Wedding Permits

A man with hair in a bun, dress shirt, and tie smiling at a woman across from him who is holding a bouquet of dried flowers, and wearing a white dress and shawl, while another woman in a white jacket holds a piece of paper, in front of a canyon.
A couple exchange wedding vows at Sunset Point on a winter day.

Used with permission

Capitol Reef National Park is pleased to allow weddings in the park under a special use permit. In general, the park will approve permits for small weddings in locations around the picnic area, campground, or other front-country areas. Weddings in the park are simple, rustic and no-frills ceremonies in an outdoor setting. If you are looking for a place that allows chairs, music, decorations, runners, arches, tents, or other extras, this will not be your best option. Permits will not be approved for backcountry locations as per wilderness management policies.

Once your application is reviewed, the park will contact you for any clarifying information. After approval, a special use permit will be prepared and sent to you for signature. Upon receipt, please review, sign, and return the permit to our office for final approval. If your ceremony plans change, notify our office immediately. After the permit is approved, we will send you an authorized copy. The approved permit must be in your possession at the time of the ceremony.

Wedding Permits are $100.00. A cashier's check, money order, or personal check should accompany your application. Payment can also be made on pay.gov once a permit number has been issued.

 

Capitol Reef Wedding Locations

Explore where to get married in the park: maximum numbers of people and vehicles, weather details, and location specifics for ceremonies and parking. 
This information is subject to change as the Park undergoes the Compliance process for issuing Wedding Special Use Permits.
All orchard locations have uneven ground, including irrigation ditches, and the ground could by muddy, the grass could be unmowed, etc.

 

General Guidelines

  • Weddings or ceremonies may be scheduled up to one year in advance and no later than 7 days prior to your event.
  • As parking spaces are limited in the park, carpooling or shuttling is strongly encouraged, and may be required. Travel to and from the site must be via established trails and roads.
  • Wedding activities are restricted to areas of slickrock, dry washes, or maintained areas of the park, as outlined in the permit.
  • Normal entrance fees apply to all vehicles associated with the ceremony. Interagency passes are accepted.
  • The number of participants may be limited, depending on the selected location. The maximum number allowed for any location is 100.
  • Because activities may not interfere with normal visitor use of the park, duration of ceremonies is usually limited to twenty (20) minutes. Post-event activities, such as receptions, shall take place in designated picnic areas or an arranged staging area. Exclusive use of an area is not permitted. No area shall be closed to the public during the ceremony or reception.
  • Areas normally closed to the public cannot be used, and certain sensitive resource zones (as identified by the park superintendent) cannot be used.
  • Park visitor center, restrooms and other buildings may not be used for ceremony preparations (dressing, picture-taking, rehearsals, waiting areas, etc.) or in the event of inclement weather.
  • Permittee shall look at the 3-day forecast prior to the event and cancel or contact the park about planned alternative locations and/or dates.
  • Photographers/Videographers are included in the permit. The permittee and ceremony participants may take photos at other locations in the park and are not limited to the locations listed above. Group sizes may be limited based on the desired location to take photos.
  • Music accompanying the event is limited to non-amplified musical instruments. Amplification of any sound before, during or after the ceremony and connection to park utilities is not permitted.
  • Equipment such as tents, carpets, floral displays and generators cannot be used in the park. A few portable chairs (provided by the permittee) are permitted.
  • Throwing and scattering of rice, birdseed, flower petals or other materials, is prohibited.The release/dispersal of butterflies, balloons, or any other live and/or inanimate objects are prohibited. Dried flowers are allowed in bouquets as long as no decorative seeds and/or seedheads are present.
  • Decorations such as banners, streamers or hanging objects may not be tacked, stapled, nailed or attached to any trees, plants or park facilities.
  • Leave No Trace principles and practices shall be closely adhered to for all events/ceremonies. Make sure all trash and ceremony items are picked up and packed out with you. Please respect the park's resources and tread lightly. Avoid sensitive resource areas.
  • Drones are prohibited.
  • Cost recovery for bathroom use may be assessed for large groups. Port-a-potties or equivalent may be required for large groups.

Emailed applications are preferred. Submit completed application to care_commercialservices@nps.gov.

If submitting a paper application, please send to:

Special Park Uses Coordinator
HC 70 Box 15
Torrey, UT 84775
Email: care_commercialservices@nps.gov
Phone: 435-425-4126
Fax: 435-425-3026

Last updated: September 28, 2024

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

HC 70, Box 15
Torrey, UT 84775

Phone:

435-425-3791
Recorded park information available 24 hours a day. Phones are answered when staff is available. If no one answers, please leave a message, your call will be returned. Questions may also be sent to care_information@nps.gov.

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