Growing up in Colorado, I learned to have a deep love of our southwest neighbors early on. The desert is a totally captivating place, and I’ve always loved photographing in states that can go from snowy peaks to deep gorges to large deserts in a matter of a few hundred miles. In my ten years of photography and 300+ elopements all over the world, I’ve found that Arizona’s scenery really is as special as everyone says it is.
There are really three different vibes you can go after in Arizona, but for that quintessential desert energy, Sedona is one of the best spots in the country. Bright red rock and interesting geologic formations, all surrounded by great desert vegetation. The town is also super idyllic!
But if you’re looking for cacti, lakes, or mountaintops, keep reading! I have more locations for you in my list below, which collects some of my personal favorites from around the state.
(Hey, did you know I made you a map? Check out my searchable location database! Use filters to get tailored results from nearly 600 locations. Click here to be taken directly to it!)
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is the second most visited park in the U.S. for a reason. It’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world! If you haven’t been, there’s nothing I can say to prepare you for just how big this is. Ride a mule down the south rim, hike down the north rim, raft down the Colorado River to stops in Glen Canyon, take a ride on Grand Canyon railway, and SO much more. The Grand Canyon is a place that you can visit multiple times and have a totally unique day each time. Lodges, permitted backcountry camping, and scenic drives are all also options for experiencing all of the views the Grand Canyon has to offer.
Best for: Canyon and Desert
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Helicopter, Camping, Stargazing
Lake Powell, Arizona
Have you ever considered a houseboat elopement? Because this would be the most perfect place to do it!! Lake Powell is huge–stretching over 185 miles. It would be so awesome to find a secluded spot on the lake for a ceremony, dock up on shore, or visit one of the many overlooks like Alstrom Point. You can then make your way to secret cliff jumping spots, or weave your vessel through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Seriously loving the idea of a post-vow houseboat party.
Best for: Lake, Canyon, Slot Canyon and Desert
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Camping, Stargazing
Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend is a hot spot for sure, but don’t let that dissuade you. The view here is so worth it. The hike to the main overlook is an accessible, 1.5 mile round trip path. This is also located in the same city as Antelope Canyon, so if you’re in Page for one, you can definitely hit the other, too! Come here on a weekday or in the off-season to avoid peak crowds.
Best for: Canyon and River
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a northern Arizona GEM. From snow covered Ponderosa Pines to yellow Aspens to green hills, there genuinely isn’t a bad season here. It’s also an International Dark Sky site and the home to the famous Lowell Observatory, so you can count on the stargazing here to be next level. Flagstaff makes a great home base if you’re trying to go and explore the Grand Canyon during your elopement, but there’s so much more to it than that. For skiing and snowboarding in the winter, take a gondola up to the super popular Snowbowl. With a college nearby, there’s also plenty to explore in the town itself, like great bars and coffee shops. If you’re looking for a different canyon experience, you can head to Walnut Canyon National Monument for ancient cliff homes and paved paths. Not to mention the parts of the town that are along historic Route 66! With access to so much nature around all 365 days of the year, this is a no brainer stop for an Arizona elopement.
Best for: Desert, City and Mountains
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Saguaro National Park (that’s pronounced sah-wah-ro if you’re not local!) is the spot to go if you want to see as many of these desert icons as possible. Come in the spring for cactus flowers and great temperatures! These cacti can grow up to 60 feet tall and can be hundreds of years old, leaving them towering above you, keeping watch over your elopement just like they have for a century prior. Hiking and biking are super popular here, and if you want to camp, there are multiple shaded (even creek-side) campgrounds to choose from. For iconic desert views and scenery, it’s hard to beat this park.
Best for: Desert and Forest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Monument Valley, Arizona
Monument Valley has been drawing people to its beauty for hundreds of years, from Navajo ancestors to road-trippers going across Route 66. It’s easy to see why it’s been depicted in movies, TV, and games… it’s genuinely like nowhere else on Earth. All around you, these huge sandstone buttes tower above you, made of super vibrant red rock. The scenic drive through the valley is 17 miles of non-stop views, with lots of options for the perfect viewpoint. Whether you’re seeing the buttes for the first time or your tenth, it never gets less breathtaking.
Best for: Desert and Rocks
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Jeep/4×4, Stargazing, Hot Air Ballooning
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is located in the very northern edge of Arizona along the border with Utah (and a little under 4 hours from Vegas). The views here are ouuuuut of this world, with swooping and swirling lines and striations of colors transforming valleys of red rock into something like you’ve never seen before. Permits here are via a lottery system and it’s a backcountry hike to get there, but guides are available for hire who know the area like the backs of their hands.
Best for: Desert and Canyon
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Close to the border of New Mexico on the eastern side of the state, Petrified Forest National Park is a gem. This is firmly planted in the painted desert and the rocks around you seriously show it. With huge striations of black, blue, and red rock and petrified conifers propped up on interesting rock formations, the landscape here looks like if you tried to picture what Arizona might look like on Mars. This is a great pick for prime desert colors and lots of sun. No camping here, so drive back to an AirBnB or one of the great resorts nearby to rest and unwind.
