Sedona elopement locations
Sedona's most breathtaking spots
Every location Kristen works with has been personally scouted — for light, for drama, for the feeling of being completely alone in the most beautiful place on earth.
The right backdrop changes everything
Sedona's red rock formations are among the most iconic elopement backdrops in the country — ancient, alive, and unlike anywhere else. As a Sedona elopement officiant with years of local experience, Kristen highly recommends West Sedona for ease of access, fewer crowds, easy parking, and to avoid the traffic that the rest of Sedona sees. She specializes in small, intimate elopements that don't require a permit and follow the "leave no trace" ceremony rules below — meaning you can often elope in Sedona with very short notice.
Forest Service "Leave No Trace" ceremony rules
For these locations, the Forest Service generally expects ceremonies to be low impact:
- Keep the group small.
- Stay on durable rock surfaces or designated trails.
- Do not block trails, overlooks, or parking areas.
- No chairs, arches, rugs, tables, tents, or other structures.
- No flower petals (real or fake), confetti, rice, balloons, or anything left behind.
- No amplified music or generators.
- Pack out everything you bring.
- Respect other visitors — the public has equal access to the area.
When would you need a permit?
A permit may be required if your ceremony becomes more than a casual gathering — for example:
- A larger guest count (typically 20+ people).
- Reserved or exclusive use of an area.
- Extensive décor or equipment.
- Commercial setups that significantly impact public use.
- Temporary structures or elaborate staging.
Marriage license
For a legal marriage, you'll need an Arizona marriage license. You can obtain it from any Arizona county (it doesn't have to be the county where you'll marry), and it is valid statewide. Arizona has no waiting period.