February 8, 2025

20 of the Best Sand Dune Locations Worldwide to get Married at

Sand Dunes, if you ask me, are a seriously underrated form of scenery. I fell in love with them for the first time at Great Sand Dunes National Park, not far from where I grew up. Seeing the endless sea of sand and getting to do things like slide and surf down it, stargaze from it at night, and drive out until you can’t see people anymore is an unbeatable combo for an elopement. 

Since then, my favorite dunes to elope on have become the Namib Desert. You can take 4X4s through Sandwich Harbour near the coast or head to Sossusvlei to get white salt, red dunes, and black trees all in one shot. There’s so many possibilities here and a super wide variety of scenery! 

Many of my other favorites are right here in the United States, but keep reading for a couple more international options as well! You can find dunes with all different shades of sand and natural features on this list, and no two are exactly alike. 

Although, if you want to go ahead and filter just by what activity or season you’re looking for, you can head to my interactive map and get custom results from a database of nearly 600+ locations! Click here to go to it directly. 

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Silhouetted against a starry night sky and the Milky Way, a couple stands on a sand dune, holding hands and illuminated by a soft light. The vast, dark desert surrounds them, creating a romantic and serene atmosphere.

Sand dunes probably aren’t the first thing you picture when you think of Colorado, but Great Sand Dunes National Park is a welcome surprise. These dunes are MASSIVE. Hike up, then grab a board and try sandboarding or sledding the steepest slopes you can find (accidentally eating sand on the way down). Camping in the dunes means front-row seats to some of the best stargazing in the country, with endless sky and no light pollution. If you time it right, Medano Creek rolls in during spring and early summer, turning the base of the dunes into a desert beach because apparently, this place refuses to be just one thing.

Best for: Mountains and Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here:
Year Round

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing

Atacama Desert, Chile

A couple dressed in wedding attire walks hand-in-hand up a dune in a vast desert landscape under a clear sky. The bride wears a flowing white dress with a flower crown, while the groom wears a black suit and tie. Rolling desert hills stretch out in the background.

If dry, wild, and otherworldly is your vibe, the Atacama Desert absolutely delivers. This is one of the driest places on Earth, with landscapes so Mars-like that NASA literally tests its rovers here. Sand dunes, jagged red rock formations, and endless canyons make it feel straight-up unearthly, but it’s not all dust and heat… there are actually hidden blue lagoons, salt flats that stretch forever, and even a geyser field that bubbles to life at sunrise! Nights here hit different, with some of the clearest, most mind-blowing stargazing on the planet, but the altitude keeps things chilly, so pack layers. This is the desert, after all!

Best for: Desert and Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here:
Year Round

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Jeep/4×4, Camping, Stargazing

Namib Desert & Sandwich Harbour, Nambia

A vast desert landscape with rolling sand dunes under a cloudy sky. The ocean is visible on the left, meeting the sand dunes along the coast. Tire tracks are faintly visible on the dunes, adding texture to the scene.

The Namib Desert is the oldest desert on the planet, and it looks every bit the part with endless orange dunes, rippling sand, and a coastline that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie. If you’re up for an adventure, Sandwich Harbour is the spot. This stretch of dunes crashes straight into the Atlantic, and the only way in is by 4X4, driving over towering sand hills with nothing but ocean on the other side. It’s all part of Namib-Naukluft National Park, which means wild, empty landscapes as far as you can see and total privacy for an epic desert elopement.

Best for: Sand Dunes, Coast, Beach, Desert

Best months to get married here: Year-round

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Jeep/4×4

Death Valley National Park, California

A couple dressed in formal wedding attire stands in an embrace on a sandy desert landscape with mountains in the background. The woman is wearing a long white dress and the man is in a dark suit and tie. There are scattered shrubs around them, partially obscuring the view.

