Moab Elopement Flowers
Beautiful, Simple, Perfectly You
When It's Just the Two of You (and the Desert)
I have a soft spot for elopements. Elopement flowers are where I got my start as a floral designer. There's something about the intimacy of it—two people choosing to marry in a way that feels authentic to them, without all the pressure and performance of a big wedding. No guest list stress, no timeline dictated by caterers, no worrying about Aunt Susan's seating preferences. Just you, your partner, this incredible landscape, and a commitment you're making to each other.
And honestly? Elopement flowers are some of my favorite work. They're focused, intentional, personal. We're not trying to fill a reception hall or create twenty centerpieces. We're creating something beautiful for you to hold, something that makes your photos even more special, something that honors the significance of this moment without overwhelming it.
I've designed flowers for elopements at sunrise on Mesa Arch, at sunset in Castle Valley, at remote desert overlooks accessible only by 4x4, at intimate ceremonies with just an officiant and a photographer. Every single one has been different, and every single one has felt exactly right for that couple.
What Makes Elopement Flowers Special
Simplicity Without Sacrifice
Just because you're eloping doesn't mean your flowers should be an afterthought. You deserve something beautiful. The difference is scale and scope—we're focusing on what matters most rather than trying to cover every surface.
Most elopements need just a few key pieces:
A wedding bouquet or two
Maybe a boutonniere for you or your partner
Possibly a small ceremony installation if your site allows
That's it. Simple, but made with the same care and attention as a 200-person wedding.
Built for Adventure
Moab elopements often involve some adventure. You're hiking to your spot. You're scrambling over rocks. You're in the backcountry with no shade and no water. Your flowers need to handle this reality.
I design elopement bouquets to be:
Compact enough to carry comfortably during hikes or climbs
Sturdy enough to survive being set down on rocks, tucked in a backpack temporarily, held through various activities
Heat-tolerant, using varieties that won't wilt in desert sun
Lightweight, so you're not lugging extra weight to remote locations
Timing That Works With Your Day
Elopements move differently than traditional weddings. Maybe you're starting at sunrise to catch that incredible light. Maybe you're hiking in, having your ceremony, then going on a longer adventure afterward. Maybe your whole "wedding day" is actually spread across a couple of days of exploring.
We can work with unconventional timing. If you need your bouquet delivered at 5am, we'll make it happen. If you're staying nearby and can pick up flowers the night before, that works too. The flexibility of elopements extends to logistics.
What You Actually Need
Let's talk about what most eloping couples choose and why.
The Essential: Your wedding Bouquet
This is the one piece I'd never skip. Even for the most stripped-down, adventurous elopement, having a bouquet makes a difference.
Why it matters:
It gives your hands something to do during the ceremony (nervous hand-wringing solved)
It elevates your photos significantly—that pop of color and life against desert landscape is stunning
It marks the occasion as special, not just another day hiking in Moab
You'll treasure those images of you holding it
Often I have couples who both would like a bouquet and I am on board! Who says only one person should get to hold flowers!?
Size recommendations for elopements: I usually suggest something on the smaller side—8-10 inches in diameter maximum. This is substantial enough to photograph beautifully but not cumbersome to carry around. If you're doing serious hiking, we can go even smaller—think 6-7 inches, almost hand-sized, but still gorgeous and full of personality.
The Nice Addition: Boutonniere
If you or your partner is wearing a suit or button-up, a boutonniere adds a nice finishing touch. It connects your flowers to them visually, creates cohesion in photos, and honestly just looks good.
Elopement boutonniere style: I keep these simple and sturdy. Maybe one beautiful focal flower, some interesting foliage, nice clean construction. Nothing too elaborate or delicate—it needs to survive being worn during your adventures. We often use dried bits here to make sure they hold up all day.
Alternative: Some couples skip the traditional boutonniere and do a small bundle of flowers or herbs tucked in a pocket. This can look great and feels more relaxed.
The Optional: Ceremony Installation
This is a maybe. Some elopement sites can accommodate a small ceremony installation—an arch arrangement, something at your feet, flowers on nearby rocks. But often, the landscape is so incredible that adding anything feels unnecessary.
