top of page
Search

Elope at the Bonneville Salt Flats

Updated: Feb 6

Shannon White Photography

How to Plan an Elopement on the Utah Salt Flats


For a dreamy and elegant elopement, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah are an ideal choice. Situated just two hours west of Salt Lake City, the journey to this distinctive locale is quite straightforward.


Bride and groom holding hands, smiling, walking on salt flats at sunset. Table with wedding decor. Mountains and colorful sky in background.
A joyful couple celebrates their elopement on the expansive Utah Salt Flats, under a stunning sunset sky.

How to get to Utah’s Salt Flats

Accessing the Salt Flats is straightforward! Simply head west from Salt Lake City towards Reno and stay on the highway. The journey to the rest stop takes approximately an hour and a half, and since there are few places to refuel or buy food, it's essential to carry a spare tire, ensure your gas tank is full, and pack some snacks. The westbound rest stop, which is the more frequented spot, allows you to drive on the salt. The flats are expansive, offering plenty of space to set up. However, it's crucial to provide your guests and vendors with precise directions to ensure everyone arrives at the correct location on time. The westbound rest stop also serves as an ideal rendezvous point for groups planning to travel together, complete with facilities for last-minute restroom needs. Depending on your chosen setup location, the drive might be lengthy, so limiting carpooling is advisable to allow for flexible arrivals and departures. Additionally, designating a parking area will help prevent cars from inadvertently appearing in your photographs.


Man in a light gray suit and red tie stands on a vast salt flat. Overcast sky and mountains in the background. Calm and poised mood.
Groom standing elegantly in a light gray suit against the stunning backdrop of the Utah Salt Flats, exemplifying the perfect setting for a unique elopement.

When to Elope at the Utah Salt Flats

Eloping at the Salt Flats is ideal in the summer when the salt is dry, the days are longer, and the weather is warm. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall can also be pleasant, though they may be cooler and less predictable. Winter can work, but rain tends to pool on the salt. If there's heavy rain or snow in Salt Lake, the salt flats will be similar. The reflections can be stunning, but excessive water might be too cold and deep to enjoy. Therefore, summer or fall is generally the best time to elope there.


Bride in a lace dress walks barefoot on white salt flats, smiling. She holds her dress up slightly. The sky is overcast and bright.
A bride joyfully walks barefoot on the expansive Utah Salt Flats, capturing the essence of a serene and intimate elopement.

Permits and Expenses for Eloping on the Salt Flats

As of the date of this blog post, holding a wedding on the Salt Flats does not require a permit or fee, offering a significant budget advantage. Managed by the BLM, the most current information regarding permits can be found on their official website. Note that there is no electricity available, so if you plan to use additional equipment, generators will be your primary expense for powering lights, music, etc. Additionally, the Salt Flats are approximately a two-hour drive from Salt Lake City, so confirming vendor availability and potential travel fees is advisable.


Bride and groom kiss passionately in a vast, white landscape under a dramatic cloudy sky. Bride holds bouquet; romantic and serene mood.
A couple shares a romantic embrace during their elopement on the stunning Utah Salt Flats, under a breathtaking sky.

Where to stay when eloping at the Salt Flats

The Salt Flats are conveniently located near the Utah-Nevada border, with Wendover, NV being the nearest town. Just a 15-20 minute drive from the flats, Wendover is a quaint casino town offering several hotels and a couple of restaurants. It's advisable to secure accommodation there following your reception to avoid the two-hour drive back to Salt Lake City after an evening of celebration. Nevertheless, Salt Lake City remains a nearby option, boasting an abundance of hotels and Airbnb listings.


A couple in wedding attire kisses against a vibrant sunset over salt flats, with mountains silhouetted in the background. Romantic and serene.
A couple shares a romantic moment during their elopement on the breathtaking Utah Salt Flats, with a vibrant sunset painting the sky.

Why the Salt Flats is the perfect Utah Elopement Location

The Bonneville Salt Flats boast a natural beauty that is striking, yet they also serve as a versatile canvas for a multitude of styles and aesthetics. Beyond the majestic mountains that loom in the distance, the expansive salt flats offer a pristine palette for you to project your own ideas and character. For those in search of a distinctive, sophisticated, and enduring backdrop, the Salt Flats are ideal. Embellish them with some fairy lights or flowers, and you have the perfect setting for an unforgettable black-tie affair.


Bride and groom holding "We eloped" sign at sunset. Bride in gown with bouquet; groom in gray suit. Mountain and colorful sky backdrop.
Eloping at sunset on the breathtaking Utah Salt Flats, this couple shares their joy with a charming "We Eloped" sign and beautiful blooms.

Continue scrolling to view more captivating photographs from this exquisite wedding.



A table with wedding decor, cake, and flowers on a desert with mountains in the background. Signs read "Mr & Mrs" and "I love us."
Elopement setup on the stunning Utah Salt Flats, featuring a romantic table with wedding decor against a breathtaking mountain backdrop.

Father and Bride walk on a vast, white salt flat. The bride holds a floral bouquet, her dress flowing, with mountains in the background.
Romantic elopement unfolds on the serene Utah Salt Flats, capturing a father walking his daughter in nature's vast embrace.

Bride and groom hold hands during a wedding ceremony in a vast desert landscape. The sky is cloudy with a serene mountainous backdrop.
Exchanging vows under the vast, serene sky of the Bonneville Salt Flats.

