Skydiving Elopement in Moab: Choosing a Bucket List Experience
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Why Choosing a Bucket List Experience Makes Your Elopement Day Unforgettable
An elopement day isn’t about following a script or bowing to tradition. It’s about choosing experiences that feel true to who you are. The things you’ve always dreamed of doing, the activities you love doing together, or the adventures you’ve talked about for years but never quite made time for. Like the couple highlighted here that chose to spend their elopement day in Moab skydiving.
When couples choose a bucket list experience or a shared passion for their elopement day, something shifts. The day becomes less about how it looks and more about how it feels. Instead of memories tied to stress or expectations, they’re left with moments they’ll look back on for the rest of their lives and say, we really lived this day.
That was exactly the intention behind Madison and Isaac’s elopement day. It was a day built around joy, adventure, and choosing experiences they will never regret.
Madison & Isaac: A Skydiving Elopement Day in Moab
Madison and Isaac had never been skydiving before. But it was something they had always wanted to do together. So instead of saving it for “someday,” they chose to make it part of their elopement day. They started their morning by quite literally jumping into the unknown.
They woke up early in Moab and got ready in matching black-and-white sweatsuits. Isaac wore all black, while Madison wore an all-white set that felt effortlessly intentional. With the help of Wild Brides Backcountry, Madison’s hair and makeup were done that morning — including an intricate braid designed not only to be beautiful, but strong enough to withstand skydiving winds.
And somehow…it did.
When Madison landed after skydiving her hair looked just as stunning as it had when she stepped onto the plane. It was one of those moments that felt unreal in the best way.
While we waited for their jump time, we took portraits around a small plane nearby. Madison and Isaac leaned into the moment; relaxed, excited, and fully present. The plane added such a fun, unexpected element to their photos, and it gave them time to settle into the experience together before taking the leap.
There was no rush. Just anticipation, laughter, and that quiet feeling of we’re really doing this. Those moments mattered just as much as the jump itself. When it was finally time to board, they felt ready; not pressured, not nervous, just open to whatever the experience would bring.
When it was time to go up, they climbed into the small plane and sat packed together on the floor like sardines, single file, one person tucked in front of the next. As the plane lifted off, Moab spread out below them — red rock cliffs, winding roads, and wide-open desert in every direction. When the door finally opened, the wind rushed in and the mood shifted. One by one, they each took their turn, jumping tandem with their instructors from Skydive Moab, cheering each other on from the plane before taking the plunge. And just like that, it was happening.
Both Madison and Isaac came down laughing, buzzing with adrenaline.
They landed safely and ran to embrace each other. They had done it. Immediately after, they said it was one of the most fun things they’ve ever done..and something they can’t wait to do again!
That’s the magic of choosing an experience you truly want: it becomes a core memory, not just a highlight.
Skydiving wasn’t about proving anything or chasing adrenaline for the sake of it. For Madison and Isaac, it was about choosing something they had always wanted to do and sharing that moment together.
Jumping out of a plane on their elopement day became a symbol of trust, excitement, and stepping into marriage with openness and courage. It set the tone for the rest of the day, one that was playful, intentional, and full of joy. They didn’t just start their marriage that morning. They lived it.
Slowing Down & Shifting Gears
After skydiving, we slowed things down. They took a break, had lunch, rested, and let their bodies reset. Madison changed into her wedding dress, and Wild Brides Backcountry stepped in again freshening up her makeup and completely changing her hairstyle to fit the next chapter of the day.
This pause mattered. An alignment day doesn’t have to be go-go-go. It can ebb and flow, giving space for both adrenaline and quiet presence.
Other Bucket List Activities to Consider for Your Elopement Day
Skydiving isn’t for everyone. And that’s the point. Your elopement day should reflect you, not someone else’s idea of adventure.
A bucket list experience can be bold or quiet, high-energy or slow and grounding. What matters is that it’s something you’ll look back on and feel grateful you chose.
Here are just a few meaningful alternatives couples often choose instead of skydiving:
- Horseback riding through desert landscapes or mountain trails
- Sunrise or sunset hikes to a place that feels sacred to you
- Rock climbing or canyoneering for couples who love problem-solving together
- Hot air balloon rides for a peaceful, once-in-a-lifetime view
- Private off-road adventures to places most people never see
- Swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding in places tied to shared memories
- A slow morning ritual — coffee, journaling, letters, or reading vows quietly
None of these are “better” than the others. The right choice is the one that feels aligned with who you are as a couple.
Madison and Isaac chose skydiving because it felt true to them not because it was extreme, but because it was honest. And that honesty carried through every part of their day.
Hiking to Corona Arch
In the afternoon, we headed to Corona Arch. The hike is about 3 miles roundtrip and is considered to be moderate difficulty, and the day we were there it was hot despite being November. (This is something to consider when eloping in Moab.) We took our time, stayed hydrated, and took small breaks along the way.
Having Wild Brides Backcountry with us on the hike made a huge difference. They helped keep Isaac cool and camera-ready (anyone who hikes in the desert knows how fast the heat shows up), blotting sweat and reducing redness so he could feel comfortable and confident in photos. Madison was refreshed along the way as well, ensuring she still looked her best after we finished the hardest part of the hike.
About halfway up, the trail becomes more challenging — a steep rock face with carved footholds and a rope to pull yourself up. Isaac stepped into hero mode, carrying both backpacks up first, then coming back down partway to help Madison up so she could focus fully on her footing in her wedding boots.
This is exactly why footwear matters on an elopement day, hiking in a wedding dress already adds complexity, and the right shoes make all the difference.
Vows, Privacy, and Celebration
Once we made it to the top, we paused again to freshen hair and makeup before we recreated their first look.
Afterward, Madison and Isaac cracked a couple of beers, shared a small celebratory shimmy, and then wandered out to a quiet ledge overlooking the mountains.
It was completely private. No crowds. No noise. Just the two of them.
They said their vows with me standing back at a distance, holding space rather than interrupting it. Afterward, they returned to exchange rings, grounding the moment before heading back toward the arch.
At Corona Arch, they shotgunned some beers, laughed, and celebrated their marriage as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
Ending the Day Under the Stars
As sunset faded into darkness, we began the hike back down. Headlamps came out, the desert cooled, and the stars filled the sky. It was quiet, grounding, and deeply peaceful, the kind of ending that makes you realize how full the day truly was.
From skydiving in the morning to hiking under the stars at night, Madison and Isaac’s elopement day was built around experiences they will cherish forever.
Choosing Joy, Every Time
Madison and Isaac didn’t choose activities to impress anyone. They chose them because they mattered and because they wanted to feel alive, connected, and present.
That’s the power of choosing a bucket list experience for your elopement day. You don’t just remember how it looked, you remember how it felt. And that feeling stays with you long after the day is over.
If this kind of elopement day speaks to you. A day built around experiences you’ve always wanted to try, space to slow down, and memories that feel truly yours, you’re in the right place. I specialize in helping couples plan and photograph elopements that feel intentional, joyful, and deeply personal. You can explore more stories like this on my website, and if it feels aligned, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up and start the conversation together.
