Amanda and Austin walk together through the vibrant and colorful hills of Death Valley National Park.

A place with the word “death” in the name might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about your outdoor wedding. But don’t be scared off—Death Valley National Park is one of the most beautiful and geologically diverse parks on the west coast.

There’s a number of reasons why Death Valley is so remarkable, from the Badwater Basin to the Artist Palette. The park even contains the lowest point in the continental US, all the way up to one of the highest peaks in California. How cool is that?

Don’t believe me? All of these images were taken on the same weekend in this incredible park.

A couple walks through the colorful hills of Death Valley National Park.

A view of Telescope Peak in Death Valley with sun shining down through a cloudy sky.

Footprint in the sand on the Mesquite Sands Dunes in Death Valley National Park.

Cracks in the ground of Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park.

Incredible, right? If you want to explore the wild west to celebrate your love—a Death Valley wedding elopement is for you!

Now let’s cover how you can get married in Death Valley National Park.

Newly wed couple snuggles for an artist photo in Death Valley for their wedding day — Permits for Death Valley

First things first—you’ll need to **obtain a** special-use permit, which secures your date and location for the wedding in the park. It’s better to do this sooner rather than later since the park needs ample time to process permits. The process is relatively simple—fill out the form and pay a non-refundable processing fee of $300. A small price to pay for protecting your favorite park on your wedding day!
At this time, **elopement weddings are almost always held in** Breakfast Canyon, a private area that is gated off from the general public. This is nice because you won’t have people outside of your wedding party at your ceremony. If you are having a very small wedding, you can ask the park about location options and they will review on a case-by-case basis. Either way, an NPS monitor will need to be present, but don’t worry—their only interest is in making sure the park is being protected. For smaller weddings, **having a mandatory NPS monitor will cost $50/hour.** Larger weddings might require more than one monitor. Bonus—if you’re looking for a spot for a low-key reception, the canyon also has picnic tables and a bathroom.

Beyond the permits, you and your guests will pay a $30 park entry fee at the visitors center. It’s not much, if you’re inviting guests you should give them a heads up. Personally, I am always in and out of national parks, which is why I purchased the “America the Beautiful” Pass for $80. It pays for itself in no time, is easy to buy at the gate, and helps support the places I visit.

Marriage Licenses for Death Valley

To make your wedding legal, you’ll need someone to perform the ceremony. This person is known as an officiant and they perform the actual ceremony itself. But even before you get to this step, you’ll need to request a marriage license. This can be requested online or in-person, depending on your location. If you need to go in person, make sure to make an appointment. There are two options for picking up a marriage license for a Death Valley wedding.
**Travel to the county clerk-recorder’s office in Independence, CA.** If you go this route, check drive times as this office is almost 2 hours from the main part of the park and 4 hours from Las Vegas.
**Get a marriage license in another county in the state of California.** You’ll want to call the county of choice to make sure this is okay. But it should be, as long as the license is delivered back to this county. Licenses can be picked up 90 days ahead of time.
You can either finalize the marriage in the park, or get legally married at the nearest courthouse where you live and have a commitment ceremony in the park. If this all sounds complicated, ask your officiant for help.

What About a Photographer and Vendors?

In a place as stunning as Death Valley, you’re going to want a photographer to capture your special day. Depending on your preferences, your photographer can cover the ceremony, the reception, the prep, or any combination of these. In addition, hiring a photographer with knowledge of the park is super helpful for planning the best times of day to take photographs, taking into account drive times and the unique lighting of the park. If you have an especially small wedding, your photographer can act as an elopement planner, helping you navigate things and plan your day.

As for other vendors, the look and feel of your elopement are totally up to you. This can include catering, florals, jewelry, perfume, small decor like rugs and pillows, and more. Just keep in mind Death Valley is a more remote park, so vendors might be limited or charge for travel. Just make sure to pack everything out at the end of the day. Remember to leave no trace.

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Melody and Tyler walk together in front of an iconic view at Death Valley National Park after their wedding.

Where to Stay in Death Valley National Park

In the park: There are a number of campgrounds and hotels to choose from in the park, just make sure you plan ahead as these locations fill up during peak times. If you’re looking to have the full park experience without driving into the park every day, stay at one of these locations. The Oasis at Death Valley and the Ranch Inn are both great spots.

Outside of the park: Most Airbnbs are on the Nevada side of the park in Beatty and Pahrump, which can easily be 1-2 hours from the park entrance. Make sure to check driving times and road conditions. The park experienced some intense rains in the summers of 2022/2023 and some of the roads were damaged. Check out the Death Valley House and the Shady Lady Bed and Breakfast if you’re willing to drive in and out of the park.

A Note About Dogs: While we love your four-legged friends, this might not be the best trip for Fido. Yes, dogs are allowed in the park. But only in campsites and wherever cars can go (i.e. parking lots). So, it’s very limited. If it’s important to have your pup on your wedding day, you’ll need to look into venues in the park or getting married outside of the park in an area that allows dogs.

