The Ultimate Guide to your Menu Falls Wedding
Imagine standing beneath one of the only perpetual waterfalls in Zion National Park for your intimate wedding ceremony! This little oasis in the desert is an ideal location for couples looking to have their ceremony inside the National Park and still get a little bit of privacy. It's less ideal for couples who want to celebrate with more than just a handful of people. If you're researching which wedding location in Zion National Park is right for you, we've got you covered! Here's the ultimate guide to getting married at Menu Falls from a local photographer!
Menu Falls Weddings
Out of the six approved wedding ceremony locations in Zion National Park, Menu Falls offers one of the most unique options. Most couples who choose this location love it for the calm, serene feeling the small deck in front of the falls provides and the higher likelihood of privacy. Like the other locations, you will need to apply for and abide by the rules of Zion's wedding permit.
Permit Details
Maximum Number of People: 10. This includes anyone present at the ceremony. So make sure you count yourselves and any vendors, like your officiant, photographer, or videographer!
Shuttle Required?: No, the Park typically supplies 1-2 vehicle parking permits to drive to Menu Falls. *Note, this is not an official policy and is subject to the discretion of Park staff.
Are chairs permitted?: Yes. Chairs cannot exceed the number of allowed people. However, the deck is very small and chairs will be challenging to fit. We recommend not using chairs.
Permit Application Fee: $100
Permit Application Due Date: At least three weeks prior to the requested date
Permit Application Open Date: 1 year in advance
Get all the details for the permit from Zion National Park HERE
Regulations
Every wedding permit issued in Zion must adhere to all of the permitting regulations. Here are a few of the most relevant regulations for most couples:
Non-exclusive: A wedding permit does not grant exclusive access to the permitted area. You cannot exclude other park visitors from the site during your ceremony.
Foot travel must stick to establish roadways and identified permitted trails
No physical changes may be made to the environment
Any decorations must be approved via the permitting process
You may not erect any signs or banners
No amplified sound is allowed, this includes speakers no matter their size for music or the officiant. If you want music, you can have an acoustic musician.
Make sure you thoroughly read all of the regulations under the permit, you can find a sample of these regulations from Zion National Park HERE
About Menu Falls
These quaint, unassuming falls got their name from the original menu at the Zion Lodge, where they were pictured on the front. Unlike many of the waterfalls in Zion you can find on the internet, Menu Falls runs year round. Most other waterfalls at ephemeral and only run during run off or rainstorms. The location features a very short trail up to a small wooden deck that sits right in front of the falls. While Menu Falls won't wow anyone with it's grandeur, at only 10 feet tall with a relatively low flow, it creates a charming and serene space for visitors to enjoy! Perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony!
Where is Menu Falls Located?
Menu Falls is located on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive in between Big Bend and Temple of Sinewava . It's nestled in the east wall, right of the road as you walk north from Big Bend.
How do you get to Menu Falls?
The shuttles don't run during the winter months (December - February) except for a few holidays and weekends. That means anyone can drive down the Scenic Drive and park at Menu Falls. Keep in mind that the Scenic Drive only has a limited number of parking spaces. When all the spots fill up, the Park staff close the entrance to the Scenic Drive until space opens up.
During the shuttle operation season (March - November), you can only get to Menu Falls using the shuttle system unless you have a parking permit. To get to Menu Falls, take the shuttle to stop 8 (Big Bend). Follow the road north of Big Bend for a 1/2 mile. At a 1/2 mile, you'll see a road side parking spot on the left side of the road and a small trail going into the canyon on the right side of the road. Follow the little trail to the small wooden deck and you've made it!
What amenities are at the Menu Falls?
None. Menu Falls is one of the most primitive wedding locations in Zion National Park.
Bathrooms: No
Cell Service: No
Water: No
Food: No
Importantly, if you have a parking permit, you can only park at the designated Menu Falls location for the duration of your permit time. This means you won't be able to stop at the Lodge or any other stops along the way. So make sure you use the restroom and fill your water before driving to Menu Falls.
How busy is Menu Falls?