When ceremony flowers make sense:
You're at a venue (like Red Earth or a private property) rather than public lands
Your ceremony site has a natural place for flowers (an arbor, a rock formation that could hold arrangements)
You're having a few guests and want to mark the ceremony space
You want something for photos that isn't just landscape
When to skip them:
You're on public lands that do not allow ceremony flowers
Your ceremony spot is remote and difficult to access
The landscape is so dramatic that flowers feel redundant
You're trying to keep things truly minimal
I'm always honest about this. Sometimes I'll look at photos of where you're getting married and say "honestly, you don't need ceremony flowers—that view is going to be incredible and anything we add might just compete with it."
The Sometimes: Flower Crown or Hair Flowers
Some brides love the idea of wearing flowers. This can be beautiful for elopements—very bohemian, very organic, and it means you don't have to carry anything.
Considerations:
Flower crowns need to be secure (we use wire base and lots of anchoring)
Desert heat and activity can make flowers wilt faster when worn
Not every hairstyle works with a crown
Individual hair pieces (a few flowers tucked into an updo) often work better than full crowns for Moab conditions
Honest opinion: I love the aesthetic of flower crowns, but they're less practical for active Moab elopements than bouquets. If you're set on one, let's plan it for photos and have a bouquet as your main piece.
Elopement Bouquet Styles
Since the bouquet is usually the focus, let's talk about styles that work particularly well for elopements.
The Compact Garden
Small but abundant—lots of variety, beautiful textures, interesting foliage, all in a manageable size. This is probably my most popular elopement style.
What it includes: 3-5 focal flowers, several secondary blooms, textural filler, gorgeous foliage, all composed to feel lush despite being compact.
Why it works: You get that romantic, garden-picked feel without the bulk. Perfect for hiking to your spot, easy to hold during the ceremony, photographs beautifully.
The Wildflower Bundle
Loose, organic, feels like you gathered wildflowers during your hike (though again, we're using cultivated varieties). Very natural, lots of movement.
What it includes: Mixed flowers in varied heights, lots of greenery and grasses, minimal structure, hand-tied with natural ribbon or twine.
Why it works: Matches the adventurous, unconventional spirit of eloping. Looks incredible in candid photos where it's moving with the wind.
The Simple Stunner
Just one or two types of flowers, but perfect specimens. Maybe all dahlias. Maybe roses and eucalyptus. Maybe sunflowers with interesting foliage. The simplicity is the statement.
What it includes: 5-9 blooms of one or two varieties, beautiful foliage, clean composition.
Why it works: Refined, intentional, shows off the flowers themselves. Easy to carry, very photogenic, feels modern and sophisticated.
The Trailing Bouquet
Slightly larger, with elements that cascade downward—hanging amaranth, trailing jasmine, long grasses. Creates beautiful movement and drama in photos.
What it includes: Mix of flowers with intentional trailing elements that create that flowing effect.
Why it works: Looks amazing in photos, especially when you're standing on cliff edges or in dramatic landscape shots. Still manageable to carry because the trail is lightweight.
Consideration: Best for elopements where you're not doing significant hiking—the trailing elements can get caught on things during active movement.
The Tiny Treasure
Sometimes called a "posy"—very small, could almost fit in one hand, but perfectly formed and beautiful. Usually 5-6 inches across.
What it includes: Just a few perfect blooms, minimal but gorgeous foliage, tight composition.
Why it works: Ultimate portability. Perfect for serious adventure elopements (think canyoneering, long hikes, technical climbs). Still gives you something beautiful for photos without any burden.
Seasonal Considerations for Elopements
Since elopements are often more flexible with timing than big weddings, you have the freedom to choose your season based on what matters most to you—weather, flower availability, landscape conditions, or crowd levels.
Spring Elopements (April-May)
Weather: Perfect temperatures, usually 60s-70s. Comfortable for hiking and being outside all day. We do get rogue windstorms in the Spring which make for dramatic photos, but change our flower recommendations for staying fresh.
Landscape: Desert is greening up, possibility of wildflowers, trees are leafing out.
Flower availability: Softer palette—sweet peas, poppies, early roses, ranunculus, tulips, lots of bulbs. More romantic and delicate options.