Getting There: Cars

Fun fact—Death Valley is the largest national park in the lower 48! That means yes, you will need a car. Bonus points if you can get a car like a Jeep that can handle off-roading. Some of Death Valley’s most beautiful spots are on bumpy dirt roads. But don’t worry, you can still visit most of the park’s hottest spots with a regular rental car.
If you’re local to Southern California or the surrounding areas, driving to the park is a relatively quick drive.
**Los Angeles -** 4 hours
**San Diego -** 5 hours
**Las Vegas -** 2 hours

Getting There: Planes

As I mentioned before, Death Valley is a remote park, so you’ll need to fly if you aren’t local to the area. Keep in mind you’ll need to pick up a marriage license in the state of California if you’re getting legally married in the park.
Check out your options and the distance to the park entrance.
**Harry Reid International Airport -** 2 hours
**St. George Regional Airport -** 3.5 hours
**Fresno Yosemite International Airport -** 5 hours

Dressing for a Death Valley Wedding

You’ve settled on Death Valley. Now you need to settle on what to wear. Know that you can choose your style from a traditional wedding to something uniquely your own. Just keep a few tips in mind since you’ll be in the rugged outdoors:

**Dresses:** Short dresses are popular since they are easier to hike in. But don’t discount a long dress if that’s what you want. Long dresses tend to drag on the ground, pick up dirt, and snag. But personally—I think that’s ideal for an elopement or outdoor wedding! It shows you’ve really roughed it to say ‘I do.’ Besides, when will you ever wear that dress again? Might as well have fun with it.
**Suits:** Suits are always a safe bet. But if you’re worried about sweating under all those layers, consider a vest instead. It retains that classic feel while giving you a little breathing room. Black is standard, but you can also try maroon, forest green, burnt orange, or deep blues. Think about contrasting colors—tans and light blues might blend into the background.

Tyler poses in a green suit with a bolo tie in front of a colorful view in Death Valley National Park. — **Accessories and Shoes:** A sturdy pair of shoes is a must. Boots and wedges with a decent tread are popular. Yes, heels are acceptable for the ceremony itself, but it’s really hard to walk on the loose and gravely dirty or soft sand of Death Valley the rest of the day. So, that’s something to think about. Hats, flower crowns, and jewelry are all fun ways to add a little flair, but don’t forget that wind is a very real possibility in desert scapes.
**Be Prepared:** Outdoor weddings and elopements offer a wonderful experience for adventurous couples. But keep in mind that you are at the mercy of the elements. Wind is notoriously high in the desert. Prepare yourself for temperature shifts and weather changes. Jackets or blankets act as protection from the cold or sun exposure. Keep water and electrolytes handy, especially in a place as dry as Death Valley.

When to Get Married in Death Valley National Park

Timing your Death Valley wedding is so important, because there’s one season you can’t visit during—summer. Did you know that Death Valley is one of the hottest places on earth? During the summer, temperatures can reach nearly 130º. In fact, the park does not recommend people visit during the summer months. For this reason, I highly recommend winter, late fall and early spring for visiting and getting married in this park. Either way, it’s likely it will be windy, so be prepared!

My absolute favorite time to be in the park is between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and in January. While these months are colder, they are some of the least visited times in the park. Getting married on a week day in the middle of December means you’ll have these beautiful places mostly to yourself.

Despite this park being one of the driest in the park, rain does still happen. Especially lately—historic flooding has hit the park in the late summers of 2022 and 2023, destroying roads for 1-3 months. Always make sure to check road conditions before heading into the park, and be in contact with your elopement photographer for backup option if you’re getting married during that time (yes, I have a backup location for every spot I photograph in).

~tldr: The best time to elope in Death Valley is weekdays in late fall, early spring, and winter~

A groom reads his vows to his bride on their wedding day in Death Valley National Park.

Melody and Tyler share their first kiss in Breakfast Canyon.

Protect This Place and Leave No Trace

Whenever we talk about outdoor elopements, we have to talk about Leave No Trace (LNT). This set of principles about how best to preserve and protect the outdoors is something that’s required to keep our park the way that it is.

Generally speaking, the following items are okay to pack in and out of the park: Free-standing arches, small tables, a guest book, coolers with water, live flowers (but check the specifics), battery-powered candles, runner rugs, cake, and champagne.

The following items are typically verboten to protect the integrity of the park: Drones, dried flowers, burning candles, bubbles, any live animals (including doves, butterflies, pets, etc.), confetti, rice, birdseed, balloons, and smoke bombs.

These rules aren’t meant to be a bummer. They are common-sense directives that help keep Death Valley, the park, and its visitors happy and healthy. We are all visitors to this ecosystem, so it’s prudent to reduce our impact.