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.
Bonneville Salt Flats Engagement Session
Cassidy and Josh met on Bumble and it has been a love story ever since. Since they grew up in Utah they decided to take their engagement photos at the Bonneville Salt Flats outside of Wendover, Utah.
A Quiet Meadow Farms Wedding: Mapleton, Utah
Gianna and Taven got married at Quiet Meadow Farms in Mapleton, Utah. The two met at a club in their college, became friends, and fell in love. They had a spring wedding with their friends and family, with vibrant spring flowers, a rustic barn wedding, goats in the pasture, and the most gorgeous wedding dress with a skirt overlay and train! Here is their love story.
Eloping vs. Having a Wedding: Which is Right for You?
When it comes to getting married, there are so many choices to make: the dress, the venue, the food, how to personalize it and, of course, the style of ceremony. One of the most significant decisions you’ll face is whether to elope or host a traditional wedding. Both options come with their own set of pros and cons, and choosing the right one for you and your partner can be a deeply personal choice.
So, let’s dive into the pros and cons of eloping versus having a big wedding day that hosts a lot of people, and help you figure out which option is best for you.
2025 Northern Utah Couple’s Location Guide
Looking for the perfect northern Utah locations as a stunning backdrops in your photoshoot? Well, look no farther! Here is my 2025 Northern UT Couples Location Guide - sorted by seasons and year round nearby locations to SLC, UT!
The Love Story of Josh and Sam
Josh and Sam met on a Christian dating app. Sam reached out to Josh and said that they were going to be good friends, and the story began. They would quickly realize they were both passionate about their faith, cats, fitness, nature, exploring and running.
They decided to elope in the mountains of Utah in the fall, while Josh was also preparing for and running the Bear100 Ultra Marathon race. They hiked Mt. Timponogos on their honeymoon and saw wild white mountain goats and beautiful fall foliage. Here is their love story - documented by a husband and wife photo and video duo: Roaming Desert Film Co.
Northern Utah Elopement Guide
Northern Utah has stunning views of the Wasatch Ridge, Bear Lake, Park City, Sundance, and SLC. Not to mention, skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, off-roading, water activities, gorgeous wildflower and waterfall hikes, a great food and hotel scene, and epic day trips to boot!
It is the perfect place to elope with you and your closest people! Especially, if you love nature, adventure, and amazing scenery!
Eloping at Little Sahara Sand Dunes, Utah
Do you dream of eloping in peaceful, desert vibes? Or is ATVing/being adventurous a HUGE part of your love story? Either way, Little Sahara Recreation Area is the perfect combination of peace and adventure!
The golden dunes and STUNNING golden hour light of Little Sahara State Park, in Utah, make for some of the most amazing pictures to capture your EPIC love story!





