Planning an elopement in Sedona Arizona offers couples an unforgettable experience surrounded by breathtaking red rock landscapes and desert beauty. This elopement planning guide provides all the essential information you need—from permits and marriage licenses to the best locations and activities—to help you plan a seamless and adventurous elopement in one of Arizona’s most stunning destinations.
About Sedona, AZ
Sedona is an Arizona desert town near Flagstaff that’s surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls, and pine forests. It’s the outdoor enthusiast’s playground, a tourist favorite, and hosts a vibrant arts community.
There’s plenty of space to explore, with so many adventure options and photo opportunities!
How to Elope in Sedona, Arizona
Permits for Sedona
To elope in Sedona you may need a permit, however, this is location and detail dependent.
- National Parks: Always require a special use permit and/or a photographer’s permit.
- State Parks: Some may require a permit with an additional fee.
- Wilderness Areas: Elopements and portraits are not allowed on Wilderness Land (e.g., Devil’s Bridge).
- Restrictions: No arches, tables, or chairs are allowed on National Forest Service Land, and non-native species (birdseed, rice, rose petals, etc.) are prohibited.
A Red Rock Pass is often needed to park at trailheads ($5/day or $15/week), but some areas have separate fees. Contact the Forest Service or work with a local Sedona elopement photographer to confirm if your chosen location requires a permit.
This is something we can discuss in the elopement planning process!
Best Time to Elope in Sedona
While you can elope year-round, Sedona’s weather and tourist seasons play a big role:
Best Seasons: Fall through Spring (October-April) offers the most comfortable weather.
Busy Months: Avoid March/April and October/November if you want to avoid crowds.
Summer Elopements: Sedona’s summer temperatures can soar over 100°F. A romantic sunrise elopement is a great way to beat the heat- check out what that looks like here Sedona Sunrise Elopement
Weekdays/Off-Seasons: These are best for privacy and avoiding heavy tourist traffic. Sedona’s one main road can get very congested on weekends!
If you don’t have a set date in mind, I can always help plan out the best time for an Arizona elopement!
Weather
Summer (June-September): Hot, with temperatures over 100°F.
Winter (November-March): Snow is possible, especially in higher elevations. A light dusting of snow on the red rocks can be stunning, but make sure you prepare for cooler weather with extra layers.
Where to Stay in Sedona
If you’re coming in from out of town, or just want to make your elopement experience more unique, here’s some unique places to stay in Sedona!
Best Luxury Sedona Hotel & Resort | L’Auberge de Sedona | Official Site (lauberge.com)
Top Sedona Houses & Vacation Rentals with Hot tub: Entire home | Airbnb – Airbnb
TinyCamp – Tiny House Village Retreat in Sedona
How to Get Married in Sedona, Arizona
Marriage License
Getting all the legalities of an elopement in order is essential to your planning. Some couples choose to get their paperwork done at home beforehand, while others do their marriage filing in the county they elope in. Click here for more information on legally eloping in Arizona.
If you want to legally get married in Sedona here’s some info and resources to get you started:
- Sedona Municipal Court does not issue marriage licenses. You’ll need to contact a superior court, with Yavapai County Superior Court being the closest (Camp Verde).
- Fee: $83 for the license.
- No Residency Requirement: Anyone can obtain an Arizona marriage license, regardless of where they live.
- Witnesses: Two witnesses over the age of 18 are required at the ceremony.
- Alternative Locations: You can also obtain a license in nearby counties like Coconino or Maricopa (if flying into Phoenix).
Marriage Licenses (yavapaiaz.gov)
Other Locations to Obtain Arizona Marriage License
Marriage Licenses | Coconino (az.gov)
If you fly into Phoenix, you could also schedule an appointment at any of these locations before heading up to Sedona:
Marriage Licenses | Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court
What to Bring to your Sedona Elopement
If you need tips on what to bring to your Sedona elopement, here’s a guideline to follow!
