Las Vegas has something for everyone. That’s true when it comes to entertainment options, restaurants, styles of resorts, recreation opportunities and even wedding venues.
Many of the people on the Electric Sugar Elopement team count rock climbing, paddle boarding, kayaking, mountain biking, marathon running, hiking, and other alternative sports as hobbies.
We may not have the outdoor recreation reputation of Boulder or Portland, but we do have a large outdoor community in Las Vegas and we’re proud to have amazing wild spaces to enjoy on foot, on bike and even during our weddings.
If you’re into these alternative sports and are thinking of coming to Las Vegas for your destination micro wedding or elopement, you should consider adding a couple of days to your trip. Doing so allows you to hit the trails and crags and celebrate your relationship with Mother Earth, at the same time as you add new chapters to your love story.
Here’s some of our favorite alternative wedding venues sure to spark your imagination and change your mind about what a destination micro wedding in Las Vegas can be.
Eldorado Canyon
This photogenic ghost town was once one of the wildest places in the west. With an all-inclusive micro wedding or elopement package you can add your love story to the town’s history of outlaws, prospectors and gun fighters who used to frequent this outpost. But the ghost town isn’t the only attraction in this corner of the desert. The Colorado River is just a stone’s throw away.
This portion of the river below Hoover Dam is filled with inlets, coves and washes which are perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, wading and even scuba diving. High clearance vehicles come in handy but are not a necessity. And outfitters back in town can rent you gear to bring out for the day or the weekend. Land lubbers will also enjoy this part of the desert. Exploring remote trails amidst steep canyon walls is a great way to get lost with your partner in the great outdoors for a few hours. The spotty cell service could be considered part of the allure for couples eloping in Las Vegas.
On Lake Mojave, Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina is a popular spot for boating of all kinds. Ski boats, fishing boats, pontoons and house boats are all available for rent. As are canoes and kayaks and personal watercrafts. And there’s no shortage of accommodations either. The Spanish-style, red roofed motel rooms all have covered outdoor patios, tables and chairs to enjoy incredible sunsets and lakefront views while cooking on the outdoor BBQ. If you want to rough it you can opt for a camp site. There’s RV sites for people with their own rigs, and even a docked houseboat hotel if you want to sleep on the water on your first night as a married couple.
7 Magic Mountains
Head south out of the city on Las Vegas Boulevard (or Interstate 15 if you’re in more of a hurry) and you’ll soon arrive at one of our most talked about wedding venues, 7 Magic Mountains. This piece of oversized public art is made of day-glow stacked boulders that are a site to behold and make a super interesting backdrop for your sunrise ceremony.
The alternative wedding venue really pops in the early morning before it gets crowded. And if you’ve wrapped up your “I do”s before breakfast, that leaves the whole rest of the day for other outdoor adventures.
If you’re into hang gliding and paragliding, the Desert Skywalkers club recommends two spots not far from 7 Magic Mountains to ride the wind. The Jean Ridge is a soaring site that faces the prevailing winds and provides excellent conditions for flying. The club says, “It has long been a favorite of hang gliders and paraglider pilots from the Las Vegas area.” The other is called Lower Potosi. “This is an ideal spot for desert thermal flying. Some of the longest cross-country paraglider flying in Southern Nevada originate from this spot”, says the Desert Skywalkers site.
Toast your wedding day with a celebratory drink at the Pioneer Saloon in nearby Goodsprings. Gamers may recognize it from the classic RPG Fallout: New Vegas.
Valley of Fire
ESE’s sister company, Cactus Collective Weddings also offers stunning alternative wedding venues perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Valley of Fire State Park has some of the best hiking trails in the area. And your wedding photographer will get a lens full of vibrant red sandstone rock formations everywhere they point their camera.
Midwestern adventurers will love saying “I do” during the winter months as the camping and hiking in November and December is ideal for those trying to escape the bitter cold of the Great Plains states. Day time temps are more than comfortable and the cooler temps at night are excellent for snuggling with your partner in a sleeping bag made for two.
Two campgrounds combine to provide 72 camp sites. Atlatl Rock Campground is the larger one and has RV sites and showers. Arch Rock Campground tends to be a little quieter and the spaces are more spread out.
Red Rock Canyon
And now we’ve come to the heavy hitter. CCW’s most popular wedding venue is also one of my favorite places on Earth. It’s where my husband and I got married in 2016. We eloped here before adventurous outdoor weddings in wild places in Las Vegas were even a thing. And our magical day is what made me want to start a micro wedding company in the first place. My ESE and CCW team and I are the original micro wedding experts in Las Vegas and do multiple intimate weddings and elopements at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area every week, all year-round.
Look through the Instagram feed and you’ll see why so many couples choose this alternative wedding venue. It looks insane, right?!
But it’s not just one of the best places to get married, it’s also home to some of the best rock climbing anywhere in the western United States. Oh, and there’s great hiking, mountain biking and trail running loops too.
Recently, my team and I held a climbing day of our own at Red Rock Canyon. It’s the kind of place where you can take your entire friend group and everyone at every skill level will be challenged. Newbies Aaron and Ashlyn were enthralled by the beauty of the cliffs and the abilities of more seasoned climbers like myself, and my salesgirl Teresa. While my videographer, Joe, was eager to show off his hard-earned skills. My husband was even there, and the two of us loved sharing our off-the-clock passion with our on-the-clock friends.
Bring Your Gear to Las Vegas When You Tie the Knot
If you’re looking to have more than an intimate wedding in Las Vegas, and want to work with a team that gets you and understands your passion for the outdoors, you’d be hard pressed to find a team that’s able to put it all together better than us here at Electric Sugar Elopements.
When you book with us, you’re not only getting a super rad micro wedding in one of our awesome alternative venues. You’re also getting access to my team of local experts who are always ready, eager and willing to help you plan out the rest of your trip. We love to chat, and we have a lot of pride in our city. We’d be more than happy to share it with you. Bring your gear and bring your passion to Las Vegas for your destination micro wedding. Don’t forget your wedding rings!
