Destination weddings are a very popular thing these days for many reasons. Many brides dream of an exotic location with stunning views that can set as their backdrop for their wedding ceremony. Others like the idea of a more quaint wedding where only very close friends and family attend at a distant location that makes it a memorable experience for everyone. However, that can obviously be costly. We want to thank Glade McCombs of Still Timeless Photography for this wonderful article on affordable destination weddings that can give you everything you want but not break the bank.
All these beautiful photos below are courtesy of Still Timeless Photography
By Glade McCombs of Still Timeless Photography
LAKE TAHOE
Azure blue waters and granite boulders knit together with stately ponderosa pine trees and beautiful sand beaches provide a majestic backdrop for your dream wedding. Beautiful Lake Tahoe is close to the San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey for the perfect romantic honeymoon.
Great accommodations are available around the lake, from extraordinary luxury hotels and suites to secluded vacation rentals on the beach. At Lake Tahoe there is something for everyone.
Summer weddings are fabulous, with cool mountain air and the chilly waters, even in the summer heat. Winter weddings provide opportunities for skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling through some of nature’s greatest natural preserves.
A beachside wedding is not expensive. There are dozens of beautiful pristine beaches offering seclusion for your wedding party. State parks offer an affordable option, but there are also great resorts that have complete packages to cater to your most discriminating tastes.
ST.GEORGE, MOAB, ZION’S, OR ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Having a wedding in the winter, late fall or spring, but you are afraid to have it outside? St. George, Zion’s Canyon and Moab are close enough to home that you and your guests can easily drive there for a day trip or for the weekend. The red rocks are a stunning backdrop for pictures of a bride and groom.
Zion’s National Park requires a $100 permit for weddings held in the Park, but what a gorgeous setting for a spectacular wedding! You must submit your application for a permit at least two weeks prior to the wedding and there are special fees for a park ranger in sensitive environmental areas. This would be perfect in the spring or fall, but avoid the hot summer months. There are many beautiful locations in the park and a pre-wedding visit to Zion’s is highly recommended to select the perfect spot for your wedding and to obtain information about wedding services and lodging.
You might consider renting a cabin for the wedding and reception. VRBO.com is a great place for vacation rentals, many at secluded and scenic locations just outside the park, which eliminates the permit fees. Check locations for rentals in Springdale, Virgin or the East Park entrance.
For additional information on weddings in Zion’s Park, you can contact the Special Park Use Office at 435-772-7820
Moab is also a spectacular backdrop for your perfect wedding. There are so many places close to town with amazing red rock scenery, vast canyon overlooks and beautiful vistas. Arches National Park is just minutes away from Moab. Special permit fees will apply in Arches Park, starting at $85.
PARK CITY
Looking for a location closer to home? Park City and Snowbasin are fabulous places for weddings, summer or winter. There are great services and accommodations available at reasonable summer rates. The ski resorts offer wedding services and will even arrange lift rides for wedding guests when the ceremony is held on the mountain. We photographed a wedding at the Canyon’s resort and the setting was beautiful. I was also invited to a wedding of a friend that was held atop a mountain peak near Guardsman Pass. A local shuttle service transported guests from the Park City Resort parking lot to the location. It was a spectacular, breathtaking location. Park City has great shuttle services, restaurants, lodges and wonderful venues that are largely unused during the slower summer months.
WEST YELLOWSTONE
Last year we were invited to photograph a wedding in West Yellowstone. The couple had family members in the area and thought it would make for a wonderful wedding location. West Yellowstone is a quaint woodsy town on the outskirts of Yellowstone National Park. The reception was held in the Union Pacific Dining Hall, built in 1926 and designed by renowned architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who designed some of the great lodges in the national parks. There is great lodging and rustic eating establishments nearby.
There are so many scenic venues available for your wedding. Get outside and venture to some spectacular wedding locations in your own back yard. You will be glad you ventured past the local wedding halls.
Special thanks again to Still Timeless Photography for this great article and these amazing photos. Make sure to visit their website for more information.
Contributor:
Glade McCombs
Still Timeless Photography