Crowds: A consideration. Moab is busy in spring.
Best for: Couples who love spring flowers and want comfortable weather without extreme heat.
Summer Elopements (June-August)
Weather: Hot. Often 90s-100s during the day. Early morning or evening ceremonies are best.
Landscape: Full desert summer—dramatic, intense, very Moab.
Flower availability: Everything. Peak abundance. Zinnias, sunflowers, dahlias, celosia, cosmos, lisianthus. Bold, saturated colors.
Crowds: Varies. Early summer busy, midsummer less so because of heat.
Best for: Couples who want maximum flower variety and don't mind planning around heat. Sunrise elopements are magical in summer.
Fall Elopements (September-October)
Weather: Ideal. 70s-80s, perfect light, comfortable all day.
Landscape: Cottonwoods turning gold, aspens changing in the mountains, incredible light quality.
Flower availability: Dahlia season. Also cosmos, late zinnias, marigolds, amaranth, gorgeous seed heads and grasses. Rich, warm color palette.
Crowds: Busy. Fall is peak Moab season.
Best for: Couples who want the best weather, incredible light, and access to dahlias. Book early.
Winter Elopements (November-March)
Weather: Cold, sometimes very cold. Can be beautiful or harsh. Snow is possible.
Landscape: Stark, dramatic, often snow-capped mountains in the background. Very different Moab.
Flower availability: Limited. We're not growing during winter. Would need to use dried elements.
Crowds: Minimal. You'll have places mostly to yourself.
Best for: Couples who want solitude and dramatic winter landscapes. Honest talk: fresh local flower options will be very limited, but we can create something beautiful with dried flowers, preserved elements, or carefully sourced blooms.
Logistics and Practicalities
Permits and Regulations
If you're eloping on public lands (national parks, BLM land, state parks), you typically need a permit for commercial photography, which includes having a photographer. This is separate from flowers, but good to know.
For flowers specifically, Leave No Trace principles apply. This means:
No leaving anything behind (no petals scattered, no installations that can't be fully removed)
No picking wildflowers or disturbing native plants
Everything we bring in comes back out with us
We're very familiar with these requirements and design accordingly.
Access and Delivery
Some elopement spots are remote. Really remote. We've delivered flowers to trailheads, to backcountry campsites, to meeting spots for helicopter tours.
How it works:
Tell us where you're getting ready or where you need flowers delivered
We'll coordinate timing based on your schedule
For very remote locations, we might deliver the evening before with care instructions
We can also arrange for you to pick up from our farm if that's easier
Packing for adventure: If you're hiking in, we'll design your bouquet to be as portable as possible and can provide tips on carrying it safely (wrapping stems in damp paper towels, storing in a plastic bag, etc.).
Timing Your Flowers
Best approach: Have your bouquet delivered as close to your ceremony time as possible while still allowing for photos. For a sunset ceremony, maybe delivery around 4pm.
Morning elopements: We can absolutely do early morning delivery—5am, 6am, whatever you need. I'm up early anyway during growing season.
Multi-day elopements: Some couples celebrate over several days. We can discuss having flowers for day one and potentially refreshing for day two, or choosing hardier varieties that last well.
What Happens After
Most elopement couples either:
Leave flowers at a meaningful spot (if on private land and with permission)
Bring them back to their lodging to enjoy for a few more days
Include them in additional photo sessions the next day
Press some flowers as keepsakes
Send to a company that offers bouquet preservation
We can also compost them if you're staying nearby and want to return them to us. That cycle of growth and return feels right for something as meaningful as elopement flowers.
Cost and Packages
Elopement flowers are significantly simpler and less expensive than full wedding florals, which makes sense given the scale.
Typical pricing:
Bridal bouquet: $250-$450 depending on size and season
Boutonniere: $25-45
Small ceremony installation (if desired): starting at $300 depending on complexity
Hair flowers: $75-150
Most elopements are in the $300-500 total range for flowers. This gets you a beautiful bridal bouquet, a boutonniere, and the same level of care and attention we give to larger weddings.
