Have you ever visited Sedona? If you haven’t, let us tell you: it’s like stepping into a dream. The iconic rock formations are breathtaking and truly one of a kind. There’s a reason people travel from all over the world for an elopement experience here.
Located in Northern Arizona, this desert destination is known for its hiking, biking, jeep tours, healing vortexes, vibrant art scene, and unique local shops. With a population of just over 10,000 residents, the area welcomes more than 2 million visitors each year who come to experience its natural beauty.
While the town can feel busy year-round, planning an intentional elopement in Sedona makes it possible to avoid crowds and choose meaningful, quieter locations. With the right timing and local insight, couples can enjoy an unforgettable wedding day surrounded by nature and sweeping canyon views.
If you want to skip the research, click HERE for all-encompassing Sedona elopement packages (with zero travel fees)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- How to get to Sedona
- Where to stay in Sedona for your elopement
- Best places to elope in Sedona
- All inclusive Sedona elopement packages
- How to legally get married in Sedona
- Best time of year to elope in Sedona
- How to use the Sedona shuttle trail system
- Things to do in Sedona for your elopement
- Hikes
- Jeep Tours
- Wineries
- Other activities
How to Get to Sedona, Arizona for Your Elopement
The most cost-effective way to reach this part of Arizona from out of state is to fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. From there, it’s about a two-hour drive through winding canyons, desert scenery, and mountain views.
Because rideshare services are limited, having a rental car makes it easier to move between hiking trails, ceremony spots, and lodging locations during your wedding weekend.
Alternative options include flying into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, located about 30 minutes away. There is also a small airport nearby that primarily serves private aircraft. Some couples even fly into Las Vegas and turn their trip into a multi-stop adventure that includes the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park.
Where to Stay in Sedona for Your Elopement
There are various options for lodging in Sedona from hotels, luxury spa hotels, AirBnB, camping, vacation rentals, cabins, tiny homes and more. Whether you’re planning a private wedding for two or inviting a small group of loved ones, accommodations are easy to tailor to your vision.
- L’Auberge De Sedona
- The Sedona Hilltop Inn
- Red Agave
- Enchantment Resort
- Junipine Resort
- Tiny Camp
- Sedona Campgrounds
- For a full list of our recommended airbnb listings, click HERE
Best Places to Elope in Sedona’s Red Rocks
Cathedral Rock Elopement Location in Sedona
Cathedral Rock is one of the top, most popular hiking trails in Sedona. It’s a short trail but VERY steep, with one section of the trail requiring both your hands and feet as you climb up through a crevice in the rock. It’s not for the faint of heart! But, this hiking trail is popular for a reason – you can’t beat the stunning views of the gorgeous rocks and canyons at the top. It’s a beautiful spot at both sunrise and sunset, making it an incredible location for an intimate wedding ceremony surrounded by red rock views.
When it comes to parking and accessing the trailhead, there’s a few things to know: From 7:00 AM-5:30 PM Thursday through Sunday, the trailhead parking lot is blocked off with no available roadside parking nearby. If you are planning to hike this trail during that timeframe, you’ll need to catch the Sedona Trailhead Shuttle in town! It’s free to park and use the shuttle, just be sure to make it back down to the trailhead before the last shuttle of the day, otherwise you’ll be walking several miles back to your car. For more information about the trailhead shuttle, times and locations, click HERE. If you’re planning to visit Cathedral Rock Monday-Wednesday, keep in mind that the parking lot if very small and fills up incredibly quickly. Plan extra time to find a parking spot!
PRO TIP: If you’re wanting to elope at Cathedral Rock, here’s our inside scoop – plan to elope on a Thursday or Friday at sunrise! Since you aren’t able to access the parking lot after 7:00 AM and it takes a bit for the shuttle to arrive with the first group of hikers, you’ll have the least amount of other hikers at this time (aside from those willing to do the research and also wake up early enough to hike up before the shuttle begins). Don’t worry – if you get down the mountain after the shuttle begins, you’ll still be able to exit the parking lot!
Merry Go Round Rock Elopement Views in Sedona
There’s two ways to access Merry Go Round Rock: by hiking Munds Wagon Trail or by high-clearance 4×4 vehicle.
If you decide to go the off-roading route, keep in mind that the road is very rough – it’s not paved at all and has both big dips and large rocks. It takes time to drive up this road and definitely requires high clearance and 4×4. The road is only about 3 miles long, but it takes around 45 minutes to get to the top where you’ll get out to access Merry Go Round Rock! It’s a 10-minute hike out to the edge from where you’ll park. If you don’t want to do your own off-roading, there are several companies in town that offer private jeep tour rentals such as Pink Jeep Tours and Sedona Jeep Tours.
If you decide to hike up to the top, the Munds Wagon Trail is 6.5 miles long and over 1000ft elevation gain. It’s a long trail with a lot of elevation gain but leads to a gorgeous view! (plus, you’ll have access to more views than what you would from off-roading up to the top!)
If you’re planning to elope at Merry Go Round Rock, we recommend renting your OWN jeep versus a booking a tour. You’ll have a lot more time flexibility with not being constrained to a specific schedule. The tours have to be back down to the main road before the sun goes down, so often times you’ll miss the best lighting during sunset at Merry Go Round (plus, who doesn’t want to off-road in their wedding attire?!). See our recommendations for Jeep rentals HERE
Bell Rock for an Intimate Sedona Wedding Ceremony
This is an ideal easy-to-access spot if you’re wanting to have an intimate wedding ceremony in Sedona. Though the parking lot is pretty small and can fill up very quickly, it’s a great option if you’re inviting a few loved ones to your ceremony. There’s also a few trail offshoots from Bell Rock that are great to exploring around just the two of you after your ceremony!
