it was a great decision! They were married in November, which is the "off-season" for Moab tourism, so fewer visitors and no timed entry passes are necessary (something they've implemented in the popular months to offset the increased visitation). But, the best part of getting married that time of year in Southern Utah is the weather! The temperatures were great that afternoon and the sun was shining, so it kept us warm until just before the sun went down.
Adilene & Servando were married in a beautiful ceremony right in front of the Double Arches in the windows district of the park. Their ceremony was the perfect fusion of sweet, funny, romantic, and emotional! As Adilene was being escorted down the "aisle" by her parents, her siblings helped carry the train of her dress down the trail so that it wouldn't get dirty quite yet. Though it wasn't thought out this way initially, I thought it was SO sweet that her whole family got to walk her to her husband. Servando, initially turned away, looked back at exactly the right moment to see his bride looking absolutely stunning, and they were all smiles from there! His brother officiated the ceremony, and while watching their family members' faces, I could tell that everyone was overjoyed to be there and share those moments with them. They became husband and wife and everyone celebrated with a round of tequila shots! Their families then went on to enjoy the park and relax until dinner, while I stole the bride & groom for a fun little adventure together.
After some photos around Double Arch, we set off for a small hike on the Park Ave trail, which took us through a gorgeous canyon of red rocks! As we made our way along the trail, we took photos with different geological features, and I was snapping pics anytime they felt inspired to be romantic (which was pretty much the whole time!) I loved seeing how in love they were that day, and how they embraced the fun, relaxed, and spontaneous nature of eloping! They were truly enjoying spending time with each other, which you really aren't able to do on a traditional wedding day.
At the bottom of the gorge, when the location felt right, they exchanged private vows that they had written for each other. I love this for couples because when you have an audience, you often feel compelled to suppress thoughts, feelings, inside jokes, and emotions, but when you save your vows for just the two of you, you're able to truly express yourself and your love for that person. (P.s. Even though I'm lurking around, taking photos, and getting different angles, I am so focused on the job that I'm not absorbing one word you're saying to each other. So rest assured, whatever you're saying is still for your ears only!)
Just before sunset, we made our way back to The Windows district so we could catch that dreamy golden hour glow when the natural colors of the environment lit up with vibrance. The moon was showing in the North Window arch perfectly as we were approaching it, and helped create some of my favorite photos from this year! They stood under the arch, and Servando covered Adilene with his arms to keep her warm because the temps dropped pretty quickly as the sun started to go. The wind was also trying to take away her veil, which probably gave everyone in the area laugh, but I'm a sucker for a dramatic veil-blowing moment so we embraced it! We headed back to the cars so they could set off for dinner with their guests, but snagged one last amazing shot of the moon overhead, and it was such a dreamy shot to end with!
Not everyone gets to say that their wedding day was their "best day ever". Are they all great days? Yes. But when you plan your wedding so that you're spending quality time with your favorite person, doing things that you love to do together in a beautiful place, you can truly say "wow, this was the best." I had a wonderful time with Adilene, Servando, and their family members on their wedding day! I'm so happy to have been there to document every moment for them to remember for years to come, and to share this experience with them.
Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey!
Read Next:
Hey there! I'm Carly D'Angelo-Hall - a photographer specializing in documenting weddings and elopements across the U.S. If you love the idea of a wedding with adventure, excitement, and a little romance sprinkled in, let's talk about how I can help you create and capture the wedding day of your dreams! Visit wildnorthweddings.com to view all-inclusive wedding day and adventure session packages, and fill out the contact form to get connected!
Southern Utah Wedding Photographer - Photographing weddings in St. George, Moab, Salt Lake City, Arches National Park, Zion National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and more!
