Your 2025 Guide to Eloping at Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona

Cathedral Rock is one of the most iconic locations in all of Arizona, especially for adventurous elopement weddings! Couples who crave starting their marriage off with a hike often gravitate towards these sandstone mountains. Eloping at Cathedral Rock takes some planning and preparation to make sure it is the best experience as possible! I have helped over 75 couples elope at this location so here are all of my tips, tricks, and a full blog story featuring a couple who climbed the mountain on their wedding day!

Why Cathedral Rock is the perfect hike for your elopement adventure

• Want a day filled with adventure 
• Don’t mind elevation gain (it is around 800 feet)
• Are ready to use your hands for scrambling 
• Want a variety of views & locations
• Want cliffs, cave like structures, slot canyon feel, and other desert scenery 
• Don’t mind having some hikers there at some point
• Want a good view of the sunset 
• Don’t mind hiking in the dark 

Want to learn more about eloping in Sedona? Here is my full free Guide to Eloping in Sedona!

What to Expect & How to Prepare

PARKING

The parking lot at Cathedral Rock is very small and there is not roadside parking available. Thursday-Sunday there is a free shuttle service that you can utilize. Be sure to check the schedule and consider what time sunrise and sunset is! 

I don’t always recommend using the shuttle service on your elopement day for a multitude of reasons but don’t worry, I have my own tips and tricks I give to my elopement couples to help them navigate this! 

If you park in the parking lot then be sure to buy a $5 Red Rock Parking Pass to place in your vehicle. 

THE HIKE

One of the most important things to expect from hiking Cathedral Rock is that it will NOT be an easy hike. This is not your typical flat hiking trail. This is a large elevation gain hike that requires scrambling- aka using your hands to do a little rock climbing. 

This hike takes around 30-45 minutes each direction with short breaks.

Other important things to consider are that there are slick rock sections that are easy to lose footing on. The trail is marked with cairns (think baskets full of rocks) and white marks. 

If you are not familiar with this trailhead I do NOT recommend hiking it in the dark. There are multiple trails that connect and it’s very easy to get lost. 

Pro Tip: Prepare your body for the intense hike by drinking electrolytes the days leading up AND pack some for the hike. Bring your favorite sweet and salty snacks too!

Getting Married at Cathedral Rock:

Let’s talk about actually getting married at Cathedral Rock! The majority of couples don’t use this location for their official wedding ceremony due to it not being easily accessible for guests and busyness. There are a few spots on the trail I suggest for ceremonies with guests but it’s at least a 10 minute rocky hike! Parking is another tricky thing to navigate with guests! Overall I suggest having a ceremony with guests at another location. 

If you really want to do your ceremony at this location then I suggest limiting it to just you and your partner! We can find a secluded spot on the trail or save the ceremony for later on when hikers have gone away. 

Contact Us Now to Start Planning Your Elopement at Cathedral Rock!

The Best Time of Year for Hiking & Eloping at Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is a great spot for hiking or eloping almost year around! Peak seasons are spring and fall. 

In the springtime consider the later sunset times while planning your elopement!

Winter is a great time to climb this mountain since it is off season! Watch the weather forecast as Sedona does get snow and this hike can be extra slippery when wet. 

If you want to visit during the summer then I only recommend hiking at sunrise. 

Important note: I personally do NOT book elopements mid June through end of August here in Sedona due to extreme heat, daily thunderstorms, and flash flooding potential. I do not recommend planning on eloping at Cathedral Rock during this time! 

Should you wear your wedding attire or change? 

This is completely personal preference and it depends on your exact wedding outfits. Believe it or not the majority of my elopement couples do NOT change out of their wedding attire to hike Cathedral Rock! 

Imagine how tricky getting on and off a wedding dress is when you already have your hair and makeup done! Now imagine that with some extra sweat. It’s not easy! 

My pro tip for any hiking elopement is to wear good hiking shoes. This makes the WORLD of a difference when wearing not-so-ideal clothes. Wear some spandex shorts or leggings so you feel comfortable holding up your dress while climbing. 

For suits I highly recommend getting one that has some stretch to it! Try to find one with a spandex blend. Don’t pick the tightest pants with zero give or you may rip them. 

For both suits and dresses I suggest doing the “step test”. That’s where you lift up your leg pretending like you are taking a big step! See how your outfit feels and if it is even possible. If it isn’t, then consider changing at the end of the trail. 

If you are prone to sweating then consider hiking without your suit coat on, take your dress shirt off, and bring a new undershirt to change into once the hardest part is over. 

Want some tips and tricks to picking out and hiking in your elopement dress? Check out this blog here!

Sunrise vs. Sunset

As someone who has hiked this mountain for elopements over 75 times I definitely have a preference when it comes to sunrise versus sunset! 

