5 Reasons To Elope in Sedona

Elope in Sedona

Are you considering eloping in the Southwest? Here are 5 reasons why you should consider eloping in Sedona.

1. Weather

Sedona is one of the few deserts in Arizona that has great weather most of the year. June, July, and August in Sedona are over 100º, but that gives you the rest of the year to get married here. It only rains on average of 60 days per year. That means you only have a 16% chance of getting rain in Sedona.

Sedona also averages about 10 inches of snowfall each year. It can be pretty cold in the winter. Plan on bringing jackets and gloves if you choose to elope between January through March. When it snows, the snow never sticks long but the photos are absolutely worth the cold.

2. Tons of Activities

What better reason to elope in Sedona that the incredible activities you can have while you’re here. Most of my couples come from out of state, and so they try to make the most out of the hikes, off-roading, and other adventures. Sedona has so much to offer in the way of activities, here are just a few:

• hiking (check out this blog about Sedona hikes by the Earth Trekkers)
• renting an ATV
• renting a Jeep (highly recommend Red Rubicon Jeep Rentals)
• going on a hot air balloon ride
• enjoying the Milky Way and taking astro-photos
• taking a helicopter ride around Cathedral Rock
• enjoying the Oak Creek River on hot summer days
• Trying the local breweries, cafes, and restaurants

3. Accessible Ceremony Locations

There are countless spots in Sedona that you could hold your elopement ceremony. Every spot has pros and cons, so if you have questions about certain spots in Sedona, send me a message! I’d love to help you narrow down which locations you’d like to hold your ceremony.

Things to consider when choosing an elopement ceremony:

• how many guests will you be having in attendance? Or will it just be your two?
• would you like to include pets in the ceremony?
• would you like to remain close by bathrooms?
• how far are you willing to hike?
• would you rather more seclusion even if the view isn’t as spectacular? Or are you willing to put up with other hikers as long as you get the view?
• how secluded do you want your ceremony to be?
• are you willing to go through permit processes to get the view you want?
• would you be willing to hike to get to your ceremony location?
• are you ok renting a shuttle for busier parking lots? (such as Cathedral Rock)
• how close would you like to be to your lodgings or Airbnb?
• What kind of backdrop are you interested in? Rock formations, grand views, mountains, rivers, pine trees, bodies of water, etc.

Sedona has a lot to offer, so feel free to reach out and contact my if you have any questions about locations.

4. Permits

The permit system isn’t difficult to manage (yet). If you’re considering eloping, permits should be at the top of your mind. Sedona is one of the easiest cities to elope in.

I am a strong believer that permit systems (especially when it comes to the outdoors) are important and worth getting every single time.

Most places in Sedona allow you to get married without a permit as long as there aren’t arches, chairs set up, or more than 25 people gathered. If you’re planning on having more than 25 guests, you’ll want to get in touch with the city of Sedona to ask what the process is.

If you have more than 25 guests, I don’t consider it an elopement anymore. Intimate weddings are also very special in my heart, but they do take more planning, since more people are involved. Planners like Let’s Knot and Say We Did know Sedona and the protocol with small weddings, so I would suggest getting in touch with them.

5. Great places to visit outside of Sedona

Even in a week, you’ll never scratch the surface for all there is to do and see in Sedona. But it’s a great central location in Arizona if you’d like to hit other spots.

Sedona is:

• 2 hours from the south side of the Grand Canyon
• 2 hours from Phoenix
• 3 Hours from Horseshoe Bend
• 3 hours from the Utah border
• 1 hour from Flagstaff
• 2 hours from Payson.

A lot of my clients stay in Sedona for a week, and then travel to see all kinds of spots around Arizona, such as the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in Page. If you don’t mind driving a bit, try sightseeing all over Arizona!

Conclusion to eloping in Sedona

There are so many places to elope in the southwest, but Sedona is my favorite for sure. The mountains are so accessible from anywhere in town. Consistent weather, loads of activities, accessibility of the mountains, ease of permits (for now), and proximity to other Arizona treasures make this small desert town worth the trip for an elopement.

If you’re considering eloping in the Southwest, especially Arizona, send me a message! I’d love to work with you on discovering where you want to say your vows together.

You can also CHECK OUT my blog, on how to elope in Sedona.