Mountain Views, Whiskey, & Dogs - The Perfect Southern Utah Elopement
- Jenn Brook
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
For Ashley and Jason, the vision for their wedding day was grounded, relaxed, and deeply intentional — the kind of elopement that focuses on meaning over tradition. In her early planning notes, Ashley shared what mattered most: a slow day, their dogs by their side, good whiskey, and an outdoor wedding location in Utah that felt wild and expansive. No pressure. No performance. Just the two of them, choosing each other in a way that felt honest and true.
That same ease has shaped their relationship from the beginning. Their love isn’t loud or rushed — it’s steady, playful, and rooted in shared values. Like many couples who choose an intimate wedding or adventure elopement in Utah, they were drawn to the idea of a day that allowed them to be fully present, without a crowd or a rigid timeline.
Starting the day...TOGETHER
We met Ashley and Jason at their Airbnb in the early afternoon, tucked near the landscapes that make eloping in Utah so special. Dogs wandered through the space, bags were half-packed, and wedding attire hung nearby — waiting quietly. This part of the day felt less like “getting ready” and more like settling in, making phone calls to loved ones, and savoring the significance of what was about to unfold.
Ashley and Jason got ready side by side, moving through the quiet moments of preparation together. He zipped her into her dress; she straightened his bolo tie. They wrote their vows with intention, pulled on their boots, and stepped into the day hand in hand. What followed wasn’t just a walk toward their ceremony, but a shared beginning — grounded in care, gratitude, and the steady knowing that they were choosing each other, fully and without hesitation.
THE DETAILS
When it was time, they packed up and headed toward their ceremony location: a peaceful, shaded spot surrounded by towering trees and open sky. Locations like this are why so many couples choose a Utah elopement: minimal, beautiful, and deeply grounding without the need for décor or elaborate setup.
THE CEREMONY
Their ceremony unfolded gently. No aisle. No formal seating. Just heartfelt vows, rings exchanged with intention, and the legal act of marriage completed simply and meaningfully. As they signed their marriage license and laughed through a few celebratory selfies, the moment felt exactly as it should — intimate, joyful, and real.
Yay! We're Married!
The Marriage License
What better way to celebrate than with their dogs by their side? And what better witnesses to signing their marriage license than Darcy and Willey — the constant companions who have shared in the everyday moments, adventures, and quiet rhythms of their life together.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
After the ceremony, the celebration continued in the most natural way. Newlywed portraits blended seamlessly into a cake-and-whiskey toast, using a weathered stump as their table. This is the kind of detail we love about adventure elopements, celebrations shaped by the landscape rather than a schedule.
and they danced until the sun set...
As the afternoon moved on, we followed the light toward Navajo Lake for candid moments with their dogs.. With golden hour settling in, the day slowed even more. The warm glow of sunset marked the closing chapter of their wedding — no grand exit, just the quiet satisfaction of a day lived fully.
Days like this are why intimate elopements in Utah hold so much power. They invite couples to strip away expectations and return to what truly matters. For Ashley and Jason, that meant their dogs, the Southern Utah landscape, a shared glass of whiskey, and the simple, beautiful act of choosing one another.
The Professionals That Made This Day Epic!
Coordination, Set-up & Officiant
Jenn Brook of Wilde Heart Weddings | IG @wildeheartweddings | www.wildeheartweddings.com
Florals
A combination of Wood and Fresh Floral Artists
Fresh Floral - Hope & Evolution - Robbin | 801-979-2827 | IG @hopeandevolution
Wood Floral - Wild Escape Florals - Kelsey | 208-941-7683 | IG @wild_escape_florals
Cake
Skyli of Honey Skies Bakery | IG @honeyskiesevents
Garrett & Jenn Wilde are an adventurous husband and wife team that specializes in all things weddings. Jenn is a full-time wedding officiant and coordinator, who sometimes dabbles in photos as long as the camera is on auto. Garrett is the real talent w it comes to imagery and enjoys astrophotography and landscape photography as a hobby, but really loves taking the time to connect with couples and capture their love story in imagery.
They are based in Utah but travel for work and adventures throughout the western states with their two Labradoodles, Marlee & Baylee. Their elopement photography is best described as candid, in-the-moment photography, with an emphasis on alternative, non-traditional couples, & elopements.