Phoenix, Arizona Elopement in the Desert & How to Elope in Phoenix

Have you fallen in love with the desert and want to get married near the funky cactus? Look no further for some Phoenix elopement inspiration and tips and tricks for eloping in this gorgeous location! Krystal and Zach’s elopement in Phoenix, Arizona was a day that blended all of their favorite things; off-roading, adventure, the desert, and their friends and family. Read on for their full elopement story and tips and tricks for planning your own Phoenix elopement!

• 

• 

Full Day Elopement in Phoenix, Arizona

Planning Their Day

When Krystal and Zach reached out about their elopement we immediately CLICKED. I’m pretty sure that Krystal and I are soul sisters, haha! We completely bonded over their love of off-roading adventures with their dogs. We also happened to grow up in almost the same neighborhood- how crazy!

From the beginning, Zach and Krystal expressed how important it was for them to not only incorporate adventure on their elopement day, but their families as well. Krystal had a dream of getting married right in front of saguaro cacti so we worked together to find the perfect location that not only had cool cacti, but was accessible for their family as well. This location on the east side of Phoenix is one of my all time personal favorites not only for elopements, but for my own adventures with our dogs! Krystal’s family camped out at this spot the day before and set up the most incredible arch and picnic. It was incredible!

Their Elopement Day

Krystal and Zach’s elopement happened to be on one of the rare gloomy, rainy days that Phoenix rarely experiences. They didn’t let that get them down! We came prepared with rain gear and set off for our adventure. It’s such a treat to see the desert with dark clouds and fog. It ended up being the most gorgeous backdrop for their ceremony at the campsite. It sprinkled on and off throughout the whole day but nothing that could scare us away! Some of my favorite parts of this elopement was the heartfelt ceremony, the laid back picnic, and their hike in the desert! The sun ended up coming out, showing up the prettiest rainbow. This trail that we explored not only had the biggest saguaro cacti I’ve ever seen, but gorgeous purple mountains with spooky caves. You can’t have a better location for your phoenix elopement in my opinion, haha! After the adventure it was time to wind down the day with pizza, beer, and ice cream sandwiches. It was the BEST.

Here are some sweet words from Krystal and Zach about their experience of having me as their elopement photographer and guide:

Let me just give you some advice: go with Caitlyn.

Seriously.

Not only are the photos amazingly beautiful, she’s an amazing person. You want to surround yourself on your special day with people you you’re comfortable with, and she really just comes in and makes you feel at ease and joins in the excitement with you. She gets to know you quite a bit through the whole planning process and keeps you updated. Then, they day comes and it’s like you’ve known her forever already and you have the most epic day. It’s like getting together again with an old friend.

& the photos ,man. The photos are AMAZING. Her quality of work is GOLD. The photos come like the photos you’d dream of having one day to look back and remember with. She takes the traditional photos you’d expect/want but then also *adds a little spice*

It’s worth it. Do it. You won’t regret it.

How to Elope in Phoenix, Arizona Tips

Planning an elopement in Phoenix, Arizona doesn’t need to be stressful! As your elopement team we are here to help you find the perfect location, incredible vendors, and plan a day that is filled with what you love. Contact us here to schedule a free phone consultation so we can chat all about your elopement dreams!

How to Elope and Legally Get Married in Phoenix

All you need to get married in Phoenix is an Arizona marriage license that you can get in person in any county, an ordained officiant, and two witnesses. If you are flying into Phoenix, you will most likely go to a court in Maricopa County. The marriage license fee in Arizona is $83.

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Phoenix

The minimum amount that your Phoenix elopement will cost is the marriage license fee of $83. From there, the cost goes up depending on the vendors you choose, experiences you splurge on, and so much more! Our Wilder West couples spend anywhere from $5000 to $15,000 on their elopement experiences. This will completely depend on how you and your partner want to invest on your elopement experience.

Where to Elope in Phoenix

Phoenix is a huge city with many different areas that make for the perfect elopement locations. If you’re looking for spots with tons of the tall saguaro cacti, I suggest sticking to north Phoenix (Anthem, New River, north Peoria) or east Phoenix (Apache Junction, Mesa, Gilbert). If you want to stay in central Phoenix area but want beautiful desert scenery, we love the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. There are incredible mountains and trails surrounding all of Phoenix so the perfect location for you depends on what kind of scenery, accessibility, and activities that you want to include on your day. We can help you find that perfect spot for you during the elopement planning process.

Best Time to Elope in Phoenix

If you’ve decided to elope in Phoenix it is extremely important to be aware of just how HOT it gets in the desert. Yes, it may be a dry heat, but it can be extremely dangerous to have an elopement here in the summer. Our all-time favorite season for Phoenix elopements is actually in the winter! Winters in Phoenix are a DREAM. You can expect highs in the 60s and 70s! Spring and Autumn are also great times to elope in Phoenix but the weather and heat is more unpredictable. You can expect a range of highs in the 70s to 100s! We recommend sticking to early spring or late autumn to avoid the more intense heat.

Activities to Do on Your Phoenix Elopement

• Hiking
• Off-Roading
• Horseback Riding
• Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Boating
• Kayaking & Paddleboarding
• Brewery Hopping
• …and so much more!

Want some more inspiration for your Arizona elopement? Here is our free Arizona Elopement Planning Guide!

Phoenix, Arizona Elopement Photography & Videography Packages

• Offering 4 hour, 6 hour, 8 hour, 10 hour, and 2 day Packages
• Unlimited planning assistance including help with locations, timeline building, permits, wedding licenses, & more.
• Exclusive list of location ideas for your elopement
• Custom day of timeline & itinerary 
• Online gallery with your epic photos with personal printing rights
• The option to add on my awesome, adventurous ordained officiant Kat to your package.

Photo Only Packages Beginning at $4200

Photo & Video Packages Beginning at $7000

Ready to start planning your dream elopement experience? Contact us now!