January 5, 2022
The Best Times to Elope in Arizona is such an important concept to know and understand. Picking the right time will truly help your elopement become something you will remember forever.
Let me set the stage. You and your significant other have made the decision to tie the knot. Although your parents dream of a big wedding, you and your partner want an elopement in the deserts of Arizona. Your minds are made up and the first things on your list are to pick a date and location. However, there are hundreds of options! How will you ever decide on a specific destination? How will you ever know what the best times are to elope in Arizona?
That’s where my expertise comes into play. Hi! I am Annette! As an elopement photographer whose home base is in Arizona, I not only know the best locations to elope in Arizona, but I also know the best times to elope at those specific locations!
READY TO DIVE RIGHT IN?
BEST TIMES OUT OF THE YEAR FOR AN ARIZONA, DESERT ELOPEMENT
When you decide to have an adventure elopement, it’s important to embrace that weather doesn’t always cooperate and that’s the nature of it! Make sure to have backup plans, be flexible, & have a positive attitude if the weather decides to take a turn. Come prepared and embrace the unknowns; that’s the adventure of it!
When it comes down to it, Arizona is one of those states where the weather is amazing all year round. That means there technically isn’t a better time of the year to elope. With that being said, I understand that not everyone LOVES the feeling of baking under the hot desert sun!
BREAKING DOWN THE SPECIFICS
Fall
Personally, I feel like this is the best time of the year to elope in Arizona. Fall can tend to lean more on the hot side depending on which month but if you go north up to Sedona temperatures can range in the 80-90s.
Spring
The weather is perfect 75 to 85 degrees with no humidity and dry heat. During this time of year, anywhere you go in Arizona will be beautiful.
Summer
This time of year can be brutally scorching with heat. It is a dry heat so It won’t feel as hot as humid states like the south or east coast. Usually sunrise is easier to stand in the summer vs sunset.
Winter
It does get a little chilly and cold near flagstaff in the winter but in the Phoenix area, the sun is always shining with mild temperatures.
TOP THREE LOCATIONS TO ELOPE AT IN ARIZONA
When it comes to eloping, it is important to remember that THERE ARE NO RULES. With that being said, name a better location to get married than Arizona — which also has no rules. It has the wildest and diverse landscapes. With the red rocks, the desert cactus, the pine tree forests, and narrow canyons — how could you go anywhere else?
Many couples are wanting to elope in adventurous places but don’t know how to elope. Each location has different permits and restrictions when eloping. I will guide you on how to elope in each area and answer all your questions so we can get you married in the great outdoors at an epic location!
SEDONA, ARIZONA
Sedona has some of the most epic landmarks in all of Arizona. Located 2 hours north of Pheonix, 2 hours south of the Grand Canyon, and 45 minutes from Flagstaff, it ranks as the very best location to elope at. It’s known for the rust color rocks, and its magnificent sculptures developed naturally within the earth to form these beautiful formations.
Sedona is simply a desert oasis with a ton of art shops, wineries, and it’s the spiritual mecca for artists and healers! It has a unique energy uplifting others from the powers of the vortexes. Undoubtedly, who wouldn’t want to get married here on sacred land?
TRAVEL
When heading to Sedona, the easiest airport to fly into are Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (45 minutes away) or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (2 hours away).
WEATHER
In the summer, Sedona is the perfect desert getaway escape with temperatures about 15 degrees cooler than the Phoenix area. That difference may not seem like a whole lot, but Phoenix averages 105 degrees while Sedona sticks around the mid-’90s.
ACTIVITIES
There are a ton of hiking trails, off-roading adventures, star gazing, wine tasting, etc. I recommend looking into Sedona Pink Jeep Tours.
ACCOMMODATIONS
My favorite hotel to stay at in the area is the Red Agave Resort.
OTHER
Red Rock State Park does require a permit, but in Sedona itself, you do not need a wedding permit to get married on any of the trails.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK, ARIZONA
Saguaro National Park is located right in Tucson about 1.5 from Phoenix. It is one of the only National Parks that is located in a major city making it really easy to adventure to. There are two sides of the park: East and west that you can go hike and drive around.
TRAVEL
The easiest airport to fly into is Tucson International Airport.
WEATHER
The average temperature in the area during the summertime is 100 degrees give or take.
ACTIVITIES
Gorgeous hikes and ATV trails will have you begging for more. For rentals check out Tucson Adventure Rentals.
ACCOMMODATIONS
My all-time favorite Airbnb in Tucson to elope at is The Joshua Tree House. It is incredible, to say the least.
OTHER
There is a park fee of $100 park fee to elope in the National Park.
HORSESHOE BEND, ARIZONA
Horseshoe Bend is located about 4.5 hours from Phoenix and still has the red rock sculptures. The further north of Sedona you go, the more canyons you will find. The whole area of the grand canyon is such a beautiful part of the state, Horseshoe bend is located right around the edge of the Grand Canyon. It is right in Page, Arizona which is just miles from Lake Powell.
TRAVEL
The easiest airport to fly into is Flagstaff which is only 2 hours away from Horseshoe Bend.
WEATHER
Out of all of these elopement locations, this one has the lowest average temperatures for the summer. With numbers ranging around 95 degrees, it is relatively cooler.
ACTIVITIES
If you enjoy searching your way through slot canyons, this is the place for you. Once you see the beautiful “horseshoe bend” climb back down to discover unimaginable slot canyons.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The best place to stay is easily Under the Canvas Lake Powell; Grand Staircase. I can’t recommend it enough.
OTHER
A Horseshoe Bend Wedding permit is $300. Which, out of the three, is the most expensive (still cheaper than a traditional wedding).
It’s fun seeing more non-traditional weddings take the world by storm. There’s a lot of information out there. I promise if you focus on the most important facts, such as the best times to elope in Arizona, you will be able to plan your dream desert elopement.
Looking at other locations in the US to elope at? Check out these locations:
