Our ultimate guide on how to have the BEST Arizona Elopement including 5 beautiful locations, tips, elopement packages, and a full epic Arizona elopement story to get you dreaming of your day!

Why Arizona is the perfect location for your elopement!

We believe that Arizona is one of the best places to elope on the West coast if you love:

ENDLESS ADVENTURES 
DIVERSE SCENERY
AND AMAZING WEATHER YEAR-AROUND 

Arizona is every outdoor lover’s dream for a place to elope! While Arizona is most well known for it’s epic desert, there’s so much more diverse scenery for everyone- rolling hills, mountain towns with snow capped peaks, and more! If you’re considering eloping in Arizona (great choice!!) there’s lots you need to know to be prepared. Planning your Arizona elopement doesn’t need to be stressful. We’ve compiled an entire guide to help you plan your Arizona elopement with ease so you can enjoy every step of the process.

This is everything you need to know for planning your Arizona elopement from an Arizona local’s perspective. From the best hikes, what time of year, my favorite local vendors, Arizona elopement packages, and everything in between.

How much does it cost to elope in Arizona?

A marriage license costs $83. 

Every elopement costs differently according to what each couple prioritizes. Some may choose to splurge on doing an epic experience like a helicopter tour or jeep adventure, while some may stick to just hiking. Some may want to bring some sandwiches to eat, while some may want to hire a private chef. 

In general, eloping in Arizona can range anywhere from as little as $83 to $20,000, with most of the budget going towards photography, video, planning services, and experiences.

Arizona National Parks & State Parks to Elope At

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Saguaro National Park
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell)
• Lost Dutchman State Park
• Red Rock State Park
• Crescent Moon Ranch State Park
• Horseshoe Bend

… & this doesn’t include the public lands that you can elope on!

What do you need to get married in Arizona?

You need an Arizona marriage license, an ordained officiant (hi, that can be me!), and two witnesses to make it official and legal in Arizona! Each county is a little different so check out all of the rules & laws here!

What are the rules for getting eloped in Arizona?

As long as you have an ordained officiant, two witnesses that are 18 and older, and you have a non-expired Arizona marriage license, you are good to elope here! The important thing to consider is to follow all Leave No Trace principles and other rules that your specific elopement location may have. Before eloping here, please go read all about Leave No Trace here!

What is the best time to visit and elope in Arizona?

One thing about visiting and eloping in Arizona is that there is beautiful weather year-around, depending on the part of the state that you are in. There are huge elevation changes across the whole state (even up to 12k ft!) which drastically changes the temperatures depending on the area. Elevation also plays a huge role when it comes to the weather and can create a 30 degree difference from one part of Arizona to another. One of the perks about eloping in Arizona is that there are 300 sunny days a year Let’s chat about what eloping in Arizona could look like depending on each season.

Want to elope in Phoenix or Tucson? Plan your elopement for late autumn, winter, or early spring!

Want to elope in Sedona? Plan your elopement for anytime between September-June!

Want to elope in the mountains of Flagstaff? We love elopements from June-February!

Things to do on your Arizona elopement

• HIKING
• SKIING
• JEEPING/4X4ING
• ROCK-CLIMBING
• RIVER RAFTING
• KAYAKING
• HELICOPTER RIDES
• HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
• SNOWSHOEING
• HORSEBACK RIDING

The 5 BEST Elopement Locations in Arizona

1. Elope in Sedona

If you’re dreaming of eloping in the red rocks, Sedona is your place! Sedona is an incredible place to adventure for all levels of explorers- from epic canyons to climb and canyoneer in, to incredible 4×4 roads, great camping, and short hikes with insane views of vast red mountains. Along with all of the adventure, there’s also fun hippie culture and luxurious spa experiences. Anyone can be happy in Sedona 🙂 Check our in depth guide to eloping in Sedona for more information including vendors and some specific elopement location options.

Cathedral Rock: If you’re craving an epic hike with huge red rock mountains and breathtaking cliff edges that make you feel absolutely alive, this is the spot for you. Check out a real Cathedral Rock elopement here!

Bell Rock: This park has a massive trail system that winds around beautiful red rock mountains, perfect for elopement groups with different abilities. Whether you want to scale a mountain to watch the sunset or take a short, flat hike, there’s something for everyone. You can’t beat the 360 views at this spot! Check out this gorgeous Bell Rock elopement.

Off-Roading & Off-the-beaten-path: Some of the best spots in Sedona are the ones that take a little bit more work to get to, whether that be taking a Jeep down a bumpy road for an hour or finding the perfect trail that is less well known but still has gorgeous views. If you value privacy and crave an adventure, this is an awesome option for eloping in Sedona!

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX, AZ AIRPORT: 2 HOURS
DISTANCE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV AIRPORT: 4.5 HOURS

2. Elope in Phoenix!

Phoenix, AZ is a great place to elope if you’re wanting the iconic desert filled with a variety of cactus and rolling mountains. Phoenix is a huge with so much lush desert all around, as well as within one hour of the Phoenix metro. There are dozens of desert lakes, jagged mountain ranges, 4×4 roads for off-roading, and so much more! Most of the year, aside from May-August, is a great time to elope in Phoenix, especially if you love the heat! Phoenix also has a growing food and craft beer scene, don’t miss out!

