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The great outdoors is often where engaged couples find their ideal wedding setting. Some especially have their hearts set on a national park for their nuptials.

By Mekita Rivas

Aravind Ravichandran had his heart set on proposing to Lavanya Venkatesan at Angels Landing, a large rock formation at Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. In the spring of 2024, he managed to get the necessary hikers’ permits for himself and Ms. Venkatesan, both nature enthusiasts from Boston, through a lottery system.

Once they arrived at the summit, Mr. Ravichandran, 29, a senior design engineer at a software company, reached for the diamond ring tucked in his coat pocket. A nearby Canadian tourist sprang into action, recording the proposal. When Ms. Venkatesan, a 28-year-old senior research associate at a biotechnology company, said yes, a gathering crowd erupted in cheers and applause.