Ultimate Guide for an Adventurous Las Vegas Elopement
When you think “Vegas elopement,” images of a fake Elvis, casino lights and a little white wedding chapel probably come to mind. What if I told you there was SO much more to eloping in Vegas than that?! Once you get off The Strip and into the outer parts of Las Vegas, there are some incredible outdoor locations. From Red Rock Canyon to Valley of Fire, the Nevada desert provides for plenty of adventurous Las Vegas elopement options. Read on for some of my suggestions!
About the greater Las Vegas Area
The desert scenery surrounding Las Vegas is extremely underrated. The gambling mecca is located in the Mohave Desert, which spans 4 different states. This portion of the desert is highlighted by vibrant red rocks and sprinkled with oases that sprout up lush greenery in certain spots. There may not be any national parks in southern Nevada, but there are plenty of state parks and other protected lands where you can plan an adventurous Las Vegas elopement. What’s more, Vegas is typically cheap and easy for you and your guests to fly into, and it can be even easier to find fun things to do during (and after) your wedding week! I’ll cover more of these in the locations portion of this blog, and you’ll see plenty of photos from the Red Rock Canyon elopement I photographed in 2023.
When to plan an adventurous Las Vegas elopement
It’s no secret that summer in the desert can be BLAZING hot. For your own comfort, I’d recommend avoiding summertime for your adventurous Las Vegas elopement. The Red Rock Canyon elopement pictured in this guide was in January, which was great for avoiding crowds and sweltering heat. However, winds can be pretty gusty that time of year in this area, as it’s mostly flat land and there isn’t much to block you from the wind. If you plan a winter elopement here, keep in mind the wind chill will be a lot chillier than what you see on temperature readings. Per usual, my favorite time to recommend eloping outside Las Vegas is the shoulder season of spring or fall!
Legally eloping in Las Vegas
To get married in the “Wedding Capital of the World,” you’ll still need to complete the formalities of marriage. Here’s everything you need to know.
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With Vegas’ reputation, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn it’s fairly easy to complete the legal steps for marriage in Nevada. To get a marriage license in Clark County, it will cost $102. You both have to be present to pick it up, but it’s active immediately.
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You’ll still need an officiant and a witness to get married in Nevada. When you hire me as your photographer, we can check those boxes right off the bat. My husband is an officiant and I can be your witness!
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Nearly every park location for an adventurous Las Vegas elopement requires permits. While I usually outline how to obtain those permits in this section of my elopement guides, what’s different about a lot of the permitting here is that in many places, you can’t apply for permits on your own! Some locations will only grant permits to insured wedding planners. Instead of listing permitting instructions here, I’ll suggest some elopement planners in the next section and then outline the permitting process for each park ceremony location!
Adventurous Las Vegas Elopement Planners
Having a planner is more important for permitting here than anywhere I have encountered. Like I mentioned in the park permit section of this blog, many of the adventurous Las Vegas elopement locations will ONLY grant permits to wedding planning professionals. A lot of the wedding planners in Las Vegas are all-inclusive and don’t allow you to choose your own vendors or customize your wedding, so keep that in mind when searching for a planner. Here are a few that can plan adventurous elopements and still customize the day exactly how you want it - and I can cover the photography!
Ember and Stone Events - the planner who organized the Red Rock Canyon elopement pictured in this blog!
Elopement Las Vegas - she specializes in adventurous Las Vegas elopements
Weddings & Events by Emily - plans all types of Vegas weddings, but is a permit holder for certain locations
Amber Alyse Events - serves all of the southwestern US and Nevada is one of her specialties
Best locations for an adventurous Las Vegas elopement
My BEST advice about choosing a location for your adventurous Las Vegas elopement is to be flexible. Permitting is extremely important - the last thing you want is for your wedding to get halted by a ranger in the middle of it because you didn’t follow the proper procedures! You may have your heart set on something like Valley of Fire or a Red Rock Canyon elopement, but run into issues with permitting. Keep an open mind, because there are so many other gorgeous places to elope outside of Las Vegas! You may want to consider a venue for your elopement in this area, and I highly recommend hiring a planner. Here are some of the amazing options for locations outside of Vegas, some I’ve been to and some I have yet to explore!
Red Rock Canyon
This conservation area is a colorful desert landscape. There’s a lot more plant life than you usually expect to see in the desert, and the distinct red rock formations make a dramatic backdrop. There are four different locations where you can hold a Red Rock Canyon elopement, and you have to have a Special Recreation Permit to get married here. The options are the Overlook on State Route 159, Red Spring Boardwalk Platform in Calico Basin, and Ash Spring Overlook in Calico Basin. The 4th location, the Visitors Center Amphitheater, is temporarily unavailable for weddings and events. Fees depend on whether you are using a planner who has been permitted for that year, or you are obtaining a new permit. The minimum fees are $115 or $6 per person, whichever is greater, and go up from there for new permits.
Valley of Fire State Park
You’ve undoubtedly seen this famous spot on Instagram. It’s located southeast of Las Vegas and features vibrant red rock formations. But keep in mind you’ll need a planner for this one: Valley of Fire will ONLY issue a permit to a wedding planner who is fully insured. It can be tricky to land a spot here, so before you commit to a Valley of Fire elopement, consider some of these other locations.