General packing list:
- Permit (if needed)
- Water bottles/hydration pack
- Hiking boots
- Sunblock/glasses
- Change of shoes/socks
- Blanket (to sit on or change behind)
- Portable phone charger
- Rings
- Vow books
Winter add-ons:
- Layers (jacket, sweater)
- Gloves
- Beanie
- Hand warmers
- Thermos with a warm beverage
Fun Things to do at Your Elopement
Planning an adventure elopement gives you so much freedom to have a full day experience (or as long as you want!) Stay for the week, book fun activities, get out and explore all the beauty that Arizona has to offer! Here are some adventure elopement experience ideas for Sedona!
- Hot air balloon Red Rock Balloons in Sedona, AZ and Northern Light Balloon Expeditions
- Helicopter ride Sedona Air Tours
- Hiking Best 10 Trails and Hikes in Sedona
- Picnic Sedona Picnics
- Off roading Red Rock Rubicon Jeep Rentals and Sedona Off-Road Center
- Cater food to your Airbnb Chef Nate and Chef Taylor Mae Dean
- Reserve a dinner at one of Sedona’s best restaurants like Mandy + Dylan did for their elopement. Check it out here!
Leave No Trace
During your elopement adventure in Sedona it’s important to follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Stick to Trails
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Check Campfire Restrictions
- Leave What You Find
- Respect Wildlife
- Share the Outdoors
Make a Pledge to Take Care of the Environment | Visit Sedona
Find a photographer you love that’s an expert in eloping in Sedona
To make your elopement experience a breeze, start by booking an experienced Sedona photographer! Hiring a local who knows all the ins and out of eloping in Arizona can be SO helpful. I have done countless hours of research and location scouting for my clients, and can offer help in the planning process before your elopement day!
Sedona Elopement Planning Guide
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For the couples who....
want to capture a full day with no breaks or they want to split coverage between 2 days. It's best for the couples who want a day dedicated to just them and then the next day dedicated to their guests.
What's included:
+ up to 12 hours of photography coverage
+ Personalized planning workflow that will guide you through the process from start to finish
+ Custom location scouting, vendors recs, activity inspo, permit assistance, and timeline creation
+ Behind the scenes photos send straight to your phone
+ 3-5 Polaroids
+ Online gallery with unlimited high-res downloads, personal printing rights, and access to pro lab printing
+ All travel within AZ or UT
EPIC ADVENTURE | $7,300
package 1
package 2
FULL DAY ADVENTURE | $6,200
package 3
For the couples who....
are eloping with no guests or want a light adventure elopement with a few guests. If you choose to have guests, a minimum of 2 hours would be dedicated to ceremony, guest portraits, travel time, and buffer room for traffic, hiking, delays, etc. This is based on past experiences with eloping with guests.
What's included:
+ up to 4 hours of photography coverage
+ Personalized planning workflow that will guide you through the process from start to finish
+ Custom location scouting, vendors recs, activity inspo, permit assistance, and timeline creation
+ Behind the scenes photos sent straight to your phone
+ 3-5 Polaroids
+ Online gallery with unlimited high-res downloads, personal printing rights, and access to pro lab printing
+ All travel within AZ or UT
For the couples who....
want to take advantage of the desert golden sun at both sunrise and sunset, explore multiple locations, or need more time for a longer adventure or wedding day. This package is able to be split half and half in order to get the best of both worlds on your elopement day or it can be continuous coverage depending on what works better for your vision.
What's included:
+ up to 8 hours of photography coverage
+ Personalized planning workflow that will guide you through the process from start to finish
+ Custom location scouting, vendors recs, activity inspo, permit assistance, and timeline creation
+ Behind the scenes photos sent straight to your phone
+ 3-5 Polaroids
+ Online gallery with unlimited high-res downloads, personal printing rights, and access to pro lab printing
+ All travel within AZ or UT
HALF DAY | $5,100
ARIZONA + UTAH
ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES
*MOST POPULAR PACKAGE*
What's Included:
+ up to 12 hours of photography coverage
EPIC ADVENTURE | $7,300
package 1
package 2
FULL DAY ADVENTURE | $6,200
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