Best for: Desert and Forest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona has so, SO much to offer in just one area. Main Street is full of art galleries and patios to sit and have a drink and take in the red rock all around, but the real magic starts once you get out of town. Devil’s Bridge offers a hikeable (!) sandstone arch that has great views from the top, Red Rock State Park truly delivers on its name, Slide Rock State Park has a river and a natural water slide, and both Lover’s Knoll and Cathedral Rock are practically made for eloping. This area is also lush with resorts and scenic bed and breakfasts, so you’ll be spoiled for options for places to stay that will make your day feel special.
Best for: Desert, City, Mountains, Canyons and Forest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping
Tower Butte, Arizona
Okay great view lovers who want to do something super unique during your elopement, I’m talking to you on this one! Tower Butte sits just outside of Lake Powell and is known for being accessible by a helicopter straight to the top. Get an aerial view of an outstanding bit of the American southwest and than land on top of a naturally super flat landing pad about 5k feet above sea level.
Best for: Desert
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Helicopter
Glen Canyon, Arizona
Glen Canyon is a National Recreation Area that shares space on both sides of the Arizona and Utah border. Horseshoe Bend is one of the most popular stops in this area, but it also includes access to Lake Powell and the Colorado River, areas with petroglyphs or vintage buildings like at Lees Ferry, or views for vast vistas like Wahweap Overlook. This area is also close to Antelope Canyon, making a two-day elopement here a breeze with no shortage of desert beauty.
Best for: Lake, Desert and Canyon
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Helicopter, Boating, Kayak, Paddleboarding, Camping, Stargazing
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona
In the heart of the Sonoran Desert along the border between Arizona and Mexico, the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument offers quintessential desert scenery in a protected biome. This is a good area to avoid in the summer due to monsoons and high daily temperatures, but it’s a great pick for fall through spring! Spring is an especially good time to visit here due to the cactus flowers and abundant flora and fauna. Horseback riding and stargazing are both great ways to experience this area, along with several hikes that will put you out in the middle of it all (some include commemorative pins, which would be a super fun take away from your elopement!).
Best for: Desert
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Salt River Canyon Wilderness, Arizona
Just a couple of hours drive outside of Phoenix sits the Salt River Canyon Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest (yes, there are national forests in Arizona!). This area has a wide variety of scenery to choose from! You can go from desert shrub and rock formations to river and greenery in the same trip–sometimes even in the same shot! There are cool bridges here, wild horses, and even a waterfall. If you’re torn between the forests of northern Arizona and the deserts of the south, Salt River may be the perfect pick for you.
Best for: Desert, Mountains, Forest, Canyon and River
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Tucson, Arizona
With a population of half a million people and a major university, Tucson has so much going on for you to explore! This city is rich with historic motels, luxurious spas and resorts, local cuisine (and some epic nopales), and great options for tours by plane, hot air balloon, mountain bike, and more. This is a great American southwest pick for accessibility, too! Picture starting your elopement day in Saguaro National Park, going to a wine tasting for lunch, taking a heli ride over the desert in the afternoon, and then finishing up your day with a fine dining experience from your resort while you look up at the stars in the protected dark skies. This is great desert vibes with big city amenities.
Best for: City and Desert
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Helicopter, Hot Air Balloon
Coconino National Forest, Arizona
For awesome red rock coupled with towering Ponderosas between Flagstaff and Sedona, Coconino National Forest is your stop to see a ton of breathtaking Arizona scenery in one stop. This area is massive—with over 1.8 MILLION acres, you can definitely find spots of the forest all to yourself! Take a 4×4 down the Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive and get access to the unpaved roads that will take you even closer to nature. There are tons of notable red rock formations out here that would make incredible backdrops for your elopement and each corner around here is super unique. There’s no shortage of parks around here with their own claims to fame, like Slide Rock State Park which boasts a gorgeous swimming hole, falls, and great canyon views. This is a choose-your-own-adventure of AZ landscapes. No matter what you’re looking for, it’s safe to start here!
Best for: Desert, Mountains, Forest, Canyon and Waterfalls
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Jeep/4×4, Stargazing
Red Rock State Park, Arizona
If you’re in the Sedona area for your elopement, this is a veritable must-stop. Red Rock State Park truly delivers on just that, especially at sunrise or sunset when golden hour makes the rock formations even more vibrant. Explore the trails here on foot, horseback, or mountain bike. If you choose to begin or end your day here, you can also hit any one of the many incredible spots nearby to make the multi-stop elopement of your dreams. Swimming in Oak Creek is prohibited, but it definitely makes for some beautiful views.
Best for: Desert and Mountains
Best months to get married here: April to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing
The truth is, Arizona has a crazy amount of variety! You can choose between hidden gems and iconic landmarks, which can make the task of selecting an elopement location a daunting one. You can learn more about the best Arizona locations and filter through them by scenery type, season, and activity in my interactive map!
If you’re ready to stop searching through locations and ready to talk to a travel expert, experienced photographer, and permit pro who can recommend you specific locations based on your dream day, I’m your gal! I’m here to help with custom vendor recs, personalized timeline planning, unlimited consultant calls, packing lists, planning guides, and so much more.
Let’s plan your elopement! Click here to go to my contact form and get this party started.