A couple holds hands during a wedding ceremony on salt flats at sunset, with mountains in the background. The bride wears a flowing gown.
Exchanging vows under the vast, serene sky of the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Exchanging vows under the vast, serene sky of the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Exchanging vows under the vast, serene sky of the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Bride and groom kiss at sunset in a desert landscape. She wears a veil, and he wears a light suit. Mountains and a colorful sky in the background.
A romantic first kiss captured under the tranquil, expansive sky of the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Bride and groom embrace at sunset in desert landscape. Bride in detailed gown and veil, groom in light suit. Romantic mood.
A romantic first kiss captured under the tranquil, expansive sky of the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Bride in a white dress holding a bouquet, gazing at groom in a gray suit with red accents. Background of mountains at sunset.
A couple shares a tender moment during their elopement at the stunning Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Bride and groom in wedding attire share a kiss on a vast white salt flat under a dramatic cloudy sky at sunset. Bride holds a bouquet.
A newlywed couple shares a romantic kiss amidst the stunning expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

A smiling bride in a lace gown holds flowers, walking hand in hand with a groom in a gray suit. Cloudy sky over a white, open landscape.
A couple joyfully walks hand in hand across the stunning expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, celebrating their elopement beneath a dramatic sky.

Bride and groom kissing passionately in a desert setting under a dramatic, cloudy sky. Bride holds a bouquet, both appear joyful.
A couple shares a romantic moment in an elegant pose as they elope at the serene Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, under a dramatic sky.

Bride in white dress holding bouquet, standing on sandy beach at sunset. Cloudy sky in background, serene and elegant mood.
A bride stands serenely on the vast expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Utah as she holds a bouquet, ready to elope.

Bride and groom kissing passionately on a vast salt flat at sunset. The bride holds a bouquet, and the groom wears a light gray suit.
A couple shares a romantic kiss during their elopement at the stunning Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, surrounded by a dramatic sky.

Bride in a flowing white gown holds a bouquet, standing on a sandy beach. Cloudy sky in the background creates a serene mood.
A beautiful bride stands elegantly on the expansive Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, holding a bouquet under a dramatic sky, capturing the essence of an intimate elopement.

Bride in a white dress with tattoos poses on a vast salt flat under a dramatic cloudy sky, exuding a serene and confident mood.
A bride gazes serenely at the camera, enveloped by the ethereal beauty of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, under a soft, glowing sky.

Four people in formal attire stand on a white landscape under a cloudy sunset. Two women in gowns, two men in suits, with a bouquet.
A couple celebrating their elopement pose with family against the stunning backdrop of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Four people pose on a salt flat under a pinkish sky. Two in gray suits, one in a red dress, and a bride in white holding flowers.
A couple celebrating their elopement pose with family against the stunning backdrop of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

Bride with floral tattoos and veil smiles softly against a dramatic sky. Her dress is detailed with lace. The mood is calm and serene.
A serene bridal portrait at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, capturing elegance and natural beauty against a stunning backdrop.

Six people dressed formally stand together on a salt flat at sunset. The bride holds a bouquet, and the mood is joyful.
A joyful family moment captured during a beautiful elopement at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

A group of eight people in formal attire pose on a vast salt flat, with a cloudy sky at sunset. Mood is celebratory and elegant.
A joyful family moment captured during a beautiful elopement at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.


A wedding group poses on a white salt flat. They wear suits and pastel dresses, holding bouquets under a pink sky. Romantic and joyful mood.
A joyful wedding party gathers under a stunning pastel sky at the picturesque Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, capturing the magic of an elopement.

Bride in lace dress stands in sandy landscape with mountains. Her hair is in a braid, and a tattoo is visible. Calm mood with soft lighting.
A bride stands serenely in the expansive beauty of the Bonneville Salt Flats, her lace gown glowing softly in the gentle sunlight.

Bride in a flowing gown stands barefoot on a white, rocky landscape. Tattoos visible. Moody clouds in the background. Calm and reflective mood.
A bride stands elegantly in her flowing gown, surrounded by the vast, serene landscape of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, capturing the romantic essence of an elopement.

Smiling woman in a flowing dress walks barefoot across a vast, white desert landscape under a cloudy sky, exuding joy and freedom.
A joyful bride walks across the breathtaking expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, celebrating her elopement with a radiant smile.

Bride in a flowing white dress stands on a salt flat under a moody sky, looking serene. Background: vast white expanse and dark clouds.
A bride stands majestically against the dramatic backdrop of Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, her gown flowing gracefully in the breeze during an intimate elopement.


Man in a light gray suit and red tie walking on a vast salt flat, with mountains in the distance under a cloudy sky. Calm demeanor.
A groom elegantly dressed in a gray suit with red accents strolls across the serene expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah during an intimate elopement.

Bride in white gown and veil stands on a flat, cracked desert landscape under a cloudy sky, facing mountains in the distance.
A bride stands gracefully at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the vast and serene landscape providing a stunning backdrop for her elopement.

A couple poses at sunset on a salt flat. The man wears a gray suit with a red tie, and the woman wears a gown, holding a bouquet.
A couple shares a romantic moment during their elopement at the stunning Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, with a vibrant sunset painting the sky in the background.

Bride and groom stand on white salt flats, sharing a gaze. Sky glows with orange sunset, mountains in background. Bride holds bouquet.

















 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page