What affects cost:
Season (fall dahlias cost more than summer zinnias due to labor)
Size and complexity
Delivery distance (remote locations may have travel fees)
Timeline (very early morning or late evening deliveries)
Planning Your Elopement Flowers
When to Book
I recommend reaching out 6 months before your elopement date. This gives us time to plan, ensures availability (especially for popular fall dates), and lets us grow specific varieties if we have advance notice.
That said, I've done elopements with two weeks' notice. We're more flexible with elopements than large weddings because the scope is smaller.
What to Tell Me
When you reach out, helpful information includes:
Your elopement date and ceremony time
Where you're getting married (specific location if you know it)
What you're wearing (photos help)
Your aesthetic or vibe you're going for
Any specific flowers you love or hate
Your budget
Whether you're doing any hiking or adventure activities
Why Local Flowers Matter (Even for Elopements)
I know for an elopement, it might seem like you could just grab something from a grocery store. And honestly, you could. But here's why choosing locally grown matters:
They're designed for Moab conditions: Our flowers are grown in this climate, which means they handle desert sun and heat better than flowers shipped from across the world.
They're fresher: Cut the morning of or evening before, these flowers are at absolute peak, which means they look better and last longer.
They match the landscape: Something about flowers that grew up seeing these same red rocks feels right. The colors, the aesthetic, the vibe—they belong here.
You're supporting local agriculture: Your elopement flowers are funding a small Moab farm committed to sustainable practices. That money stays in this community.
Someone cares about getting it right: I'm not making these in a warehouse somewhere. I'm thinking about you specifically, designing for your specific day, making something I'm genuinely proud of.
Real Elopement Stories
Let me share a few elopements I've done flowers for and what made each one special.
Sunrise at Mesa Arch - August Just a bouquet—small, compact, easy to carry on the pre-dawn hike. Golden zinnias, bright magenta gomphrena, strawflower, wild grasses. The couple wanted something cheerful and bright that would pop in photos. They hiked in with headlamps at 5am, got married as the sun came up, and the way that golden light hit those flowers made the whole bouquet glow. Simple, perfect, exactly right.
Castle Valley - October Bouquet and boutonniere. Peak dahlia season, so we went all in—burgundy and rust dahlias with hanging amaranth and dusty miller. More elaborate than typical elopement style because the bride specifically wanted dahlias and they were incredible that week. The couple did a mix of ceremony and adventure photos throughout the day, and those flowers held up beautifully through everything.
Colorado River Overlook - May Tiny trailing bouquet with sweet peas (that scent!), coral poppies, jasmine, lots of movement. Very romantic, very spring. The couple had an intimate ceremony with just their photographer and then went on a multi-day rafting trip. They pressed some of the flowers afterward and sent me a photo—made me tear up a little.
Backyard Moab Property - June Not actually remote but still an elopement—just the couple and an officiant in someone's beautiful Moab backyard. Created a small ceremony arch arrangement with sunflowers and zinnias (their request—they wanted bright and happy), plus bouquet and boutonniere. Sometimes elopements aren't about adventure, they're just about keeping it small and meaningful.
What I Love About Elopement Flowers
There's something pure about creating flowers for elopements. We're not worried about impressing guests or fitting a specific wedding timeline or matching a detailed Pinterest board. We're just trying to make something beautiful for two people who chose to marry in a way that feels authentic to them.
The flowers get to be simple and genuine. Just like the elopement itself.
I love that elopement couples tend to be less stressed, more present, more willing to trust my judgment about what's seasonal and what works. I love delivering a bouquet at sunrise and knowing it's about to be part of this incredibly intimate moment. I love seeing photos later where the bouquet is held casually while the couple stands on a cliff edge, and it's not the star of the show—it's just a beautiful element in a bigger, more important story.
Getting Started
If you're planning a Moab elopement and want flowers that are beautiful, manageable, and perfect for your adventure, let's talk.
Tell me about your plans—when, where, what you're envisioning. I'll tell you what's possible, what I recommend, and how we can create something that feels exactly right for your celebration.
Eloping doesn't mean settling for less. It means choosing what matters most. And if flowers matter to you—even just a simple bouquet—I'd be honored to grow them for your day.
Farm Yard
Moab, Utah
Sustainable Floristry & Small-Scale Farming