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Romantic Elopement in Sedona's Oak Creek Canyon and Red Rocks

  • Writer: Carly D'Angelo-Hall
    Carly D'Angelo-Hall
  • 6 days ago
  • 3 min read

Elopement Couple gets married in Sedona. The bride in a white dress and groom in a cowboy hat embracing on red rock with scenic cliffs in the background, creating a serene, romantic mood.


Sedona is one of the most unique and beautiful destinations in the world, and truly a sight to be seen in person! And because of that, it's also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. When Gloria and Matt reached out to me just 2 weeks before their chosen wedding day, I knew it would be a challenge to pull things together on the brink of peak tourism season, but it was a challenge I was excited to take on.


The biggest challenge with planning an adventure wedding in a short timeframe is getting permits approved by the parks in time for the wedding day. Luckily, Sedona has many beautiful places that do not require a permit for a 2-person elopement with no decor, chairs, etc., but the trick is to know which viewpoints and trails fall into the areas that don't require a permit. So, from years of visiting the area and experience with location scouting, I was able to find exactly what they needed for their wedding day with no extra hassle.


Gloria and Matt are both residents of Arizona and had been to Sedona previously, but this was their first time there together and also their first time visiting the locations that I found for them. Our first stop was at the Oak Creek Canyon area just north of town. I love this area because it's much different than what people envision when they think of Sedona and far less visited than the red rocks district. The tall cliffs towering over the trail with Ponderosa pines and the tranquil Oak Creek made a beautiful first experience for the couple. And the first week of May was perfect timing for seeing and smelling the lilac trees and wildflowers blooming along the way.


Our next stop was to Baby Bell Rock, which was a fairly short hike with amazing 360° views but somehow with no one else around! The location was meant to be, and it aligned perfectly with their vision for their ceremony. And as avid adventurers, the two were so happy to see a few deer along the trail that we quickly snagged a photo with!


Gloria and Matt exchanged vows, and although I couldn't hear anything they said to each other (always too busy taking photos and trying not to trip over rocks) I could tell from the tears and smiles they both had that they said exactly what the other needed to hear in those moments to truly seal their lives together. After exchanging vows, they had a sand pouring ceremony and threw just a bit of Sedona dirt in there as well. And as their officiant as well, I announced them as husband and wife for the first time.


Their wedding day couldn't have been more beautiful of an experience for them, even if they had planned it a year in advance. I'm so grateful to have played a part in helping them create their perfect day, to tell their wedding story, and to have been the one to make it official! Congratulations again to Mr. & Mrs. Williford <3



A couple walks on a dirt path near red cliffs and green trees in the Oak Creek Canyon, wearing a white dress and a cowboy hat. The mood is serene and romantic.

Couple embraces, gazing at towering red rock cliffs. Man in cowboy hat and woman in lace dress. Surrounded by green trees and wooden fence.

Close-up of a bride in a white dress and cowboy boots beside a groom in jeans and boots on a dirt path, next to a wooden fence.

Man in cowboy hat leans on wooden fence, wearing a brown jacket. Forest path with towering trees and rocky cliffs in the background.

Man in a suit adjusts his tie, wearing a white cowboy hat. Background is a wooden fence and trees, conveying a rustic, formal mood.

Man in a tan blazer with a bolo tie and floral pocket square. Holding lapel. Light background suggests an outdoor setting.

Couple in rustic attire stands on rocky terrain, beneath a massive, textured rock cliff. Natural tones dominate the scene.

A wedding couple smiles at each other outdoors. She wears a white lace dress; he wears a tan blazer and white cowboy hat. Rocky background.

Bride in lace dress and groom in cowboy hat kiss in front of rocky background. She holds his face tenderly, both look joyous.

A couple walks across logs over a stream. The woman wears a white dress and cowboy boots, the man in jeans. Natural, rustic setting.

Bride and groom walk hand in hand through a forest path, surrounded by tall trees and rocky cliffs. Bride in white, groom in brown jacket. Serene mood.

A couple walks hand-in-hand in a forest; she wears a white dress, he a cowboy hat and suit. Tall trees and rocky cliffs surround them.

