How to Elope in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is a completely unique and inspiring location to get married in!

With its harsh landscape, eclectic vibes, and endless sense of wonder, Joshua Tree National Park offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation that is perfect for any couple looking to have a uniquely tailored wedding experience. Whether that is taking in the sights at Key’s View, hitting your favorite climbing route, enjoying a desert picnic celebration with your closest friends and family, or some combination of all of those things, Joshua Tree has something for everyone!

Only about a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles, California, Joshua Tree National Park is a true getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s naturally, a picture-perfect location for you and your partner to focus on unifying your marriage in the most genuine way. Not only does choosing to elope create an escape from the stressors of traditional wedding planning, but it allows you the freedom to get married exactly the way you want. Eloping (or planning an intentionally small wedding) in a National Park is a way to get married in a candid and stress-free way all while being surrounded by nature. Win-Win ammiright?!

The term “Elopement” has come far since our parent’s day and age. Eloping no longer means a couple is running-to-the-courthouse-because-they-feel-spontaneous-and-only-met-3-days-ago, and thank goodness. In 2021, eloping means a couple is planning an intentionally small wedding experience that is centered around their story together as well as emphasizing the experience both they and their intentionally invited guests have.

Elopements typically stray away from aspects included in traditional weddings and instead incorporate more authentic and candid experiences for the couple and their guests. Think hiking a favorite trail together, enjoying a private winery experience, or taking the views in on a hot air balloon. Pretty much envision your best date ever and then plan to commit your lives together at some point during it! There is no “right way” to get married these days and that is something I absolutely love. Having the freedom to plan a wedding around your interests is something I am truly passionate about.

I love helping my couples curate an out-of-this-world wedding experience that they are totally stoked about!

Joshua Tree National Park offers a little bit of everything for every type of outdoor lover. It’s the second largest National Park in California covering over 1200 square miles and is also designated as a Dark Sky Park. Star-gazing in Joshua Tree is not to be missed! With its unique rock formations, alien-like plant life, and treacherous mining history around seemingly every corner you are sure to find something that speaks to you both!

Highlights from An Elopement Photographer

**Never Miss a Sunset!**

The best sunset in the park is hands down Keys View! It’s always my number one recommendation to anyone visiting and is sure to be spectacular. With views of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio Mountains as well as the entire Coachella Valley, trust me when I say it’s epic! Be sure to bring a jacket along (even in the summer) as it’s one of the highest elevations in the park and always 10-20 degrees cooler!

**HIdden Valley Trail**

Very central to the park, Hidden Valley puts you right in the middle of all the Joshua Tree goodness! There is a short nature trail and picnic area that is perfect for families to enjoy and take in the iconic scenery. In the surrounding area, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a few rock climbers on the towering boulder routes or maybe even a big horn sheep!

**Go Star Gazing**

Joshua Tree is famous for it’s star-gazing and once you experience it, it is no wonder why. The Park Rangers will tell you that “half the park is after dark,” and definitely take their word for it. Milky-Way season is typically April - September with peak season in June and July!

Experience Park Boulevard

If hiking isn’t your thing, but you still love to experience new places and crave adventure, driving the park’s main road, Park Boulevard might be perfect! Most of my favorite trails and must-see stops are off this road and they can easily be done in one jam-packed day or spread out over a few more leisurely paced days.

From the wildflower blooms in spring to the occasional winter snowfall, Park Boulevard offers a different experience with each visit to Joshua Tree!

CURIOUS WHAT OTHER THINGS THERE ARE TO DO? CHECK OUT THIS LINK 👇🏻

More things to do in Joshua Tree

Where to Stay

**Camping, RV’ing, & Overlanding**

There are several great campgrounds within the park boundary! They do tend to fill quickly during peak season (Oct-Mar), so I recommend arriving early or booking a site online prior to visiting. There is also overflow camping on BLM land at a nearby dry lake bed as well as off of Gold Crown OHV Road. However, word of caution if planning to camp and explore off of Gold Crown Rd, I HIGHLY recommend 4x4 and high clearance if planning to explore more than just a few miles. This area is home to numerous abandoned mines and these roads can be INTENSE. Gold Crown Road does connect into the park via Old Dale Rd, but I only encourage proficient off-roaders and overlanders take this route as passenger vehicles, vans, and SUVs will not be suitable for road conditions.

**Vacation Rentals**

There are SO MANY absolutely amazing vacation rentals in the towns of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and 29 Palms! One of my favorites is by The Joshua Tree House (@thejoshuatreehouse on Instagram!) and trust me when I say it’s a desert dream!
See it **HERE**

**Hotel Lyfe**

Now if you like enjoying the outdoors but not so much sleeping in the outdoors there are a handful of hotels in the area. There is a Marriott and Holiday Inn Express in the town of 29 Palms and if you’re feeling more boujie then Palm Springs is just a short 1.5-hour drive from the park!

Check out this link for more information on Campgrounds and reservations

Campground Information

Don’t worry if you are starting to feel overwhelmed after taking a look at all that goodness.

I help all my couples navigate the logistical process of finding the perfect trails for what they are envisioning, help with any necessary wilderness permitting, provide customized timeline planning that optimizes the best lighting for photos, as well as aid in finding accommodations that fit their vision and preferences. I tell my couples that I am essentially their own personal resource to connect with and bounce ideas around with throughout their wedding planning process!

Getting Married in Joshua Tree National Park

Okay, so now you know you want to get married in Joshua Tree National Park, but you’re wondering where to start and how to actually make it happen? Well for starters, most National Parks require what is called a Special Use Permit for wedding activities to take place within the park boundary. This permit varies in cost just depending on the park, but typically ranges from $100 - $500. For Joshua Tree National Park, this Special Use Permit costs $120.00. This fee covers the cost to have your wedding ceremony within the park at one of their authorized ceremony locations. The amount of attendees a couple can have at their ceremony varies at each location, but generally between 10-35 guests are permitted. Additionally a separate, photography-specific Special Use Permit is also required for your photographer to photograph within the park boundary. This permit is also $120.00, but covers your entire day of photos!

So to begin, start by envisioning how many (if any!) guests will be joining you on your day and get in touch with the Special Use Permitting Office to see which ceremony locations are available for your anticipated date. With all of my couples, I help guide them along in this process and am happy to help answer any questions and connect with the permitting office on their behalf. As a rule of thumb, it’s always good to double check with the National Park Service as regulations can be updated from season to season.

click here for more information on Special use permits

Legalizing Your National Park Marriage

There are a couple different ways to go about legalizing your marriage in the desert

First, is to simply work with an officiant who will travel on your behalf! I have worked with several officiants that go wherever their couples need them to be and it is always an amazing experience. It’s also a total plus to have someone who understands all the legalities that go into ensuring your marriage license is filled out perfectly and that the paperwork is submitted timely and efficiently without you needing to worry.
Another option is to have a dedicated family member or close friend become ordained. It may be a little detailed but having a family member or close friend officiate your ceremony can be one of the most intentional aspects of the day. They know and understand your relationship in a much more personal and unique way than a hired officiant may.
And finally, one of the easiest ways to make your marriage legal is to legally get married before your elopement or wedding day! I know it may sound crazy but trust me when I say that it is completely normal and can be a huge relief of stress for some couples. Having your legal documents completely taken care of prior to your elopement day means that you can solely focus on doing exactly what you want to be doing on your wedding day and not having to worry about paperwork (or keeping it safe for that matter!). You won’t need to worry about booking an officiant and instead can focus on sharing private vows, personal letters, and/or rings if you so choose.