Private Vows and a Storybook Celebration in Capitol Reef

Remi and Thomas’ elopement was a thoughtful blend of private moments together and a wedding celebration surrounded by the people they love. Their day unfolded between Capitol Reef National Park and a cabin in Teasdale, giving them space to exchange private vows, explore the area, and then return to celebrate with family and friends.

With photographer and elopement planner Diana helping bring everything together, from location assistance and scheduling to vendor recommendations and photography, Remi and Thomas created a day that brought together the intimacy of an elopement with the familiar traditions of a larger wedding celebration.

Elopement Photography by Diana Lustig | Love and Latitudes

Remi and Thomas are a silly, kind, and easygoing couple who wanted their wedding day to feel deeply personal and true to who they are. From the start, it was clear they shared similar ideals and were on the same page, something their photographer Diana especially appreciated while working with them.

“You could really tell they shared similar ideals and were on the same page,” their photographer said. Their love of books became one of the most meaningful threads throughout their celebration. Much of their wedding was DIY and book themed, with literature incorporated into the details and décor. Books were already a special part of their relationship, including the one Thomas used when he proposed. He proposed with Remi’s favorite book, carefully carving the inside into the shape of a heart and placing the ring inside. After their engagement, Remi spent the following year thrifting stylish books to use as centerpieces at their wedding, turning something sentimental from their relationship into a personal part of the celebration.

The couple also chose to make room for both intimacy and togetherness. Their private vows gave them time alone in Capitol Reef, while their later ceremony and reception at the cabin allowed them to celebrate with their favorite people.

Remi and Thomas initially struggled to find the right ceremony location. That changed when they visited their aunt and uncle at the cabin in Teasdale.

According to Diana, the couple felt right at home there and knew it was the place. That feeling resonated with her as well. Sometimes, finding the right wedding location comes down to recognizing when a place simply feels right for the day you want to create.

The location also gave them flexibility. They could spend part of the day privately exploring Capitol Reef and exchanging vows, then return to the cabin for their ceremony, family and wedding party photos, dinner, speeches, and dancing.

The private vows for this elopement took place inside Capitol Reef National Park. Diana’s questionnaire does not specify whether a permit was required for their private vows, so couples planning a similar experience should confirm the current requirements directly with the park for their specific plans and group size.

What Diana does emphasize is the importance of Leave No Trace practices in Capitol Reef. The park contains a significant amount of cryptobiotic soil, which contains microorganisms and is therefore living. Because of this, couples should travel on hard, durable surfaces and avoid wandering off trail.

This is especially important when planning an elopement in a landscape where exploring can be part of the experience. Diana also recommends preparing for fewer services in the surrounding area. Teasdale, Torrey, and Hanksville are close to the park, but they are very small towns and some businesses partially close during the winter. Couples may have a harder time finding specific products or wedding vendors locally, so planning ahead and looking for traveling wedding vendors in the surrounding areas can be helpful.

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Diana’s role extended beyond photography. As both a photographer and elopement planner, she helped Remi and Thomas with vendor recommendations, light planning, location assistance, and scheduling before documenting the wedding day and delivering their gallery afterward.

Planning also required some flexibility. In the months leading up to the wedding, the couple experienced health problems, which meant finding a private vow location in the park that would not require an overly intense hike.

The location also needed to be higher up because rain was in the forecast. Capitol Reef contains many slot canyons, and Diana notes that these areas are not safe to enter when rain is expected. Finding a suitable spot therefore meant considering both the couple’s needs and the weather conditions.

That preparation allowed the private portion of their day to remain part of the plan while giving them a location that better suited the circumstances.

Before the Celebration

The day began with Diana arriving before lunch. Thomas got ready at the Airbnb while Remi got ready at the cabin, giving Diana time to photograph both parts of the morning.

Their separate getting ready moments eventually led to their first look at the cabin a little past noon. From there, the day moved into the private portion of their wedding.

Vows at Capitol Reef

At 2PM, Remi and Thomas headed into Capitol Reef for their private vows and photos.

For Diana, this became one of the most meaningful parts of the day. She did not hear their vows, but she could see the emotion between the two of them and how excited they were to be getting married.

For her, quiet moments like these are what she loves most about elopements. Remi and Thomas were able to have time together in nature, away from the rest of the celebration, before returning to the cabin for the next part of their wedding day.

Celebration at The Cabin

After their time in Capitol Reef, Remi and Thomas returned to the cabin for wedding party and family photos.

Their ceremony began late in the afternoon, followed immediately by their reception. The evening included a thank you and prayer, dinner and speeches, first dances, and dancing. The cabin gave the day a different kind of gathering space. After having private time together in the park, Remi and Thomas could share the rest of their wedding with their favorite people.

Wedding Inspired by Books

The couple’s mostly DIY wedding brought their love of literature into the celebration. Remi had spent the year after their engagement thrifting stylish books to use as centerpieces.

The book theme also connected directly to their engagement story. Thomas had proposed using Remi’s favorite book, carving out the inside into the shape of a heart and placing the ring inside.

Those details made the wedding feel personal without requiring a large production. The couple built many of the elements themselves and used something meaningful to them as part of the celebration.

Diana’s favorite part of the day was the private vows. Although she could not hear what Remi and Thomas said to each other, she could see how much emotion was present and how excited they were to be getting married.

She also loved the contrast within the day itself. Their time in Capitol Reef gave them quiet space to be together, while the cabin brought in their family and wedding party for the ceremony and reception.

For Diana, that combination captured something she loves about elopements. The day did not have to fit into one definition of what an elopement should be. It could include private vows, exploring a national park, a ceremony, a reception, dinner, dancing, and the people who mattered most to them.

If a day that feels like you is the goal, explore our WanderSelect packages to begin planning.

Elopement Photography by Diana Lustig | Love and Latitudes

We wanted our wedding day to have both the intimacy of an elopement and the feeling of celebrating with the people we love. After our private vows and time exploring Capitol Reef, we returned to the cabin for family and wedding party photos before beginning our ceremony at the evening.

From there, the evening flowed into our reception with a thank you and prayer, dinner and speeches, first dances, and plenty of dancing. The cabin gave us the space to slow down, be surrounded by our favorite people, and celebrate our marriage together.