Death Valley doesn’t do anything halfway. Home to the hottest temperature ever recorded (134°F), the lowest point in North America (Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level), and some of the darkest skies in the country, this place is all about extremes. Just don’t come in summer unless you enjoy feeling like a rotisserie chicken. Winter, though, is absolute perfection. The crowds thin out, the heat chills, and the landscapes look even more surreal. Kick things off with sunrise at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, hike through canyons streaked with wild colors, and end the night under a sky so full of stars it barely looks real.

Best for: Mountains, Canyons and Desert

Best months to get married here:
Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Jeep/4×4, Hiking, Stargazing

White Sands National Park, New Mexico

A vast desert landscape with rolling white sand dunes under a clear blue sky. Sparse vegetation dots the foreground, while distant mountain ranges create a backdrop. Shadows accentuate the contours of the dunes.

White Sands is basically one giant, natural playground, and getting married here means you get to sled down dunes in your wedding outfit. Miles of bright white gypsum dunes stretch as far as you can see, and finding a private spot here to say your vows is almost too easy. Skip summer unless you fancy sweating through your ceremony, but fall through spring is the perfect time. This is definitely an unusual place for an elopement, so embrace it by saying “I do,” then grabbing a sled and sending it down the dunes!

Best for: White Sand Dunes and Mountains

Best months to get married here:
Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing

Imperial Dunes, California

A sweeping view of golden sand dunes under a clear blue sky. The overlapping dunes create a pattern of light and shadow, while smooth, wind-blown ridges and faint vehicle tracks add texture to the landscape.

If getting hitched and tearing across dunes in a dune buggy sounds like your kind of day (it sounds pretty epic to me!), this place delivers. Right between the Salton Sea and Mexico, these massive rolling dunes look straight out of a movie, and that’s because… they are. Star Wars filmed here, and plenty of other hits followed. Spend the day ripping over sand hills in an ATV, riding horses through the quieter North Algodones Dunes Wilderness, or just kick back on a ridge with nothing but endless dunes around you. Bliss!

Best for: Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here:
Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Jeep/4×4, Hiking, Camping, Stargazing

Outer Banks, North Carolina

Sandy beach landscape with dunes covered in sparse grasses and small bushes against a backdrop of pastel-colored clouds and a blue sky.

The Outer Banks are a chain of barrier islands, situated between the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. This is a destination that feels custom-made for perfect beach vacation vibes during your elopement. A perfect example of this is the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with its picture perfect lighthouse, fine-sand beaches, and wild ponies. With its eastern-facing view, sunrises here are especially incredible and would make for a perfect ceremony. Boat charters abound here, from kayak tours to speed boats, and would be a perfect way to spend part of your day. Or you could visit Nags Head for great sand dunes and a great town. If slow, easy beach days that you can spend with whatever activities you like in a location that will blow you away, an OBX elopement may be for you. 

Best for: Coast, Islands, Sand Dunes and Beaches

Best months to get married here:
May to October

My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Kayaking, Hiking

Sossusvlei, Namibia

A couple dressed in wedding attire embraces each other in the middle of a desert landscape with large, orange sand dunes and barren trees in the background. The bride wears a flowing white gown, and the groom is in a black suit.

Sossusvlei is tucked in the Namib Desert in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, but there’s a high chance you’ve seen photos of it. The features here are distinct, with a flat white salt pan, black trees that are hundreds of years old, and a mammoth of a red sand dune behind, all with a bright blue sky. The dunes look more like brightly colored mountains around you! This is a spot unlike any other on the planet and, if you’re looking for impressive sand dunes, you’ll be hard pressed to find any better than right here.

Best for: Sand Dunes and Clay Flats

Best months to get married here:
Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Jeep/4×4, Hiking

Nantucket, Massachusetts

A small lighthouse stands on a sandy shoreline adjacent to a few rustic houses in Nantucket, Massachusetts. The beach curves around the water, which is calm with gentle waves. The sky above is overcast with soft pink and blue hues

If you like the idea of a spot like Martha’s Vineyard but want less crowds and more walkability, Nantucket should be on your list. This small island has all of the cobblestoned charm of New England towns while being flat and small, making it a walking and biking haven. Get married by a lighthouse cloaked in fog and then dress for dinner at an upscale restaurant. The vibe here is laid back but polished and incredibly romantic. Go for a sunset sail and thank us later.

