Utah Elopement Photographer - LGBTQ Elopement at the Salt Flats
If you're looking for a traditional wedding story, turn back now. This is not that.
H + R’s elopement at the Bonneville Salt Flats was raw, magical, and completely them. They started with a quiet ceremony with just their parents, and ended with an unexpected mud fight that left them covered, laughing, and more in love than ever. It was the kind of day that makes you believe in love all over again. The kind of day that feels like the reason elopements exist in the first place. I definitely cried during their vows and I had JUST met them.
No guests, no noise, no pressure. Just pure emotion.
They read their vows in front of the people who raised them, and I’m not kidding, we were all crying. Like, ugly crying. Their love is so honest and grounded. You could feel the depth of it in every word they said.
And once they kissed and the ceremony wrapped, we were like, “alright, let’s get weird.”
Off to the Salt Flats: Adventure Mode Activated
We packed up and drove out to the wild wide open of the Bonneville Salt Flats. If you’ve never been — it’s unreal. The sky goes on forever. The ground literally reflects the light. It’s got big “main character in a music video” energy and H + R fully delivered.
We brought snacks, drinks, and blankets and made a cute lil’ picnic out of it. They kicked off their shoes, danced like nobody was watching (because literally no one was), and ran around like kids who just fell in love.
Then the best thing happened.
The Accidental Mud Fight (That Turned Out Weirdly Romantic)
The Salt Flats were WET. Like...squishy, sink-into-it wet. One of them took a step, slipped a little, and the next thing I know they’re rolling around in the mud, wiping it on each other’s faces, laughing their asses off like it was the most normal thing in the world.
And honestly? It was kinda sexy. The giggles, the muddy kisses, the way they were so fully themselves in that moment? Freakin’ poetic.
The photos from that part of the day? Cinematic AF. Like if A24 directed a queer love story in the middle of nowhere. (Someone else told me this, my head isn’t that big.)
Why This Elopement Was So Freakin’ Special
H + R didn’t care about trends. They cared about each other. They didn’t try to stage a fake version of love, they lived the real thing with stillness AND wildness.
They didn’t ask permission to be themselves. And that’s what made it magic.
Wanna Elope at the Salt Flats Too?
Here’s your cheat sheet, babe:
📍 Where: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
☁️ Best Time: Spring, summer, or fall
🧽 It gets messy: Bring towels. And backup shoes. And the willingness to get dirty 😉
🍓 Picnic FTW: Adds such a romantic pause to the day
📷 Pro tip: If you want both ethereal and moody photos? This is THE spot.
If you’re dreaming about a day that feels more you than a ballroom and a guest list ever could, I’m here for it. I’ll help you plan something that’s raw, beautiful, and a little wild.
Let’s get muddy. Let’s make magic.
Inquire here and let’s dream up your own adventure »