Ready to make an exciting decision?
There is a reason Sedona is a magnet for those who are seeking adventure. The red rocks are mesmerizing. The trails are matched only by other unworldly places such as Zion, Arches and Canyonlands. It really is a place to make memories. I’ve been countless times and still seem to find new places that make my heart skip a beat or even old places at different times of the day that remind me of why I live near Sedona. How to elope in Sedona is a valid question.
We can thank the ancient oceans for depositing sedimentary layers containing iron for the red color of the rocks. I won’t go into too much detail, but the geology is pretty amazing. I urge you to look at how the buttes were formed. The color palette is that of a masterpiece and compliments an elopement so well with desert sunrise or sunset.
Let’s get to business, that of HOW to elope in Sedona. You can also check this out to learn more about how I add value to your Sedona elopement.
Choosing an Elopement Date
First things first, you choose a time of year that isn’t blazing hot because that can be a party ender unless you seek hiking in the dark as part of your elopement which I am COMPLETELY all for. This allows us to beat the crowds and get the first (and/or last) taste of light all to ourselves! In all honesty, my favorite time to be in Sedona is during monsoon season (July-September) for the moody skies or late fall into winter (Nov-Feb) to avoid crowds. See my post on here for more details.
Accommodations for Your Sedona Elopement
After you narrow down a timeframe to elope, it’s time to look into accommodations and get those booked 3+ months in advance. My personal recommendation is to find an Air BnB that has a great patio with views and is not too far from your ceremony site trailhead parking. Always check with your host to be sure they allow professional photography on site before booking if you are wanting a slow morning or getting ready photos!
As a quick overview, Sedona does not have a wild downtown scene. To be honest, it shuts down fairly early which came as a surprise to me! Uptown will have more walkability to restaurants and shops than West Sedona. West Sedona is nice if you are staying for a multi-day trip and plan on exploring before and/or after your elopement. The VOC (Village of Oak Creek) is quiet, but has great access to popular trails.
Choosing a Location in the Red Rocks
If you Google Sedona elopement locations you will see 3 that stand out: Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Merry-Go-Round Rock. Some are easier to get to than others, but you can bet on all of these being busy during the warmer months. Cathedral is a steep, hard trail that you scramble upward to an amazing view that is worth ALL of the hype. The con to this is the parking has become so busy that you now must catch a shuttle from Thursday-Sunday during peak season. Bell is pretty dang accessible. The parking can be crowded, but there are plenty of trails that spur from the trailhead. Merry-Go-Round requires an off road vehicle to go up a bumpy road, one that is shared with tours such as Pink Jeep.
There ARE other places to elope in Sedona that aren’t as popular, but still just as amazing. Ask your photographer for the secret sauce on where to go for a more intimate, secluded location ::wink wink::
Plan the Ceremony
You’ll need a marriage license! Flagstaff is just North of Sedona and you can walk-in without an appointment to the Clerk of the Superior Court at 200 N San Francisco Street, Flagstaff AZ 86001. Be prepared to pay $98, bring 2 forms of ID and of course know your SSN. You must be married within one year of obtaining the license! You’ll need to send in the license at least 10 days after the ceremony. You’ll need an officiant and I highly suggest hiring a local officiant as I do not formally lead the ceremony. Two witnesses won’t be hard to find as long as you don’t mind someone from your small guest list or strangers signing your marriage license!
Writing vows can be a special moment, so be sure to find a photographer that builds in time for special moments like these.
Hire an Adventure Elopement Photographer (and other vendors)
Dare I say do this first? Yes, as soon as you have Sedona on your radar for an elopement, look into a photographer that knows the area. Mainly because they can be such a key to finding your location, sharing local vendors that they trust and making the experience fun by providing activities that may be of interest. Their advice can spur so many ideas that you and your partner didn’t even know you wanted included in your day. Another perk to hiring a photographer that knows the area is they can get creative with the photos since they know it so well. Also, check out my Gallery page to see what your elopement could look like!
Vendors: Often people look for a florist and officiant for starters. Videographers are a commonly overlooked and undervalued add-on, so ask your photographer for recommendations on this! You can spice things up with a private chef or even this cutie Sedona Picnics company that specializes in setting up and taking down and providing food (what?!?!)!
Transportation
I would hope that you’d stick around before and after your Sedona elopement experience not only to have wiggle room for your day pending mother nature, but also so you can have time together. It’s always nice to have your own vehicle when exploring a town. It may even be worth renting a Jeep for at least your elopement days because you can then reach hard-to-get places and have that much more fun with WHERE you decide to elope. There are other means within town such as a trolley if you plan on bringing a herd of people to your elopement.
In Conclusion…
You have SO many things to think about… Let someone else (someone like me!) take on the burden and help you plan an epic elopement. Sedona, as we have covered, is a really special place and you deserve to know what is out there and what your day could look like. Don’t try to do it all on your own! That’s a lot. The purpose of eloping is to let go of stress, right? If you are ready to start planning your elopement and find this information helpful then I invite you to my website where you can take the first step!
Until next time,
Clarice