How to Include Family Who Can’t Attend Your Elopement on Your Special Day
Elopements are intimate by design. They’re about stripping away expectations and choosing presence, intention, and adventure. But just because you’re exchanging vows on a windswept ridge or deep in the desert doesn’t mean the people you love most aren’t part of it. 🤍
Over the years, we’ve filmed elopements where family couldn’t attend for all kinds of reasons—distance, health, finances, or timing. And honestly? Some of the most emotional moments of the day come from the ways couples choose to include them anyway.
Here are some meaningful, intentional ways to bring your people into your elopement—no matter how far away they are.
Northern Utah Elopement Guide
At Roaming Desert Film Co., we’ve always believed that eloping is about stripping things back to what actually matters—your connection and your story. And if that just so happens to take place in the magic of the mountains in the Wasatch Ridge, that’s totally fine by us! Northern Utah creates these timeless moments of your love story so effortlessly! Tucked just outside the city, the canyons here feel wild - without being unreachable, intimate - without being isolated. They’re the kind of places where the mountains show up big and every turn in the road feels like it could be the start of a memory you’ll talk about forever!
Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, and American Fork Canyon are our forever favorites! Each one has its own personality: Big Cottonwood is versatile and dramatic, with winding roads, alpine lakes, and textures that look unreal on film. Little Cottonwood feels bold and rugged—towering granite walls, moody weather, and that “we’re doing something epic” energy. American Fork Canyon neighbors the Alpine loop and has gorgeous reservoirs and lake - especially as the seasons change, with golden aspens coming to life.
Planning an Elopement with Roaming Desert Film Co.
At Roaming Desert Film Co., we believe elopements are more than a quiet alternative to a big and stressful wedding—they’re an intentional choice to celebrate your authentic story, your connection, and the freedom to celebrate love on your own terms. Booking an elopement isn’t about skipping tradition; it’s about creating space for meaning, adventure, and authenticity. Whether you’re exchanging vows beneath an endless desert sky, along a windswept coastline, or somewhere wildly personal to you, we’re here to document it with the same care and cinematic storytelling as any grand celebration.
From the first conversation to the final film and photos, our approach is rooted in presence and knowledge as your guides! Here is the basic outline of booking your elopement with us!
Three Ways to Legally Elope — A Guide from Roaming Desert Film Co.
There’s something timeless about eloping — the intimacy, the adventure, the freedom to define your day exactly how you want it. Here at Roaming Desert Film Co., we don’t just document love — we help couples plan thoughtfully, including making sure your elopement is legally valid.
Eloping doesn’t mean skipping the paperwork; it means knowing how to handle it in a way that supports your vision. Below are the three most common legal routes couples choose when they elope — each with its own benefits and logistics.
Adventure Sessions with Roaming Desert Film Co.
At Roaming Desert Film Co., we believe the best stories don’t happen in studios — they happen out in the wild, on the road, under big skies, and in the moments where you feel most alive. That belief is what inspired our Adventure Sessions.
These sessions are designed for couples, brands, families, and individuals who want more than posed photos. They’re for people who want an experience — and visuals that feel cinematic, honest, and deeply personal.
Things to do around St. George - Zion NP
Are you marrying in St. George or eloping at Zion National Park and need some activities for you and your friends/family to do on the days surrounding your BIG DAY? Well look no further!
Here is a guide from your photo and video team of activities to do around the St. George Area, from Roaming Desert Film Co.
Marrying in Moab - The Red Earth Venue
Here are some resources on marrying in Moab, Utah:
where to take engagement photos
one of the most beautiful desert wedding venues to get married at - The Red Earth Venue
tips and tricks for your magical Moab marriage
from a photo and video team that specializes in dreamy desert weddings: Roaming Desert Film Co.
A St. George Wedding: The Love Story of Hali and Adrian
Adrian is a golf course greenskeeper and Hali is a teacher. The two of them met and fell in love over the greens and even got married at a golf course - The Ledges at St. George!
Adrian catered a surprise proposal at Liberty Park while walking their dog, Tucker. They met under a gazebo and Hali said yes to forever. Here is their love story photographed by photo and video team - Roaming Desert Film Co.
A Quiet Meadow Farm Wedding: The Love Story of Eve and Tyler
Eve and Tyler met on their very first day of college at an early move-in program called “Bear Tracks.” The program was created to help you meet other first-year students as well, but little did they know that program would end up in a marriage for the two of them!
They were friends for over 6 years before they started dating, but when they decided to take the next step - it was magic!
They got married at Quiet Meadow Farms in Mapleton, UT with all of their closest family and friends with gorgeous autumnal touches. Here is their love story photographed by Roaming Desert Film Co.