Best for: Coast, Sand Dunes and Beaches

Best months to get married here:
June to September

My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Kayaking, Hiking

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah

A vast desert landscape featuring reddish sandy dunes with sparse green vegetation scattered throughout. In the background, dark rugged hills and a clear blue sky with a few clouds create a striking contrast.

This place does exactly what it says on the tin – massive, rolling dunes in the most ridiculous shade of coral pink. The color comes from eroded Navajo Sandstone, and it glows even brighter at sunset, turning the whole place into one of the most photo-worthy elopement spots out there. It’s not just pretty to look at, though. Rent an ATV and tear across the dunes, or grab a board and sand surf your way down. This is an ideal destination for adventure-loving couples, provided you don’t mind getting sandy!

Best for: Mountains, Forest and Pink Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here:
April to November

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Jeep/4×4

Erg Chebbi Dunes, Morocco

Expansive desert landscape with vast rolling sand dunes and scattered tufts of grass. The dunes display various shades of brown and ochre under the clear sky, highlighting the arid yet mesmerizing environment.

Whatever you picture when you think of the Sahara Desert, Erg Chebbi is going to be a great place to find it. With high red dunes that glow during golden hour, this is a sea of sand that you won’t find anything like anywhere else in the world. Unlike some of the more remote parts of the Sahara, though, it is also easy to access, and you can drive a car or 4X4 right up to it. Once you’re there, enjoy the dunes however you want! Hike up to their peaks, ride 4X4’s over them, saddle up on a horse or camel’s back, or sandboard down them. You can even stay in a desert camp at night for a view of the stars overhead. 

Best for: Sand Dunes and Desert

Best months to get married here:
Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Jeep/4×4, Hiking, Camel rides, Camping and Stargazing

Cape Kiwanda, Oregon

A bride in a strapless white dress, carrying a bouquet of vibrant flowers, and a groom in a light-colored suit with a black bag, walk barefoot up a sandy dune under a clear blue sky. The bride's veil flows behind her while her dress drags slightly in the sand.

Cape Kiwanda is the Oregon coast at its wild, untamed best. Giant dunes? Check. Cliffs that look like they belong in a movie? Absolutely. A Haystack Rock that towers over the waves? Yeah, that too. This place is just made for adventure. Sand sledding straight down the dunes, kayaking past sea caves, and catching waves at one of the best surf spots in the state – it’s all on the table. At low tide, the tide pools go off, packed with sea stars and anemones, so save time on your busy day to check them out!

Best for: Beach, Coast and Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here:
June to September

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Surfing

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

A vast desert landscape with rolling sand dunes, featuring a large, clear turquoise lagoon in the center. The sky is blue with scattered white clouds, and the sun casts soft shadows upon the sand.

What makes this national park so special is its intersections between different environments, leading to pure white sand dunes that are interspersed with bright blue lagoons. Between squiggled lines in the sand, the curves of the lagoons, and the bright colors all around you, this would be a *stunning* place for an elopement. Take a 4X4 tour across the dunes and find one of the dozens of lagoons all to yourself for a dip. If you want to catch these natural pools at their most full, visit in February or March right after the rainy season ends!

Best for: Sand Dunes, Beach and Pools

Best months to get married here:
Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking and Jeep/4×4

Sand Mountain, Nevada

A vast desert landscape with expansive sand dunes under a clear blue sky. The foreground features sparse vegetation, including dry grasses and small bushes, with distant mountains framing the horizon in Sand Mountain, Nevada.