Out of 75+ elopements I’ve photographed at Cathedral Rock I’ve only done ONE sunrise elopement. 

Why’s that? I don’t prefer the lighting at sunrise! I absolutely love golden hour, sunset, and blue hour and so do all of my couples! 

At sunrise you can expect a maximum 30 minutes of good lighting while at sunset it’s more than one hour (and you will need to start hiking at least one hour before sunrise!). We have time to explore different spots to capture the various lighting. 

What about the people? The majority of my elopement couples choose to stay at the top of the mountain past sunset to embrace blue hour which means the majority of hikers are gone. We almost always get solitude! This is when couples may choose to exchange vows, share a first dance, enjoy some drinks and cake, or start watching for stars. I absolutely LOVE this time of day and get extra creative photography wise. 

Meet Caitlyn and Chad, your dream Sedona Elopement Photographer, Videographer & Guide Team

Hello!! We are the Wilder West Team! We are a husband and wife photo video team based in sunny Sedona, Arizona. Caitlyn is the lead photographer and your personal elopement guide aka elopement wizard, question-answerer, location scouter, and designated hype woman. Chad is the lead videographer who you can expect to supply all the dad jokes, carrier of the Mary Poppins backpack, and mountain goat to get all the rad shots! We’ve been lucky enough to call this place our home for the past 5 years, going on 100+ adventures with couples from all over the world. 

We’d love to show you around our home & help you plan your dream Sedona elopement experience.

We believe that all couples deserve to have an adventurous and meaningful wedding experience that reflects them and their love. We work together to design your “best day” from start to finish. We can’t wait to hear all about what you are dreaming for your elopement experience so we can work together to make it happen seamlessly and care free.

Learn More About Us

General Tips & Tricks

• Plan for around 2.5 hours – 4 hours for your full adventure! 
• Pack headlamps if you will be hiking in the dark 
• Watch for scorpions and rattlesnakes. If you’re lucky you may see a ring tailed cat at night! 
• Bring a backpack for your supplies so you are hands free
• Bring a liter of fluid per hiker
• Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses 
• Plan accordingly with your dinner plans if you plan to stay out past dark 

Sedona Elopement 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 have me sign off as your ordained officiant if you want to a completely private, just the two of you elopement.
• The option to add on my awesome, adventurous ordained officiant Kat to your package.
• No travel fees since I’m a local!!

Photo Only Packages Beginning at $4500

Photo & Video Packages Beginning at $5500

Contact Us Now to Start Planning Your Sedona Elopement

Lauren & Peter’s Cathedral Rock Hiking Elopement in Sedona, Arizona | Guide for 2025

Lauren, Peter and their closest family members came all the way from New York to elope in the red rocks in Sedona, Arizona. Their day was spent half with their loved ones, and the other half on the adventure of their dreams- climbing up Cathedral Rock to catch the sunset. It was a day filled with so many beautiful, intimate moments as well as pure adventure in the desert. Talk about the perfect elopement experience!

Planning their Elopement

From the first phone call, I knew Lauren and Peter were my kind of people! They decided a big wedding wasn’t for them and they wanted to follow their hearts out west to say their vows to each other. Having an intimate day with each other and their close family was a priority for them, so that’s exactly what they did.

Their Cathedral Rock Elopement

Their Airbnb had the most expansive views of Sedona, with touches of bohemian decor. They had a slow morning getting ready, writing their vows and packing up all of their hiking essentials. It was a gorgeous November day and we couldn’t have had better weather!

Some of the most special moments of their day included their getting ready moments with their loved ones and their ceremony. 

Lauren and Peter’s ceremony was intimate and tear filled. Their ceremony location had the most incredible views of Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock. To begin, the couple shared their first look with each other as Lauren walked down the “aisle”. This was such a special moment for everyone attending. Along with that, Peter’s best childhood friend officiated their ceremony.

Once their ceremony concluded, it was time for Kirsten and Joe’s private adventure. They decided to climb up Cathedral Rock– one of the most beautiful spots in all of Sedona! Cathedral Rock isn’t for the faint of heart- it’s ranked as a moderate hike with an 800 foot elevation gain. It’s a tough hike in wedding attire but Lauren and Peter climbed up the mountain with huge smiles on their faces. It’s such an incredible adventure!

We ended their elopement day by watching the sun set on the cliff edge of Cathedral Rock. It’s always so special to be able to slow down on your wedding day and really take everything in. To be able to watch the sky change to various shades of blue, and the red rocks take on my purple hues is one of the gifts of choosing to elope in Sedona. They exchanged their personal vows as the moon rose and we had the trail completely to ourselves. 

I had such an amazing time getting to work one on one with Lauren and Peter to plan their elopement experience and capture all of their special moments. What a perfect day it was!

Need help planning your elopement in Sedona? Contact me now to schedule a free elopement consultation.