Salt Lake City isn't what you think it is - necessarily. Yes, our city boasts a wealth of fascinating historical landmarks, but it's got just as many natural wonders. Salt Lake City was once known as the "Crossroads of the West" and still features many areas whose architecture and atmosphere call to mind the city's pioneer past - but they're right down the block from modern skyscrapers. Because of our city's diversity, it can be difficult for visitors and natives alike to know where to begin when looking for wedding or engagement photo backdrops. We hope that this guide - paired with the expertise of your Salt Lake City wedding photographer - will be useful in finding the Salt Lake City wedding or engagement photo spot of your dreams.
We might as well start at the beginning. If you're drawn to Salt Lake City for religious reasons - or you're just interested in the city's Latter Day Saint (Mormon) past - have your Salt Lake City wedding photographer direct you to the Temple Square complex located in the center of the city. The Square houses both the Salt Lake Tabernacle, home to the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the towering Salt Lake Temple, the world's largest and most famous Mormon temple. Because the Temple is a sacred site to Mormons, tours are not given; however, visitors are welcome to snap shots throughout the 10-acre Square. The Joseph Smith Memorial Building - named in honor of the founder of the Latter Day Saint faith - is a multi-story building belonging to the Mormon Church, with various floors dedicated to Latter Day Saint history, outreach and worship (including wedding facilities). If you'd like your photos taken on less hallowed ground, try Pioneer Park, the site of the first pioneer campsite and fort in Salt Lake City (settled 1847), or This Is The Place Heritage Park, a 450-acre "living history" park that offers facility rentals for weddings and receptions (check site for details). Dedicated Old West enthusiast? Your Salt Lake City wedding photographer will point you towards Golden Spike National Historic Site, the location where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads met to form the nation's first transcontinental railroad.
Those willing to head a little ways out of Salt Lake City are in for a world of fun. Most crucially, there's the Great Salt Lake! The world's second-saltiest body of water (after the Dead Sea) provides some interesting photographic opportunities. Southeast of Salt Lake City is scenic Big Cottonwood Canyon, a 15-mile-long canyon that's the perfect spot for a picnic or a photo session. Those intimidated by size may be advised by their Salt Lake City wedding photographer to visit Little Cottonwood Canyon - same natural beauty, smaller scale. Dinosaur National Monument is home to hundreds of fossilized dinosaur bones originally discovered in the early 1900's - if nothing else, it may keep younger members of your wedding party entertained. The piece de resistance of Utah topography, however, is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This arid valley is characterized by gigantic sandstone buttes (peaks), the largest of which towers 1,000 feet above the valley's floor. There's also the Moab Adventure Center, whose guides host whitewater rafting expeditions, mountain biking and canyon exploring (on foot or horseback). To meet the needs of the most intrepid wedding parties, Moab recently began offering hot air balloon rides over Utah's canyons - an incredibly exhilarating way to celebrate the beginning of a life together, as your Salt Lake City wedding photographer is sure to agree.