A Two-Day Corona Arch Elopement with Family, Friends, and a Four-Legged Friend

After 10 years together, Douglas + Riley decided it was time to get married! They chose to plan a winter elopement in Moab, Utah because this area already held a lot of meaning for them. They invited 10 of their closest friends out to the desert for a short hike to be witnesses to their beautiful, emotional ceremony. And, of course, their dog Nyx had a front row seat the entire time.

From sprawling desert views and a towering rock arch to a night spent under the stars, their two-day elopement gave them plenty of space to adventure, celebrate with the people they love, and make time for just the two of them.

Keep scrolling to see more from their two-day Corona Arch elopement.

Planning Their Corona Arch Elopement

When it came to planning their Corona Arch elopement, Douglas and Riley wanted the process to feel simple.

They both run a dental office and have busy lives, so they weren’t interested in spending months coordinating every little detail of their wedding. What they wanted was pretty straightforward: they wanted someone to tell them when and where to show up so they could focus on actually experiencing the day together.

And that’s where we came in.

Once we understood what mattered to them, we handled the location planning, logistics, timing, and all the little details that go into creating an adventure elopement. That allowed Douglas and Riley to simply enjoy Moab without constantly stressing over the details or thinking about what needed to happen next.

Planning your own Moab elopement? From choosing locations to navigating logistics, there’s a lot that goes into creating an elopement in the desert. Our Moab Elopement Guide breaks down what you need to know to start planning your own day. And, of course, we’re always just an email away and ready to help you plan something special!

Choosing Their Corona Arch Elopement Location

When Douglas and Riley first came to us, they had two things they really wanted: to get married at Delicate Arch and to bring Nyx along for the adventure.

The problem was that Delicate Arch is inside Arches National Park, where dogs aren’t allowed on the trails. We talked through some different options, including the possibility of visiting Delicate Arch separately and having their ceremony somewhere else, but ultimately, they wanted to get married under an arch.

And Corona Arch ended up being a much better fit. It’s outside the national park, which meant Nyx could be part of the hike and ceremony, and it still gave them the dramatic desert setting they had envisioned. More importantly, it allowed them to have the kind of experience they actually wanted rather than forcing their plans to fit around a location that couldn’t accommodate them.

They also wanted to include a vista location for their private adventure day, so we helped them find another spot that gave them a completely different perspective of the Moab landscape. 

Prioritizing 1:1 Time

From the beginning, Douglas and Riley were intentional about protecting time for just the two of them.

In the days leading up to their elopement, they spent time exploring some of their favorite places in Moab before their guests arrived and even gathered sand at some of the locations to use during their elopement ceremony (more on that later).

Douglas and Riley’s Moab Winter Elopement at Corona Arch

Day One: Exploring Desert Vistas

Day one of Douglas and Riley’s Corona Arch elopement was all about the two of them.

We took them out to some of their favorite places around Moab, along with a few spots with vista views. They got to explore, spend time together, and settle into the experience before their friends and family arrived.

After their first day’s adventures, we ended the evening around a fire with hot cocoa from town while we waited for the stars to come out. We talked about their favorite concerts (they’re big Beyoncé fans), hung out, and eventually photographed some nighttime portraits under the moonlight.

For two people with such busy day-to-day lives, this downtime was really important to them.Their elopement wasn’t about filling every minute with activities. It was about having the freedom to spend the time however they wanted, whether that meant exploring somewhere new, sitting around a fire, watching the stars, or simply being together.

And while we love unique elopement activities as much as anyone else, we also believe there is just as much value in leaving room for the in-between moments.

Day Two: A Ceremony at Corona Arch with Loved Ones

The next day, Douglas and Riley met up with their closest friends and family for the hike to Corona Arch. They had 10 guests joining them, along with Nyx, who was very clearly the star of the show.

Before the ceremony, Doug’s sister gave him a gift containing photos of their parents, who had passed away. The couple had also collected sand from some of their favorite places around Moab to use in a sand ceremony.

Then the grooms walked down the aisle together and shared their vows surrounded by the people who meant the most to them.

As for Nyx, she settled down right between them. None of us knew exactly what she was going to do during the ceremony, so we let her do her thing. And apparently, lying between her dads was exactly where she felt she belonged.

Afterward, everyone celebrated with champagne before the group started making their way back toward the trailhead. We stayed with Douglas and Riley a little longer, giving them some quieter time together with Nyx.

Reception Dinner at Desert Bistro

Later that evening, we met back up with everyone for dinner at Desert Bistro in town. We weren’t photographing at dinner, so we got to experience it as guests rather than vendors, which is always really special.

Everyone at the table took turns giving toasts and sharing stories about Douglas and Riley, their relationship, and what they meant to the people around them. Their entire group was from New Orleans, and many of them had never experienced the desert before, so getting to watch them experience a place that already meant so much to Douglas and Riley made the whole day feel even more special.

Kind Words From the couple: 

“I know it may sound cliché, but our wedding day truly was the best day of our lives. Our favourite moment was reciting our vows to one another, with our dog lying peacefully between us the entire time. The feeling in that moment was indescribable.

It was so spiritual and filled with love, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us. Everything felt absolutely perfect. The air felt completely still, the sun was shining so bright, and there was this overwhelming sense of peace.

Traci and Bill made the entire experience seamless and unforgettable. They captured the magic of the day while allowing us to be fully present in every moment.”

Bringing your dog along? Nyx was very much part of Douglas + Riley’s wedding day. If your dog is coming along for your elopement, check out our guide on how to plan a day that works for everyone (four legged friend included).

How to Plan an Intentional Elopement

One of the things we loved most about Douglas and Riley’s elopement was how intentional their decisions were.

For example, they chose comfortable elopement suits because they knew they’d be walking and exploring throughout the day. Style was important to them, but comfort was key.

They brought their dog, Nyx because she is part of their family and they couldn’t imagine getting married without her. That meant choosing a dog-friendly location and building the day around what would make the experience comfortable for all three of them.

And when their original plan for Delicate Arch didn’t work, they didn’t force the location. They chose Corona Arch because it allowed them to have the experience they actually wanted: a meaningful place, room for Nyx, and a more intimate ceremony with the people they loved.

They built their wedding around their lives and their relationship. And their intentional approach even continued after the elopement, too. Riley has family in Salt Lake City, so they later held a larger black-tie reception there so more loved ones could celebrate with them. They had also planned to honeymoon in Hawaii after eloping at Corona Arch, but ended up canceling the trip. They told us that after such a meaningful weekend in Moab, they realized they didn’t need to rush off to the next thing. They wanted to stay home, sit with everything they had just experienced, and let it sink in.

Want More of this Winter Moab Elopement?

Douglas and Riley’s Moab winter elopement was also featured by Hello May, where the couple shared more about their relationship, their wedding day, and what made the experience meaningful to them.

Their story is a great example of what your day can look and feel like when you really take the time to understand what you want and then build your experience around those priorities. As they put it, once they knew what mattered to them, the rest of the decisions came much more naturally.

Read Douglas + Riley’s full Hello May feature

Vendors Who Made this Corona Arch Elopement Possible:

Photography & Officiant: Adventure and Vow

Ceremony Venue: Corona Arch State Park

Hair: David Connor

Makeup: Pillar Miranda

Suits: Theory Men

Rings: Cartier

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Stay: Hoodoo Moab

Restaurant: Desert Bistro

Ready to Plan Your Own Elopement at Corona Arch?

If you’re dreaming about an elopement that gives you room to adventure, spend time with the people you love, and still protect the parts of the day that are just for you two, we’d love to hear what you’re imagining.

Blog post written by Sonder Studio