Superstition Mountains: This is one part of Phoenix that is bound to take your breath away. The Superstition Mountains are epic, purple mountains surrounded by tons of saguaro and cholla cacti. With dozens upon dozens of hiking trails, there’s something for all abilities! You can often see climbers scaling the mountains, horseback riders, and lots of campers. The desert lakes near these mountains are also incredible. Check out a real elopement in the Superstitions here.

Phoenix Desert: One of the best parts about eloping in Phoenix is all of the desert land open for recreation. You can find an amazing spot to elope in any part of town. Some parts of Phoenix have denser amounts of cactus, while some are more bare desert. There are so many hiking trails to choose from, as well as more desert lakes and 4×4 dirt roads that go on for miles.

AIRPORT: PHOENIX SKY HARBOR IN CENTRAL PHOENIX
DISTANCE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV AIRPORT: 4.5 HOURS

3. Elope in Page/Lake Powell!

Page, AZ is one of the most breath-taking spots in all of the Southwest! Imagine red desert meets water, and that’s Page for you! If you’re as obsessed as we are with slot canyons, red rock cliffs, and unique, other-worldly rock formations, then you should absolutely consider eloping in Page, Arizona!

Horseshoe Bend: One of the most well-known sights of the Southwest, but for the right reasons! This epic red rock canyon shaped as a U is a must-see. Try to visit in the off season or at sunrise to avoid crowds at this popular location. 

Lake Powell: If you ask most Arizona locals what one of their favorite spots in the state is, we can promise you that you’ll hear about Lake Powell! This is a huge desert lake on the Arizona-Utah border. From beautiful beaches perfect for a bonfire, to slot canyons perfect for kayaking, and hikes that can be only accessed by boat, Lake Powell really is the perfect adventure! 

Slot Canyons: Sandstone carved out by water over hundreds and thousands of years have created dozens of other-wordly slot canyons all over Page. The majority require a Navajo guide, but there are some that are still local secrets. Whether you want to include canyoneering on your elopement experience, or simply hike into one of these slots, there’s a perfect canyon for you! 

Monument Valley: Just outside of Page, AZ is an area of the painted desert referred to as Monument Valley. Imagine dozens of unique, red rock mountains for miles and miles- it’s incredible.

DRIVE TIME FROM PHOENIX AIRPORT: 4 HOUR DRIVE

DRIVE TIME FROM VEGAS AIRPORT: 5 HOUR DRIVE

4. Elope in Flagstaff

For all of you mountain and forest lovers, here’s the town for you! Flagstaff is a gem of a mountain town in the midst of a state full of desert! You won’t believe your eyes when you drive in and see a 12k ft. snow-capped mountain! On average, Flagstaff is 20-30 degrees cooler than the rest of Arizona. From beautiful golden forests in the autumn, to very snowy winters, to green, wildflower filled summers, we’re sure that you’ll fall in love with this town like we have!

Grand Canyon National Park: Eloping at the Grand Canyon is such an epic idea if you love canyons and want to mark another national park off your list! We love the Grand Canyon for the amazing hiking with views that are one of a kind. You can find avid hikers going on multi-day trips to experience the full canyon experience, as well as river rafting in the Colorado River. Don’t get us started on the sunsets and sunrises at this place! 

Lockett Meadow: We like to consider Lockett Meadow as a real heaven on earth. This meadow in the middle of the mountains has some beautiful trails and camping sites in the forests. Our personal favorite part is the aspen groves that change with each season. We love this dog-friendly spot when you’re craving to reconnect back with nature.

LOCAL AIRPORT: FLAGSTAFF PULLIAM AIRPORT (small airport with only a few, more expensive flights!)
DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX, AZ AIRPORT: 2 HOURS
DISTANCE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV AIRPORT: 3.5 HOURS

5. Elope in Tucson

Tucson is the second biggest city in Arizona and in our opinion, one of the best towns for adventure lovers! Tucson is the perfect combination of beautiful mountains and lush, cactus filled desert. You can find a state or national park in any part of town. Spend your day hiking and end it with delicious local Mexican food for a real treat! This city happens to be one of our all time favorite spots to adventure. We think you’ll love it too!

Saguaro National Park: One of the most unique national parks in the world filled with thousands upon thousands of huge saguaro cacti! There are two sections of this park, and both are incredible. You can’t go wrong with hiking in this park in Spring, Autumn, and Winter.

Mt. Lemmon: Another hidden gem of a mountain village in the desert! This spot is just a 1.5 hour drive from the heart of Tucson and you are taken to dense forest and even snow! We love escaping the heat by hiking on this mountain. We love it!

LOCAL AIRPORT: TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX, AZ AIRPORT: 1.5 HOURS
DISTANCE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV AIRPORT: 6 HOURS

Arizona Elopement Photo & Video Packages

• Offering 4 hour, 6 hour, 8 hour, 10 hour, and 2 day Packages
• Unlimited planning assistance including help with locations, timeline building, permit help, 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 Ira to your package.
• No travel fees since I’m a local!!

Photo Only Packages Beginning at $4500

Photo & Video Packages Beginning at $7000

Contact Us Now to Start Planning Your Arizona Elopement!

Meet Caitlyn and Chad, your dream Arizona Elopement Photographer & Videographer 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 Arizona elopement experience.

We believe that all couples deserve to have an adventurous and meaningful wedding experience that reflects them and their love. Let’s 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!

Real Arizona Elopement Story