Menu Fall's location provides more privacy than the other wedding locations in the Park. Since it's in between two shuttle stops, it sees less foot traffic and people wandering in. You shouldn't expect complete privacy though. Some hikers often choose to hike the Riverwalk Trail and many visitors ride bikes through the Zion Scenic Drive. These hikers and bikers often pop in to Menu Falls out of curiosity. When we park here, the cars draw more attention to the spot, which can make more people stop by. Thankfully, most walk in a little bit and then leave relatively quickly after seeing the falls.
Planning your wedding at Menu Falls
As local Zion elopement photographers, we've had the privilege of helping couples plan their intimate elopement ceremonies at Menu Falls. We've picked up some general recommendations that you can use to plan your own! If you work with us, you'll get a personalized approach that takes into account your date and priorities!
The Best Times of day for wedding ceremonies at Menu Falls
Like the Temple of Sinewava, you'll want to avoid the times of day when the sun is highest in the sky. During this period of time, the sun lights up the ground more than the canyon walls, creating a lot of contrast that can be challenging for photos. Typically, the most ideal light for Menu Falls is in the evening when the falls are shaded, typically 2-3 hours before sunset and up until about 1 hour before sunset. The next most ideal time is in the morning, about 1 hour after sunrise until about 3 hours after sunrise.
If you are planning to go to other locations in the Park, we will often prioritize the best light for the location you choose for sunrise or sunset and build your timeline accordingly. Keep in mind, it often takes 45 minutes to an hour or longer to get to or from Menu Falls and many other locations in the Park. The good news is if you work with an experienced elopement photographer, especially one with experience in Zion like us, they'll be able to create beautiful photos for you at any time of day!
Getting to Menu Falls for your wedding
Historically, the Park issues 1-2 parking permits for Menu Falls. Which means we can usually drive to Menu Falls and park in that road side parking for the time of the wedding permit. This isn't an official policy, however, it's up to the Park staff to issue those parking permits. Just know if you can't fit everyone in your allotted vehicles, any additional people will need to ride the shuttle and walk from Big Bend.
Recommendations for your Menu Falls Wedding
Make sure you know where Menu Falls is! There isn't a sign telling you where to park and where to walk. You won't have any service once you get to the Zion Scenic Drive so you need to know where you're going before you lose service!
Keep it small: Menu Falls works best for couples who want a very intimate ceremony experience. Technically, the permit allows 10 people, but in reality, the deck doesn't comfortably fit that many people while still allowing your photographer freedom to move around.
Make sure your photographer/videographer is prepared for tight spaces: The size of the deck limits the kind of lenses that can be used. If you have a photographer and a videographer, they need to be good communicators and able to work well together!
Look up the time for sunrise, sunset, and high noon for your desired day before you apply! That way you can make an informed decision for the time you put down on your permit application. If you'd like some expert help on this, don't hesitate to reach out to us!
Make a plan for your wedding before applying for your permit: Menu Falls is not the most popular wedding location due to its limitations. That means you have a high likelihood of getting approved for a permit here even if it's relatively last minute. So take that advantage and make sure you plan out the rest of the day so your permit doesn't cause any scheduling issues!
Is Menu Falls the right location for your Zion wedding?
You may want to plan your ceremony at the Menu Falls if any of the following are true:
You love the photos you've seen at Menu Falls
You want a very small wedding ceremony with fewer than 10 people total (including yourselves, officiant, photographer, videographer, etc.)
You want a water element to your wedding ceremony but don't want to deal with the busyness of Temple of Sinewava
You don't mind a few people wandering in to your ceremony site
You may want to look at some other locations if any of the following are true:
You want to include more than 10 people
You want space to spread out a little bit during your ceremony
You want a location that captures the grandeur of Zion
You want to include props and decorations at your ceremony
Maybe one of the other Zion locations will be a better fit for you! Check those out HERE [link to Zion ceremony locations page].
We have a whole page dedicated to tips for getting married in Zion National Park, check that out HERE
Looking for another location inside Zion National Park? You can check out our guides to the Zion Lodge Lawn and the Temple of Sinewava!
Maybe you'd like to explore some other locations off the beaten path. In that case, reach out to us! Every couple that works with us gets a customized list of location recommendations for both ceremony and portraits including many local secret spots!
