An Intimate Wedding at Breakfast Canyon With Family
Elopements

An Intimate Wedding at Breakfast Canyon With Family

Melody and Tyler had their intimate wedding in Death Valley National Park with their close family members. They got ready at the Oasis Hotel, had their ceremony in Breakfast Canyon, and took family photos at Zabriskie Point. Later, they explored Artist’s Palette at sunset and had a reception at the Oasis Hotel complete with dances, cake, and toasts.

Are you ready to plan your own small wedding? Use our directory to search for an elopement vendor near you!

Planning a Wedding Ceremony at Breakfast Canyon in Death Valley

Photography by Love & Latitudes

“Breakfast Canyon is the only approved outdoor wedding spot in Death Valley National Park. You need a +10-person wedding to reserve Breakfast Canyon. However, the park does accept certain requests on a case-by-case basis. So reach out if you have questions or specific requests.

I, for one, adore Breakfast Canyon. It’s private, intimate, and there are lots of different angles for pictures. The permit is $300, plus $50 per employee/staff member who needs to be there. The amount of staff depends on the size of your event. Props cannot be used outside of Breakfast Canyon. But the good news is you can have arches and rugs in BC.

As far as Leave No Trace guidelines go, there are really no surprises. Be sure to pack out what you pack in. If you lay down a rug or carpet for the ceremony, be careful not to drag it on the ground. Avoid including invasive flower species in your bouquet. These details are vital to keeping the park healthy and clean.” [Diana, Photographer]

Learn how to plan your own micro wedding adventure.

Top Tips for Eloping in This National Park

“Death Valley has so much to offer. Different areas of the park almost look like different planets! From the mountain views into the valley to colorful sands, rugged salt formations to rocky washes, big starry skies to fluffy clouds that capture the setting sunlight—it’s a place that wows the senses. So, take the time to zone in on the areas you really want to visit.

Beyond prioritizing which dazzling features to visit, here’s some purely practical advice. I adore the desert and appreciate everything it has to offer. But couples need to recognize that it can be rough for the underprepared. It’s dry, so be sure to carry water, snacks, and electrolytes. High temperatures and high winds are fairly common depending on the season. And sturdy shoes are a must. Last but not least, check drive times to and from your ceremony locations and keep guests abreast of this information ahead of the big day since cell phone reception is almost nonexistent inside the park. If you’re lucky, you can get some bars outside the visitor center or at the hotels.” [Diana, Photographer]

Check out our Death Valley elopement guide.

Deciding to Elope

“We chose an elopement because we wanted to focus on ourselves rather than having to please others, keeping our day extremely personal and pressure-free. We’re also fairly private people when it comes to our relationship, so this was the perfect way for us to maintain a level of comfort and keep the ceremony semi-private.” [ The Couple]

Check out these 10 reasons to elope this year!

Planning an Intimate Wedding in Death Valley

“We started planning pretty soon after our engagement, giving us about a year of time to organize the wedding we wanted. After deciding that we wanted to have the ceremony in Death Valley, finding a photographer that would do the scenery justice was the first item on our checklist. We actually found Diana (Love and Latitudes) while looking for information on how to elope in National Parks. Diana’s blog had all of the information that we were looking for and incredible photos of past elopements that she had shot, so we were sold pretty immediately. Following an initial meeting to go over what Diana offers, we decided on a package to include officiant services provided by her husband, Isiah.

A few national parks have pretty strict rules about live and dried florals because of invasive species and avoiding seed dropping, so Melody decided to look into faux florals, where she found Aubrey (@gracefullybloomed on Instagram), who created not only her bridal bouquet but also her veil, Tyler’s boutonniere, and two small bouquets for our sisters to carry.” [The couple]

Explore our wedding vendors for your intimate wedding.

Estimated Cost For This Small Wedding

“Our total expenses for the wedding came out to somewhere just over $12,000.

This number definitely could have been lower, since there were certain traditional elements we did not want to sacrifice, such as a dress from a bridal designer, purchasing a suit instead of renting, and paying for a few family expenses as a “thank you” for going out of state with us. It also could have been higher, since we didn’t feel the need to pay for professional hair and makeup, a DJ or live music, and we DIYed a lot of our decorations instead of renting.

Paying a photographer is also no joke, but it is a budget item we would recommend splurging on, especially when you get photos like the ones Diana took.” [The couple]

Learn more about elopement costs!

Memorable Moments During This Wedding

From the photographer:

“I really enjoyed taking the families to Zabriskie Point. The view from there is breathtaking, and I really loved how much fun everyone seemed to be having during family photos. For a lot of couples, it’s also their family’s first time being in these epic locations, and that’s really cool.

Later in the day, I took Melody and Tyler to the Artists Palette. I probably looked a bit silly running up and down hills, looking for the perfect angle to capture my couple. But you can’t argue with how amazing they both look against that valley of colors!”

From the couple:

“Our day got to be exactly how we wanted it to be. We were surrounded by our closest loved ones and got to have a fun, relaxed day that was not burdened with a tight schedule or rigorous prep. We also loved the fact that in the days before and after the wedding, we got to go on multiple adventures with our families and create endless memories with them.”

Vendors

Photography Love & Latitudes

Suit | Indochino 
Bridal Shop | Lavender Park Bridal 
Dress | Wtoo Watters
Florist | Gracefully Bloomed 
Jewelry | Capucinne JewelryItsgldnWe are Emblem
Hotel | Oasis Death Valley 

Photos From This Wedding Day

Are You Ready to Start Planning

Search Vendors