Picking a Location for Your Arizona Elopement | Arizona Elopement Photographer
Picking a Location for Your Arizona Elopement | Arizona Elopement Photographer
It’s no secret that Arizona has SO MUCH to offer when it comes to epic locations for an adventurous elopement.
But are you really aware of just how much it has to offer? I sure didn’t before I ever visited! I assumed Arizona was all desert, to be honest. But there are soooo many different landscapes to behold in this gorgeous state, and there is so much to choose from when picking an elopement location. Let’s go through some of the types of locations you can find in Arizona that you might pick for your adventure elopement.
Arizona Elopement Location #1
Desert
Of course. Probably the most wide-spread terrain in Arizona is that of the deserts. There are 4 deserts (of several different types) with pieces in Arizona, but the biggest is the Sonoran Desert, which takes up a good chunk of Southwestern Arizona and encompasses both Phoenix and Tucson. The Sonoran Desert is probably what a lot of you envision when you think of the desert. (At least those of you who are aware that most deserts aren’t simply dusty wastelands.) The Sonoran Desert is actually quite green for most of the year, thanks to winter rains and summer monsoons. It is absolutely covered in beautiful foliage, and tons of wildflowers in the spring. And of course, whole forests of the majestic Saguaro cactus (among other cacti like prickly pear, ocotillo, and cholla).
The other deserts are the Great Basin in the North, which includes the Grand Canyon; the Mojave to the West, the high desert that mainly exists in California; and the Chihuahuan, which takes up a tiny area in the Southeast corner and extends into New Mexico and Texas.
The desert is a very worthy location to choose for your Arizona elopement. A few great spots that show off the Sonoran Desert are:
Saguaro National Park
Catalina State Park
Superstition Mountains
(PS. These spots are also some of the best if you want to be surrounded by wildflowers on your wedding day!)
Arizona Elopement Location #2
Red Rock
We all know these, too, I’m sure. Who hasn’t thought of vacationing in Sedona? I won’t go into all the science-y stuff about red rocks and how/why they are formed (mostly because I don’t know and this stuff goes right over my head), but I will say they are pretty amazing to behold, especially if you’ve never seen anything like it. Red rock locations are a great spot for an elopement, especially if you’re hoping for a nice dirt ombre on your dress, hehe.
A couple of spots for a red rock elopement in Arizona are:
Red Rock State Park & elsewhere in/near Sedona
Sycamore Canyon Wilderness
Arizona Elopement Location #3
Coniferous Forest
That’s right. Arizona actually has pine forests. Did you know that?! I honestly had no idea before I visited the state and saw some places like Flagstaff for the first time. I mean, Flagstaff might as well be in Colorado. It looks nothing like most peoples’ visions of Arizona. It makes sense, though. When you go high enough up in the mountains, the biome changes with the altitude and the weather. In some places, you can travel from a cactus forest at the bottom of a mountain, to a pine forest at the top. It’s pretty amazing. So… if you dreamed of a woodsy elopement but you also love the desert, YOU CAN HAVE BOTH! In the same day! Pretty awesome, huh?
Here are a couple places where you can find coniferous forests in Arizona:
Mt. Lemmon in Tucson (Coronado National Forest)
Flagstaff (Coconino National Forest)
Arizona Elopement Location #4
Canyon
So, canyons exist all over the place and you can find them within basically any of these other locations. But they do deserve a shoutout of their own, because, as we know, Arizona does have some truly remarkable canyons. Dare I even say… they’re grand. :P Jokes aside, the mouth of a canyon of any size or shape is a pretty epic place to get married. Just imagine it - you’re standing on a cliff in your wedding attire, maybe with some guests around you, and behind you all is a vast open space forged into the ground millions of years ago, that your eyes can barely comprehend. Crazy.
A few canyon spots in Arizona are:
The Grand Canyon… obvi
Salt River Canyon
Sabino Canyon
Arizona Elopement Location #5
Lake
Yes, Arizona has lakes, too! Some pretty gorgeous ones, in fact. Once again, you don’t have to choose between these more traditional outdoorsy spots and the desert. You can have both at once! You can get married at the shore of a beautiful lake, with awesome desert rocks in the distance, and then drive a short way to be surrounded by cacti again. I am personally a huge fan of lakes, and I was super happy to find out that Arizona has some perfect ones (not just for eloping, but for jumping in as well, hehe).
A few of the lakes in Arizona are:
Theodore Roosevelt Lake (Salt River)
Saguaro Lake (Salt River)
Lynx Lake (Prescott)
There are some other things you need to consider before picking your Arizona elopement location.
Weather & time of year
I think everyone, at least in this country, knows that Arizona is one of the hottest places in the US. But it depends on where you are and what time of year. The desert is obviously one of the hotter places, but it’s actually quite pleasant in fall and spring. You definitely want to avoid the Sonoran Desert, near Tucson and Phoenix, in the summer. The further North you go up the state, the higher the altitude and therefore the cooler the temps. Unless you want a wintry wedding, you should probably avoid winter in Flagstaff. So, if you’re dying for a summer elopement, up in the mountains is best. If you love Southern AZ and the desert, winter, spring, and fall are the way to go.
Permits
For most (if not all) state and national parks and forests, you need to purchase a permit to a) get married there and b) have it professionally photographed. The fees vary greatly based on how big and how long the event is. Make sure to do your research, and see what works with your budget and your plans, before choosing a spot!
Hiking
Some of the more epic spots probably require some hiking. It depends completely on each specific spot. Some areas don’t have car access at all and will require a longer hike, while others you can drive right up to. Make sure both you and your photographer do some research on this to pick the right spot for your elopement, that is an equal match for a) your hiking skill and b) your sense of adventure!
There you have it, folks. Just a handful of the incredible adventure elopement options that Arizona has to offer.
You really can’t go wrong. Arizona is an amazing state that is crawling with beautiful landscapes, incredible plant life, and so much history (both human and geographical!). AZ is practically begging ya to come elope here! So what are you waiting for?! Reach out and let’s plan your elopement! ;D