Secret Sedona Elopement Locations Away From Crowds
Being pro Sedona elopement photographers, of course we have a few spots that are more hidden and less touristy that we always recommend to couples looking to elope in the Red Rocks. We’ve found that the more secluded, quiet locations really aid in creating a more intimate and intentional elopement ceremony for you. Though we reserve the details of these spots for the couples who have booked our all-inclusive Sedona elopement packages, here’s a few photos to give you some off the beaten path type of inspiration:
Devil’s Bridge Rules for Sedona Elopements and Weddings
Devil’s Bridge is a hike made famous by instagram, known for its narrow natural-arch bridge and epic red rock views. However despite what you may have seen on social media, elopements in Sedona Wilderness are prohibited per the Red Rock Forest Service. To get a list of all the hikes that are located within the Wilderness Land areas and not permitted for elopements and intimate weddings, click HERE
All-Inclusive Sedona Elopement Packages
If you have a vision in mind for your Sedona elopement day but have no idea where to start, book a photographer that is a pro at not only photography, but also in planning elopements – essentially, an all-inclusive photographer (That’s US)
Many couples also work with an experienced elopement planner or photographer who can assist with logistics and act as a witness or sign-off when allowed.
An all-inclusive elopement package often includes:
- Location research and recommendations
- Permit guidance
- Timeline planning
- Vendor referrals
- Photography coverage
You’ll want a Sedona elopement team or photographer who helps with…
- Researching and finding the best elopement location options for your day that ACTUALLY fit what you envision
- Figuring out and helping you to navigate any required permits
- Finding + booking epic lodging near your elopement location
- Recommending other vendors, such as a hair and makeup artist, florist, private chef + more
- Plans out the timing for your day based upon what YOU want to do
If you’re eloping in Sedona just the two of you, you might even want them to sign-off on your license ask your officiant! (we do that too)
If you love to plan, know exactly what you want/where you want it/when you want it and are just looking for someone to show up on your elopement day to photograph your adventure, then solely booking a photographer will serve you well!
How to Legally Get Married in Sedona, Arizona
Your marriage license can be obtained anywhere in the state of Arizona, even if you’re planning to get married in Sedona. To get your marriage license you’ll need to obtain it from a superior court – the closest one to Sedona is Yavapai County Superior Court. Or you can obtain it in Phoenix at any participating Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County, AZ. Keep in mind that all of the locations in Maricopa County (and many others) required an appointment ahead of time to be able to obtain your license. For the online appointment portal for the Maricopa County locations, click HERE.
A few things to note:
- After obtaining your marriage license, you can use it the same day – there’s no waiting period
- The make the license signing legal, you’ll need two witnesses and a licensed officiant
When planning for your ceremony in Sedona, keep in mind a few additional rules and regulations:
- Per the Sedona city’s rules, you may not set up arches, chairs, or things of that nature for an elopement or wedding in this location
Best Time of Year to Elope in Sedona
Crowd Levels, Weather, and Wedding Planning Tips
When you think of Sedona, you probably imagine a place that’s quiet and serene. But the truth is that Sedona gets very, very crowded. And if you want to get away from all the people and enjoy the scenery in peace, you’ll need to plan ahead.
The most popular time of year for Sedona is March and October, during Spring break and Fall break. The crowds will die down a bit over the summer time since it gets really hot up there, but we do not recommend eloping up there between June to mid September due to the temperatures. If eloping in the Spring or Fall, choosing a weekday and less populated location will make your experience better! Lodging in Sedona DOES book up very quickly, so be sure to plan all of your stays ahead of time to be able to have options to choose from and less expensive pricing.
How to Use the Sedona Shuttle Trail System for Elopements
Sedona’s Trailhead Shuttle is a free, easy, and eco-friendly way to explore some of Sedona’s favorite trails – and it’s actually even the only way to access several of the trailheads certain days of the week (including Cathedral Rock, Soldiers Pass and Devils Bridge). They run year-round, from 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM Thursday thru Sunday. For more information about the trails they service, the schedule and more, click here.
Things to Do in Sedona for your Elopement
From hiking, off-roading, camping, climbing, biking, stargazing, hot air balloon and helicopter rides, wineries, breweries, spas and resorts – Sedona has a LOT to offer. Here’s a few of our top recommend things to do for your Sedona elopement day:
Sedona Hikes for Eloping Couples:
Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock are considered the best hikes in Sedona, which also makes them the most popular. Here are three other hikes to check out in Sedona:
- Boynton Canyon Trail
- Soldier Pass Trail (accessible by Sedona trailhead shuttle)
- Fay Canyon Trail
Jeep Tours to Red Rock Elopement Locations:
There’s several tour companies that offer jeep tours to a variety of locations in Sedona, including Merry Go Round Rock, as mentioned! Here are two Sedona Jeep tour companies:
The downfall to doing a Jeep tour for your elopement in Sedona is that you have limited time on the trail instead of your own timing from driving yourselves. We recommend renting your own off-road vehicle from one of these companies:
Sedona Wineries to Visit After Your Wedding Ceremony:
Did you know that Sedona is also known for its wineries?
If you’re looking to add a little wine tasting to your elopement, Sedona has a cute ‘lil area full of several different wineries to check out. Here are some local wineries nearby:
Other Activities to Add to Your Sedona Elopement Experience:
- Red Rock Balloons
- Northern Light Saloon Expedition
- H5 Private Helicopter Tour (with private touchdown location in the red rocks)
- Sedona Air Tours
Elope in Sedona, AZ: Magical Red Rock Elopement Locations (2026)
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