Sand Mountain is not only a seriously tall sand dune (600 feet high), it’s also an incredibly vocal one! Sand Mountain is what’s known as a singing sand dune, so when the sand shifts, the sounds emitted from the sand can reach up to 105 decibels (that’s the equivalent of a chainsaw!). There are only a few of these on the planet, so this makes for a super unique experience on your wedding day! Imagine saying your vows to each other while the Earth talks back. Rent an ATV to take a ride across the dunes or whip out your boogie boards or winter sleds to slide down them together. If you camp out here, you can end your wedding day by doing some next-level stargazing—this is a recognized dark sky location in the state.

Best for: Sand Dunes, Desert and Mountains

Best months to get married here: October to March

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Jeep/4×4, Stargazing

Wahiba Sands, Oman

A vast desert landscape featuring rolling sand dunes under a partly cloudy sky. Footprints are visible on the nearest dune, leading towards the horizon. The scene conveys a sense of solitude and natural beauty.

Wahiba Sands is an endless sea of dunes as far as the eye can see. The dunes rule the landscape here, so you won’t find any roads and will need a 4X4 vehicle to get into the area—or you can explore on a camel’s back or from the basket of a hot air balloon! There are several desert camps set up throughout the dunes (including luxury options), giving you ample options to stay so that you can watch the sunset and then catch the stars at night. Visit in the shoulder seasons and over the winter for the most comfortable visit possible.

Best for: Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here: Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Jeep/4×4, Hiking, Camel riding, Hot Air Balloon and Stargazing

Cape Cove Beach, Oregon

A couple in wedding attire embraces on a sandy beach with rolling dunes in the background. The bride wears a white gown and the groom a dark suit. The evening sky is clear with a visible moon, casting a serene and romantic atmosphere over the scene.

Cape Cove Beach is one of those spots you almost don’t believe exists until you see it – a tucked-away beach hidden behind a short forest hike. Even though it’s right near Cape Perpetua’s visitor center, it somehow dodges the crowds, meaning you can have the waves, the cliffs, and the sea spray all to yourself. Perfect if you’re after an elopement that feels like your own little secret. You’re also just minutes from some of Oregon’s best coastal towns, so you can say your vows in total seclusion and still be sipping a post-ceremony pint by the fire in no time.

Best for: Forest, Coast Sand Dunes and Beach

Best months to get married here:
June to September

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing

Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain

Vast sand dunes meet the ocean under a clear blue sky. Footprints are visible on the dunes, adding depth and texture to the golden landscape. Two people are seen walking in the distance, emphasizing the vastness of the desert expanse.

One of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is best known for its stunning beaches—especially Maspalomas. There’s a lot to find in this area, but the dramatic dunes that sit in sight of both the shore and a lighthouse from the 1800’s. Because this beach is such a beloved spot, there are plenty of ways to experience it—from 4X4, horse, and camel tours over the dunes to sunset whale watching yacht cruises in the water. At night, you can retire to one of the resorts with views of the sea.

Best for: Beach, Coast, City and Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here:
Year round

My favorite activities to do here: Jeep/4×4, Hiking and Boating

Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan

A scenic view of sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan leading to a vast blue lake under a clear sky. Sparse greenery sprinkles the sandy landscape, and a distant tree line is visible on the left side. The calm lake water stretches to the horizon.

Sleeping Bear Dunes is named for the massive sand dunes that rise up 450 feet over Lake Michigan. This is a super unique location that can give you the vibes of a beach while having the depth and perspective of a cliff. In the snow, this massive dune doubles as a popular sled hill. You can even see the northern lights from here at certain times of the year! Hiking trails abound here to take you to incredible views of the lake back into the trees. To avoid hot sand on bare feet, come in the morning or in the off-season. This is a beautiful site year-round!

Best for: Coast, Lake, Sand Dunes and Beaches

Best months to get married here:
June to September

My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Kayaking, Hiking

Dune of Pilat, France

A vast desert landscape featuring expansive sand dunes under a clear blue sky. Footprints trail across the dunes, creating patterns in the sand. A dense forest borders the desert on one side, with the horizon stretching out in the distance.

