How do you elope in Joshua Tree National Park?
In this Joshua Tree elopement guide, you will find all the resources you need to plan and book one of my Joshua Tree elopement packages. Below is your checklist of what you will need to do to successfully elope in Joshua Tree National Park!
- Buy flights or arrange your travel plans.
- Pick your wedding ceremony location.
- Get your Joshua Tree wedding permit.
- Pick a beautiful Joshua Tree Airbnb to stay at.
- Book your Joshua Tree elopement photographer and videographer
- Book any other vendors you might need like a florist or hair and makeup.
- Purchase wedding attire.
Do you need a permit to get married in Joshua Tree?
Yes, you do need to get a Joshua Tree wedding permit and it’s $120 dollars. This is the cost of an elopement or micro-wedding in Joshua Tree National Park but there may be additional costs and fees for larger weddings.
To get the special use permit, simply fill out the online application found here and email it to Jeannie_Wilson@nps.gov. If your application is approved, you’ll receive an email to pay the permit fee online. Don’t forget to bring the permit with you on your wedding day! I’d be happy to hang on to it for you so we have it on us while traveling to different photo locations!
Where can you get married in Joshua Tree National Park?
Below is a list of wedding ceremony locations that your wedding and photography permit will cover.
Indian Cove Amphitheater: No more than 100 people total and only 1 vehicle. You must shuttle your guest in and out of this location.
Hidden Valley Picnic Area: No more than 35 people total and up to 8 vehicles.
Turkey Flat: No more than 35 people total and up to 8 vehicles.
Cap Rock: No more than 25 people total and up to 8 vehicles.
Rattlesnake Picnic Area: No more than 20 people and 8 vehicles.
Quail Springs Picnic Area: No more than 15 people and 8 vehicles.
Split Rock: No more than 15 people and 5 vehicles.
Porcupine Wash: No more than 12 people and 4 vehicles.
Queen Valley Mine Intersection: No more than 10 people and 5 vehicles.
Lost Horse Parking Lot: No more than 10 people and 5 vehicles.
Live Oak Picnic Area: No more than 5 people and 3 vehicles.
What Can I Bring to My Joshua Tree Wedding?
Items that are permitted for a wedding
- An Arch must be free-standing
- Small table for guest book
- Cooler with water
- Live flowers
- Battery-powered candles
- Runner
- Rug
- Cake
- Champagne
Items not permitted for a wedding
- Drone
- Dried flowers
- Non-battery powered candles
- Bubbles
- Any live animals, including doves, butterflies, et
- Confetti
- Rice
- Birdseed
- Balloons
- Smoke Bombs
Our Joshua Tree Elopement Packages Services
I’m Autumn Marie the photographer and planner behind these carefully crafted Joshua Tree elopement packages. To make each elopement special and unique I do my best to truly get to know my couples and their love story. Josh is a wonderful Joshua Tree officiant who will make you laugh and cry happy tears on your wedding day. Romantic moments and storytelling images are the main focus of my work. The way I help guide my clients with crafting details for their day is one of my favorite things to do. For example, giving suggestions on how to make your elopement more special with little things like letters from your family or friends or craft cocktail kits. I’m here to simply guide you through the planning process to cultivate a cohesive wedding day. That way you and your partner can enjoy all the emotions and romance of the day.
Things to Know About Eloping in the Joshua Tree
- I do not perform elopements in Joshua Tree from June-September for the health and safety of all involved due to the extreme heat. Plus my camera gear will overheat and be useless which is no good!
- The desert is no joke folks! Winters are cold, hovering around 32°F at night and averaging a high of 58°F without windchill. Spring (Mar-May) and Fall (Sep–Nov) are the best times to get married Joshua Tree, but that also means that the Park is busier. I highly recommend getting married on a weekday or Sunday to avoid crowds and have a more private experience.
- Due to the fact that this is a more remote location, cell signal is nonexistent in the Park. Outside the Park, WiFi is common and you’ll get a signal with most carriers. But once we’re a mile inside the Park, there is no signal at all. I highly suggest downloading the location map on Google maps for offline use.
- The temperature drops at sunset drastically so bring plenty of layers because I promise we will shoot till the sun goes down! Joshua Tree is known for its wild winds which can produce a cold wind chill at night.
Joshua Tree Elopement Team
Autumn Marie is a wedding and elopement photographer based in the USA. She provides services for weddings and elopement planning across the U.S. and worldwide. Autumn and Josh are a photo and officiant couple that is a Joshua Tree elopement team. Her style is a film-style photographer that captures earthy, romantic, playful photos mixed in with some creative editorial flare. For info on pricing contact me for rates and details!
Joshua Tree Elopement Packages
- You get your choice of a half-day, full-day, or two-day elopement package within a 4-hour radius of Joshua Tree National Park
- I curate a special experience unique to each couple so the whole day reflects on you as a couple!
- Elopement location scouting
- Vendor, lodging, and activity recommendations (you get a downloadable PDF guide!)
- Assistance and information to help you with permits, licenses, etc.
- elopement planning guide checklist to stay organized and help you budget
- Personalized officiant services
- Online gallery with full-resolution images and printing rights
- 24-72 hour sneak peeks
- Travel fees are all included in my pricing
All my National Park elopement packages start at $6,200.
Click here to have me photograph your elopement or intimate wedding.
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