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Joyful newlyweds celebrating outside Jordan River Temple, bride in white gown and groom in dark suit with arms raised

LDS temple sealing & wedding day photography across Utah

Utah Temple Wedding Photographer

I’m Jade, a Utah temple wedding photographer who’s documented sealings and exits at temples across the Wasatch Front, so you know what to expect from your own temple wedding day.

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A temple sealing is one of the most meaningful, most photographed-around moments in a Utah wedding, and also one of the most misunderstood, if you’ve never planned around one before. Your photographer can’t come inside, the timeline is tighter than a typical ceremony, and every temple has its own grounds, its own light, and its own quirks. I’ve photographed sealings and exits at temples all over Utah, and I build your timeline around your specific temple so nothing feels rushed.

Bride and groom stare into each other's eyes in front of Mount Timpanogos LDS Temple in Lehi, Utah, following their temple sealing ceremony Laughing bride and groom exit Provo City Center Temple surrounded by family and friends on their wedding day Laughing bride and groom walk around Orem Utah Temple surrounded by family and friends, candid wedding photo Bride and groom embrace on Taylorsville Temple steps, bride in lace ballgown with veil, groom in blue suit, summer wedding Bride in lace dress and veil with braided crown and floral headpiece, gazing serenely outdoors near green trees at Draper Temple

Planning Your Utah Temple Wedding

Because a temple wedding isn’t a park ceremony, there's no special-use permit to apply for. But there are still rules and a timeline to plan around, and getting them right matters more here than almost anywhere else.

Photography inside vs. outside: photography is never allowed inside the temple during the sealing, at any Utah temple. I'll be outside the whole time, documenting your family and friends gathering, the quiet nerves and excitement before you go in, and then the temple exit, which is almost always the emotional high point of the day. Confetti, cheers, tears, the first moment you're seen as married: that's the shot I'm there for.

Timing: guests with a current temple recommend typically arrive about 30 minutes before your sealing, and you arrive about an hour early. Sealings run roughly 20–30 minutes, and couples usually exit about 45 minutes after the sealing begins. From there, plan on 20–30 minutes of portraits on the temple grounds before you head to your reception or family celebration. Every temple's grounds photograph a little differently, and I already know the good light at most of the temples along the Wasatch Front.

Marriage license: a temple sealing is also your legal marriage in Utah, so you'll still need a valid marriage license from your county clerk beforehand. There's no waiting period, so you can apply and be sealed the same week if your schedule is tight.

Guests who can't attend the sealing: if you have family or friends without a current temple recommend, they won't be able to witness the sealing itself. Many couples plan a short ring ceremony or blessing on the temple grounds right after the exit so everyone gets to be part of the moment, then move into a reception where the whole guest list celebrates together. For a full walkthrough of how a temple wedding day flows, and how to think through the guest-list question, read what to expect from an LDS temple elopement in Utah.

Client Experience

“Highly recommend Jade. She is kind, efficient, knowledgeable, and has a great eye for details! We loved having her capture our big day. You won’t be disappointed with Jade as your photographer!”

The Allreds, Taylorsville Temple

Utah Temple Wedding Photos

Every photo above documents a sealing day, six different couples at six different Utah temples: Mount Timpanogos in Lehi, Provo City Center, Orem, Taylorsville, and Draper, plus the Jordan River Temple in the hero photo above. Wherever your temple is, this is the kind of candid, unposed documentation you can expect from your own day.

Ready to Plan Your Utah Temple Wedding?

Tell me which temple you're sealed at and I'll help you plan the timeline around it. Contact me below to check your date.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Utah Temple Weddings

Can my photographer come inside the temple for the sealing?

No, photography is never permitted inside any LDS temple during the sealing, and that’s true of guests too, not just photographers. Since I can’t follow you inside, the smart move is starting coverage before you even leave for the temple: getting-ready portraits, a first look with parents, details of the dress and rings. That way there’s no gap in your story between morning prep and the moment you walk out the temple doors married.

How long does a temple wedding day take from start to finish?

Budget more than just the sealing itself. Between guests arriving early, the sealing and exit taking roughly an hour combined, and portraits afterward, that’s already close to two hours before your reception even starts. Add getting-ready coverage beforehand and reception coverage after, and most couples end up needing a minimum of 6 hours of photography to cover the whole day without gaps, which is why that’s the starting point for my wedding packages.

Which Utah temples do you photograph weddings at?

I’ve built galleries at six so far (Provo City Center, Mount Timpanogos, Orem, Jordan River, Taylorsville, and Draper), but Utah has 24 operating temples right now, with more under construction in places like Ephraim, Smithfield, and Heber Valley. I travel statewide for weddings, so if yours isn’t one I’ve shot yet, that’s not a reason to rule me out. Reach out and tell me which temple, and I’ll plan around it.

What should we plan for guests who can't attend the sealing?

Beyond the ring-ceremony option, think about logistics: guests without a recommend can’t wait inside the temple lobby with you, so they’ll be gathering somewhere on the grounds until you come out. Pick a meeting spot ahead of time (most temples have an obvious spot near the main entrance), and have someone in the group keep an eye on the doors, since sealings don’t always run right on schedule. I’ll be watching the doors the whole time regardless, so as soon as they open, I’m shooting.

How much does Utah temple wedding photography cost?

Temple wedding packages start at $1,850 for 6 hours of coverage, which typically covers the temple exit, portraits, and your reception's key moments, up to $2,400 for full wedding-weekend coverage. See the wedding packages page for the complete breakdown.

Do we still need a marriage license for a temple sealing?

Yes. A temple sealing is also your legal marriage in Utah, so you'll need a valid marriage license beforehand, which the officiant signs as part of the ceremony. Every Utah county issues them (see Weber County or Utah County for two examples of how the process works), and while it varies slightly county to county, expect to show valid photo ID, appear together in person (or complete an online application first, depending on the county), and pay a fee that typically runs $50 to $75. However you get it, the license is only valid for 30 days, so time your application close to your sealing date rather than months ahead.