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
This state park is located adjacent to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which makes it basically a Red Rock Canyon elopement, but with easier permitting. It’s what you see pictured in many of the adventurous Las Vegas elopement photos in this blog! You’ll still need a permit here, but this park is much easier to get ahold of than some of the others. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for that red rock vibe but doesn’t want the headache of waiting on difficult permitting processes. As you can see, the setting is totally beautiful!
El Dorado Dry Lake Bed
This is another location that will ONLY issue a permit to an insured wedding planning professional. It’s located outside of Las Vegas in Boulder City, Nevada, and is perfect for the couple looking for a minimalist energy to their elopement. It reminds me a lot of the salt flats in Utah! This is a gorgeous location, but you’ll want to hire a planner for a Dry Lake Bed elopement.
Floyd Lamb Park
This smaller park north of Vegas is surprisingly lush for being in the desert. Tule Springs and Tule Springs Lake allow lots of greenery to flourish here, and the Las Vegas mountain range towers in the backdrop. There’s also a historical ranch on site complete with peacocks! It’s a city park, so permits can be obtained through the city of Las Vegas.
Tule Springs Fossil Beds
This national monument is located north of the city and features sandy colored rock formations against a backdrop of magnificent mountains. It was created to preserve Ice Age fossils in the area. No fees are required to enter the park, but a special use permit is required.
Cactus Joes’ Desert Garden & Nursery
This was the ceremony location for my lovely bride and groom pictured in this blog! It’s actually a plant nursery that serves as a wedding venue, and it happens to have an amazing mountain backdrop. It was a great option for avoiding permitting and keeping everything all in one place. I would definitely recommend it for future weddings!
Seven Magic Mountains
This art installation is definitely quirky, but it can lend itself to some super cool non-traditional wedding photos! It’s a series of colorfully painted stacked rocks with the mountains in the distance. There are even some Joshua trees around! If your vibe is funky and modern, this is the spot for you. Bonus: no permitting required for small weddings.
Where to stay for a Nevada Red Rock Canyon Elopement
Lodging options can be slim for a lot of outdoors elopements. That’s certainly not the case for an adventurous Las Vegas elopement! With The Strip not far away, you have endless hotel options. You can find lodging in Vegas for less than $100 a night, or go all out and get a spot at the Four Seasons.
Red Rock Canyon Casino Resort & Spa - the most upscale lodging near the park if you’re planning a Red Rock Canyon elopement
Sahara Las Vegas - affordable hotel on the far end of The Strip
The Bellagio - the one on The Strip with the fountains
The Venetian - the one on The Strip with the indoor canals like Venice
The Wynn - one of the nicest hotels on The Strip
NoMad Las Vegas - boutique hotel on The Strip
Vdara Hotel & Spa - selected as the best pet-friendly Vegas hotel by Forbes in case you’re bringing your dog along on your elopement!
Things to do when you plan an adventurous Las Vegas elopement
There’s absolutely no shortage of things to do in Las Vegas. Make it an experience-driven elopement and plan a whole week of adventure! Here are some ideas.
Food
La Strega - elevated Italian near Red Rock Canyon
Anima by EDO - fancy foodie menu near Red Rock Canyon
The Black Sheep - creative Vietnamese near Red Rock Canyon
Other Mama - Japanese + seafood near Red Rock Canyon
Boom Boom Bang Fine Food + Cocktails - retro setting serving elevated diner classics with an international twist near Valley of Fire
Delilah - fancy restaurant inside the Wynn Las Vegas
Restaurant Guy Savoy - Vegas outpost of a French restaurant inside Caesars Palace
Spago by Wolfgang Puck - Bellagio restaurant headed by the celebrity chef
Activities
Make it a southwest road trip - there are so many fun spots in the southwest to road trip too from Las Vegas. You’re just 2 hours from the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, 2.5 hours from Death Valley National Park, 3 hours from Zion National Park, 4.5 hours from Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, 4 hours from Bryce Canyon National Park - the possibilities are endless!
Ride ATVs in the desert - companies like DeTour Vegas and Adrenaline ATV Tours offer off-roading adventures outside of Vegas
Kayak Emerald Cave - it’s easy to see how this cave on the Arizona/Nevada border got its name! You can even kayak these gorgeous green waters in a clear-bottomed kayak with Outdoorster LV
Go horseback riding - explore the outdoors around the Vegas area on horseback with your honey on Wild West Horseback Adventures
Take a helicopter tour of The Strip or the Grand Canyon - helicopter tours are incredibly popular in this area because there’s so much to be seen from the air. Try 5 Star Helicopter Tours for an unconventional wedding week adventure!
Eat your way through Las Vegas - if there’s one thing to do in Vegas besides gamble, it’s eat. There are so many amazing restaurants here, so why not take a whole tasting tour?
Let me capture your adventurous Las Vegas elopement memories
There are SO many ways to take advantage of the stunning wilderness outside of Las Vegas for your wedding. Whether you want a romantic outdoors venue like Cactus Joe’s or one of the classics like Valley of Fire, I can help you have the elopement of your dreams.