A Quiet Meadow Farms Wedding: The Love Story of Killian and Alex
It all started with a swipe in May of 2023—shortly after Killian moved to Washington to start a new chapter working at the University. Amid the whirlwind of settling in, Killian matched with someone named Alex on a dating app. They started talking, and quickly realized they had more in common than they expected... including something kind of magical: they shared the same birthday. This small beginning grew into a deep love and they got married at Quiet Meadow Farms in Mapleton, UT with the photo and video team - Roaming Desert Film Co.
A Quiet Meadow Farm Wedding: The Love Story of Josh and Cassidy
Cassidy and Josh met on Bumble and their first date was at Olive Garden! Cassidy noticed some of Josh’s album cover tattoos and realized they liked all of the same music, as well as video gaming! A like turned into a a love and the two got married at Quiet Meadow Farms in Mapleton, UT surrounded by family and friends. Here is their love story!
A Zion National Park Elopement: The Love Story of Jesi and Tyler
Like all great modern romances, this one began…with a Facebook friend request. Not just any request though - Tyler, being the gentleman that he is, asked Jesi’s mom for permission first and after careful preperation, he followed up with the smoothest, most original line of all time, “Hey, how’s it going?'“
Somehow that simple line was the beginning of everything. They lived 40 minutes apart and had to drive a bit to see each other, but they made it work, and even took a trip out to Acadia National Park that sparked an interest in exploring together.
Tyler proposed to Jesi at Disneyland, and she never saw it coming, but of course she said, “YES!” They ended up eloping in Zion National Park and did their honeymoon in the remaining Utah parks of the Mighty 5. Here is their love story!
A Quiet Meadow Farms Wedding: The Love Story of Nicole and Andrew
Nicole and Andrew met in high school, but didn’t start dating until 10 years later and eventually they fell in love.
They got married at Quiet Meadow Farms in Mapleton, UT and it was a beautiful wedding. Here is their love story photographed by Roaming Desert Film Co.
A Quiet Meadow Farm Wedding: The Love Story of Miley and Jaden
Miley and Jaden met each other in high school, reconnected, and eventually fell in love. They bonded over cars, friends, and good times!
They got married at Quiet Meadow Farm in Mapleton, UT. Here is their love story!
A Quiet Meadow Farm Wedding: The Love story of Abbie and Blake
Abbie and Blake met at a softball game set up by a mutual friend and grabbed dinner after. Sparks flew and they eventually fell in love.
They got married at Quiet Meadow Farm in Mapleton, UT. Here is their love story photographed by Roaming Desert Film Co.
A Wolf Creek Resort Wedding: The Love Story of Morgan and Carson
Morgan and Carson met during the first week of their graduate program at LSU. They sat next to each other at orientation, and were both eager to go out and try new things! This led to a year of road trips, rock climbing sessions, cooking lessons, and study groups. After a year of Carson expressing his feelings for Morgan, while she was trying to figure it out on her own, Morgan finally said yes to dating, and it was the best decision she ever made!
They got married at the Wolf Creek Resort in Eden, UT with their family and friends from all over the United States! Here is their love story!
A Bryce Canyon National Park Elopement: The Love Story of Yara and Jonathan
Yara and Jonathan met at work. They were on the same team, but had never met in person (only on Zoom work calls). Yara quoted Step Brothers and Jonathan paused the meeting to unmute himself, asking if Yara was quoting that movie. Then he said, "Did we just become best friends?"
They ended up becoming more than just best friends though. They bonded over cocktails, travel and adventure, and identifying various plants on their phone apps. Eventually they decided to elope in the beautiful landscape of Southern Utah in Bryce Canyon National Park with their closest friends and family. Here is their love story.
A Blue Coyote Ranch Wedding: The Love Story of Teresa and Alex
Teresa and Alex met online, as so many of modern daters do these day - including my husband and myself! Teresa was a new travel nurse in Seattle and Alex had recently moved there for a job at Amazon. Teresa was beginning to feel homesick for Denver, but Alex began to change her mind, because she began to fall for him. Though they fell in love, they did eventually move back to Denver together!
They got married at the Blue Coyote Ranch in Salida, CO with their closest friends and family from out of town. As well as this, some really cool vendors like a folk band from Denver called the Mighty Holler performed at their wedding. Here is their love story!
A Quiet Meadow Farm Wedding: The Love Story of Madeline and Noah
Madeline and Noah met through mutual friends while working at the same company, but later grew closer over their love of adventuring, biking, hiking in the mountains, cocktails and ice cream!
They got married at Quiet Meadow Farm in Mapleton, UT with friends and family coming from all over the United States.
This wedding had such a sweet and loving feeling among all of the guests. You could tell everyone was so happy for Noah and Madeline to find their perfect match. Here is their love story!
Red Butte Garden+Utah State Capitol Elopement Day: The Love Story of Katie and Taylor
Katie is a Midwest girly and Taylor is a west coaster, but when these two met it was an instant match!
They eloped at the SLC courthouse, took their bridals at the Red Butte garden, and ended their elopement day at the Utah State Capitol building for a picnic and some cake!





