Ever since we visited Zion National Park a few years back, I’ve been eager to return. This recent trip reminded me that Utah is indeed a special place and its beauty is hard to beat. It is no secret that there is a lot to see, and with some creativity as well as assistance from the All-Trails app, you can find your own slice of paradise to say I do in. The popular spots are favorites for a reason; they ARE truly amazing. With a little effort, though, you can find plenty of places that are just as epic, if not more so, with little or no crowds. The harder-to-reach places successfully weed out the crowds. As always, be respectful of this precious land and follow the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.

If you’re determined to tie the knot in true solitude with incredible views, it takes some preparation and is worth the effort.

Lisa and Tino were dressed to the nine and up for anything. The overlook views of the canyon were incredible. We pinched ourselves at our luck in being in this special place. Jacqueline, our planner/coordinator tipped us off about this area, and after some location scouting, we knew we had found something special. We really hit the jackpot. (A couple of jeep tours pulled up while we were there, so it wasn’t as secret as we thought.) Fortunately, we were given our space and cheered on as they went on their way. There even were some dried hot pools nearby.

Lucky us, we had views for miles and perfect rocks to perch ourselves upon to soak in this magical world. Lisa and Tino exchanged their handwritten vows on top of some rocks, then laid on the rocks and looked up to the sky. They finished by dancing and embracing as the setting sun set her crown aglow, giving everything an ethereal feel. We all felt the immense power of this place and savored our time together in celebration of this beautiful day.