An Elopement in Hanksville, Utah With The Most Intentional Ceremony Details

Some couples choose their elopement location because it already holds meaning for them. Others choose a location because it gives them a new adventure to experience together. 

Gina and Salim originally came to us wanting to elope somewhere they’d already built memories together. But as we talked through the details, they decided to plan their elopement in Hanksville, Utah instead. It was a place they’d never visited, or even heard of before, but what excited them most was the chance to recreate something that’s always defined their relationship: exploring new places together. 

Their Hanksville elopement turned into a celebration across slot canyons and wide-open desert, with a ceremony that included some of the most intentional, unique elements we’ve ever witnessed.

Gina + Salim’s Elopement in Hanksville, Utah

Gina and Salim are from Phoenix. They originally inquired about eloping in Page, Arizona—the location of one of their first trips together, where they’d kayaked on Lake Powell.

They were drawn to diverse landscapes, and Page has plenty (there’s so much more to the area than Horseshoe Bend, we promise). But getting to that diversity meant hours of off-roading, and the slot canyons there require a public tour. We started looking for somewhere that offered the same range of scenery without the logistics working against them.

That’s when we pitched the idea of eloping in Hanksville. They’d never heard of this tiny Utah town, but they loved the idea anyway and were totally on board.

Coffee, Cake, and Parrots on the Vista

Gina and Salim eased into their day with a sunrise first look at a desert vista, followed by coffee and cake. Coffee has always marked the start of a new adventure for them, so including that tradition in their elopement morning felt true to who they are.

While we were at Moonscape Overlook, a group of travelers happened to bring their parrots to the vista—and we’re not talking small birds. Some of them stood half the height of an adult human, and their wings spread wide against the red rock.

It was wild and a bit unusual, but Gina and Salim weren’t phased in the least. They ate their cake and just watched the massive, colorful birds fly around them. 

Slot Canyon Elopement Ceremony with Smudging & a Spell Jar Ceremony

Gina and Salim’s ceremony was the heart of their day, and it was clear they’d planned it with so much intention.

Bill led the ceremony, beginning with smudging, then calling in the directions and ancestors—a tradition rooted in Native practice—before reflecting on their relationship.

From there, Gina and Salim moved into a spell jar ceremony. If you’ve never heard of this (we hadn’t either, before that day), it’s a beautifully specific and sacred practice. Gina had gathered a variety of herbs, each one holding its own meaning, and the two of them took turns placing them into a jar alongside miniature copies of their vows. Bill asked Salim to seal it with a cork lid fitted with two bound candles, representing the couple and the love binding them together.

They lit the candles in unison and read their vows to each other from handwritten vow books while the wax melted down, sealing the jar closed. Once they finished, they snuffed the candles out, completing the ceremony.

This wasn’t a ceremony ritual we had ever witnessed before, and you could feel how much thought went into every layer of it. Everything, from the table they carried in by hand, to the herbs they had carefully chosen, to the slot canyon walls that held the same sense of adventure that brought them together in the first place, created a ceremony that felt binding, not just symbolic. 

If you’re feeling inspired by Gina and Salim’s Hanksville elopement ceremony, check out our guide on how to structure an elopement ceremony of your own.

3 Reasons to Consider an Elopement in Hanksville, Utah

If you’ve never heard of Hanksville before, you’re not alone—most of our couples hadn’t either. But it’s become one of our favorite places to recommend for a desert elopement.

We’ve spent every spring here for the last few years with a group of friends—what we’ve started calling Adult Spring Break—canyoneering and exploring for an entire week. We’ve come to know this area well, and think that it’s one of the most underrated desert elopement locations. Here’s why:

It has serious landscape diversity 

Hanksville is a tiny town, but the terrain around it is anything but small. Here, you’ll find rock formations in blue and green hues, red rock slot canyons, vistas that feel like standing on the moon, and even a dinosaur dig site nearby. Every couple we’ve photographed here has loved the range—and because the town itself is so small, you’re not losing hours to driving between locations.

It’s close to Moab

Hanksville sits about an hour and a half from Moab, which makes it easy to combine the two locations. You can easily add a second adventure day onto a Moab elopement, or flip it and spend a little time in Moab after eloping here.

It’s also a great choice if you want a spring elopement without the chaos of Jeep Week, which is exactly how we found this place ourselves. To learn more about why this season ideal for eloping in Moab, check out our guide to the best time to elope in Moab.

If you’re still deciding where to go, Moab and the surrounding areas are full of incredible places to elope. Check out some of our other favorite Utah desert elopement locations here.

It’s built for canyoneering elopements

Every spring, we spend a week climbing through Hanksville’s red rock canyons and exploring nooks most people never see. If you’re drawn to rock climbing or canyoneering and love the look of the desert, a canyoneering elopement here lets you bring some of that adventure into your ceremony day. To learn more about how to plan this kind of adventure, check out our guide to planning a rock climbing wedding.

More Hanksville, Utah Elopement Photos at Bentonite Hills

To end their elopement day, Gina + Salim opted to head out to Bentonite Hills for sunset and blue hour. The colors of the bentonite clay really pop once the sun goes down, showcasing the red, orange, and blue colors.

Here they shared their first dance in private, watch sunset and enjoyed a slow evening letting the day settle.

We waited for the starry night sky to showcase the Milky Way before separating for the evening. One of the other things we love about this area is the dark sky access to truly get to see the night sky light up with stars. Leaving you on your wedding day, standing together, thinking about how big this Earth is and how lucky we are to have found our person.

Hanksville, Utah Elopement Video

Vendors who made this Hanksville, Utah elopement possible:

Photography, Videography & Officiant: Adventure and Vow

Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal

Hair Pin: Etsy

Earrings: Ocean’s Treasure 

Tux: Men’s Wearhouse

Lappel Pin: Etsy

Cuff Links: Etsy

Tie: Kind Design 

Groom’s Ring: Kay Jewelers

Bride’s Ring: Shane Co.

Ready to Plan Your Own Hanksville Desert Elopement?

Gina and Salim didn’t choose to elope in Hanksville because it was a familiar location. They chose it because it gave them room to keep doing what they’ve always done together: exploring somewhere new and learning a little more about each other along the way.

If this kind of adventure feels like you two, or you’re intrigued to explore this part of the desert, we’d love to help you see what a Hanksville elopement could look like.

Blog post written by Sonder Studio