The Dune of Pilat earns its title of the tallest sand dune in Europe, because it’s straight-up massive! Climb to the top, and you’ll find yourself standing on a golden ridge with the Atlantic stretching endlessly in one direction and a dense green forest rolling out behind you. The contrast is wild, and it means you get two completely different landscapes in one epic elopement spot. Run down the dunes, share your vows, and take in a sunset that lights up the sand. Only an hour from Bordeaux, it’s easy to mix in wine country before or after… because why not?

Best for: Coast, Forest and Sand Dunes

Best months to get married here:
May to September

My favorite activities to do here: Hiking

Charlevoix Sand Dunes, Michigan

A vibrant red lighthouse stands at the end of a rocky pier, extending into a calm body of water. The beach in the foreground features golden sand that slopes gently into the clear blue water at the Charlevoix Sand Dunes in Northern Michigan.

The dunes in Charlevoix are in the North Point Nature Preserve and face out at Lake Michigan between the mainland and the Upper Peninsula. This is a great spot to see natural, preserved Michigan shoreline. With wide beaches, sloping dunes, and nearby Mt. McSauba, there’s a lot to see in this little corner of the state. Come in the warmer months for sand and shore or in the winter for skiing and tubing hills!

Best for: Coast, Lake, Sand Dunes and Beaches

Best months to get married here:
June to August

My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Kayaking, Hiking

When it comes to narrowing down elopement locations, it can be tough to decide what feels like you. Maybe you like the idea of how fun dunes sound but nothing on this list jumped out at you, or you’re early in your process and want to see what else is out there? Don’t worry, I have your back! Click here to go to my interactive map stacked with nearly 600+ locations. You can filter by season, activity, and even scenery to get a list of locations that are custom fit to what you’re looking for!

Or maybe you did see something on here that you love and now you’re eager to get planning? I’m your gal! I’m ready to design you an experience that not only deeply resonates with you but also feels like a totally out of the ordinary day that you’ll want to relive for the rest of your life. 

Click here to be taken to my contact form and let’s get started! I’ll be by you every step of the way with vision boards, bespoke planning lists, custom itinerary options, endless consult calls, thorough planning guides, and so much more.

Hey there!

I’m Maddie Mae

Your Elopement Photographer, Experience Designer & Planning Consultant



For the last 14 years I’ve traveled to 40 countries, all 7 continents, and planned & photographed over 300 elopements all over the world.

A woman with long brown hair and glasses smiles at the camera. She wears a black blazer, a black top, and a pendant necklace. The background is a plain light gray wall.

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Hey, I’m Maddie Mae

Your Elopement Photographer, Experience Designer & Planning Consultant

A person with long hair and glasses is sitting on sand, smiling at the camera. They are wearing a black lace cardigan over a beige top, with hoop earrings and a necklace. The background is a sandy expanse.

“The woman who sparked the adventure
elopement trend”  – Forbes

I don’t just photograph elopements –
I design and plan a curated, unique experience around the two of you—one you’ll enjoy every minute of.

I want to get to know what makes you two feel alive and create an experience worthy of this
incredible love you’ve found

“The woman who sparked the adventure elopement trend”  – Forbes

40

countries and 7 continents worth of travel experience and knowledge

13

years experience planning and photographing elopements & weddings

300

one-of-a-kind elopements & intimate weddings planned & photographed

2019

the year I eloped too (after planning my own destination elopement in just 6 weeks)

What makes my elopement packages different?

Every Adventure Instead elopement experience includes:

Reach out to start planning your dream destination elopement

Don’t worry, most couples who inquire with me have no plans at all. 
Helping turn vague ideas into a thrilling plan is my specialty.

I can’t wait to hear your ideas and help bring them to life