Dreaming of a beautiful, stress-free legal elopement in Utah? While the scenery is breathtaking, making sure to legally elope is the most important item on the checklist. Luckily, Utah makes the process straightforward! We’re diving into everything you need to know about marriage licenses, witnesses, and officiants, so you can have complete peace of mind knowing your adventurous wedding is totally official. Click here to schedule a free consult call
1. Obtaining your marriage license
The first big step in making your Utah elopement official is securing your marriage license! Don’t worry, it’s the easiest part of the planning process. Utah’s laws are very straightforward, allowing you to focus on the fun stuff.
Where and When to Get It
You can apply for a marriage license at any County Clerk’s office in the State of Utah. Moab has an office in the heart of downtown making it very accessible.
You do not have to be a Utah resident to apply for a marriage license making it easy to marry if you’re coming from out of state. The license is valid immediately upon issue. You can pick it up and get married the same day! The license is good for 32 days from the date of issue. This gives you a nice window to pick it up a few days before your ceremony without the pressure of having to get married immediately.
What You Need to Bring
To make sure your trip to the County Clerk’s office is quick and painless, so you can legally elope make sure you bring the following:
- Valid Photo ID: A current driver’s license, passport, or state ID for both people.
- Social Security Number: Both parties need to know their SSN.
- Required Fee: The fee is typically around $50, payable by cash or card (it’s always best to call ahead and confirm payment methods for your specific county).
- Application: You can usually start the application process online ahead of time on the county clerk’s website to save time when you go in person!
The Essential Next Step: The Officiant
Once you have your license, you need one more key component to legally elope:
- You must have a legally recognized officiant present to perform the ceremony and sign the license. Utah law recognizes ordained ministers, priests, rabbis, judges, and certain Native American spiritual leaders.
- 2 witnesses over the age of 18 are also required (this can even be friendly hikers me meet on the trail if your not bringing guests
Want an even more relaxed elopement day? Many adventurous couples choose to take care of the legal paperwork—the signing, the courthouse visit, the officiant—before or after their actual elopement date.
This is a brilliant option for a few reasons:
- Zero Stress: You remove all the anxiety about deadlines, license validity, or rushing to the County Clerk. Your elopement day is purely about celebrating your love and adventure!
- True Intimacy: Your mountain-top vows can be just for the two of you, without worrying about an officiant or having a specific permit on a certain day.
- Easy Family Inclusion: If you’re planning a private elopement but still want to include friends or family, you can invite them to be part of the official paperwork process beforehand! It’s a low-key, meaningful way for them to witness the legal start of your marriage without being present for the remote adventure ceremony.
Whether you sign the papers the day before or the week after, your epic adventure ceremony is always the date you celebrate!
If you crave authentic, breathtaking photos that capture your genuine connection in the world’s most epic landscapes, we might just be the perfect fit! Head over to my site to see more of my work and discover what a stress-free elopement really looks like.
