In this blog, I’ll share some of my tips for planning your Bonneville Salt Flats elopement. As a wedding photographer who has worked in Utah many times, I’ve learned a few things about eloping at the Salt Flats in Utah!
The Bonneville Salt Flats is one of the most unique landscapes in Utah and possibly all of the U.S. Over the last few years, it has become a popular elopement location for couples. It’s no surprise why – it’s absolutely stunning!
Keep reading to learn all my tips for planning your Bonneville Salt Flats elopement!
Where are the Bonneville Salt Flats?
The Bonneville Salt Flats are 30,000 acres of densely packed salt located in Utah. It’s right off I-80 on the Utah Nevada border. It’s obviously a HUGE space so it’s easy to feel like you’re alone even if there’s lots of other people out there too.
For this elopement, we spent most of the time at the Pink Lake at Bonneville Salt Flats.
How do get to the Bonneville Salt Flats?
If you’re flying in from out of state, you’ll most likely fly into Salt Lake City. Then from Salt Lake it’s about a 1 hour and 30 minutes drive on I-80 west of the city. You’ll take exit 4 and follow signs for the Speedway. You can also put “Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway” in your GPS.
Once you’re there, you can actually drive out onto the salt flats! But depending on the season of year and area you’re in, there can be closed sections. You cannot drive out on the salt flats when it’s flooded. I have heard of people getting stuck in the salt when it’s too soft, so be sure to do your own research before driving out onto the salt flats. If you don’t want to drive on the salt flats, you can park at the Bonneville Salt Flats Westbound Rest Stop. You can park at that rest area and walk out if you don’t feel comfortable driving!
When is the best time of year for a Bonneville Salt Flats elopement?
As I mention above, you cannot drive onto the salt flats when they have water on them. So the best time to elope at the Salt Flats is in summer or fall when it’s dry season! The spring tends to be quite rainy so you usually can’t drive out onto the flats. Although, when the flats are slightly flooded, the reflection in the water on the salt makes for stunning photos! Just be prepared that you will have to walk out (not drive).
When it comes to the exact timing, I would recommend a weekday at sunset for two reasons. Sunset out on the Bonneville Salt Flats is absolutely magical. Weekdays tend to be less busy than weekends so it’s a safer bet for your elopement day, especially if you don’t want to drive far out onto the salt flats. But even if you see a crowd, you can usually keep driving to find a more private spot!
One more thing to consider is the schedule for Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). You do NOT want to plan your elopement on one of those days. You can check the event calendar here.
How do you elope at the Bonneville Salt Flats?
To get married (or elope) at the Bonneville Salt Flats you do need to get a permit. Since it’s on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, you will need to get a special use permit.
Here’s the contact information for someone you can reach out to about securing a permit for your Bonneville Salt Flats wedding/elopement:
- Name: Caleb Robitaille
- Phone: (801) 977-4394
- Email: crobitaille@blm.gov
If you are just wanting to take photos, and not actually get married, you don’t need a permit.
As far as the legal side of your Bonneville Salt Flats elopement, Utah requires an officiant and two witnesses. I’m happy to sign as one of your witnesses! And it’s pretty easy to get ordained in Utah so you could always have a family member or friend be your officiant if you don’t want to hire one. Be sure to apply for your Utah Marriage License here.
Looking for a photographer for your Bonneville Salt Flats elopement? I would LOVE to capture your unique elopement day!
Hey, y’all. I’m Heidi!
I am an Asheville-based elopement + wedding photographer who is inclusive and ready to celebrate this adventure with you and your partner. My approach is not to “pose” my couples but rather create a setting using prompts to showcase the true connection and emotions (And your awkward quirks, too!) unique to every client. I will help guide you through your session and capture those epic and heartfelt photos you’ve dreamed of. Even though your wedding day may pass by in a blur, I want you to be able to look back at your gallery and relive the day as it unfolded, as beautiful as it was.
If you relate to any of this, then I would LOVE to work with you. Reach out to me here!