Couple in rustic attire stand by a rocky creek, surrounded by lush green forest and cliffs. The mood is romantic and serene.

A man in a tan suit and hat embraces a woman in a white dress in a forest setting, with rocky cliffs and trees in the background.

Man in a cowboy hat and woman in a white dress stand by a cave entrance in a rocky, earthy landscape, surrounded by greenery.

Couple in wedding attire stands in a grassy field with towering red rock cliffs and green trees in the background, evoking a serene mood.

Man in white hat kisses woman in white dress in a forest setting. They embrace warmly, conveying love and tenderness under tall trees.

A couple dances in a grassy field surrounded by trees and rocky cliffs. The woman wears white; the man, a hat and jacket. Lush green scenery.

A couple in wedding attire strolls through a lush, green forest with rocky cliffs in the background, creating a peaceful, romantic scene.

A couple on their elopement day walks down a rocky path in front of red cliffs in Sedona, surrounded by trees. The woman wears a white dress, the man a tan jacket and hat.

Bride in lace gown and groom in cowboy hat walk hand-in-hand on a forest path, creating a serene and romantic mood. Black and white image.

Cowboy and woman in the foreground look towards deer in a forest, set against a sunset sky. Trees surround them, creating a serene mood.

Sunset over red rock formations in Sedona. Dramatic clouds and golden light create a serene, majestic scene. Lush greenery in foreground.

A couple holds hands on a red rock formation, set in a rugged desert landscape with cloudy skies and distant cliffs.

A couple holds hands during a ceremony. The woman in a white lace dress holds notes, standing opposite a man in a tan suit against a rocky backdrop.

A couple holds hands against a desert mountain backdrop. The bride in a lace dress reads vows; the groom wears a cowboy hat, smiling warmly.

A couple stands on a red rock ledge near Bell Rock and The Courthouse; the woman in a white dress holds paper, the man in a cowboy hat faces her. Desert cliffs in background.

Man in a cowboy hat reads vows to a woman in a lace dress. They stand facing each other with rock formations in the background. Black and white.

Bride in white dress and groom in cowboy hat exchange vows outdoors, holding hands on rocky terrain, with hills in the background.

A couple hugs outdoors. The man in a cowboy hat and tan jacket embraces a woman in a white lace dress. Mountain scenery in background.

A couple in wedding attire pours sand into an hourglass on a rocky landscape. A bouquet lies nearby. Background of trees and mountains.

A woman in a white dress and a man in a cowboy hat pour sand into an hourglass on red rocks in a desert setting, conveying unity.

A couple exchanges rings in a joyful outdoor setting. The woman wears a white lace dress; the man sports a hat and jacket. Rocky backdrop.

A couple embraces on a red rock cliff with Sedona’s red rock formations in the background, under a cloudy sky, creating a romantic mood.

Bride in white dress and groom in hat embrace on red rock with Sedona's red cliffs in the background, under a cloudy sky.

Bouquet above antler engraved with "5-1-2025." Surrounded by candles, journals, and rings on rustic surface. Romantic and serene.


A couple in wedding attire walks hand in hand on a rocky desert landscape with red cliffs under a cloudy sky, conveying a serene mood.


Couple embracing on red rock terrain at sunset. Woman in white dress, man in cowboy hat and jacket. Rock formation and cloudy sky in background.

Couple embraces in a desert landscape at sunset in Sedona with Bell Rock in the background. Woman in white lace dress, man in tan jacket and cowboy hat, gazing thoughtfully ahead.

Woman in a white dress holding flowers stands on a rocky ledge. She wears boots. Desert landscape with cliffs in the background at sunset.

Woman in white lace dress holds lavender bouquet, standing on red rock terrain. Blurry background has dramatic cliffs and moody sky.

Necklaces with a heart-shaped "Dad" pendant, shell, and dog tags hang from a horn vase, surrounded by green leaves on a rustic background.

A couple embraces on red rocky terrain at sunset. He wears a cowboy hat; she's holding a bouquet of purple and green flowers. Romantic mood.

Close-up of a couple's hands on a white lace dress, showing wedding rings. The mood is intimate and heartfelt.


Ready to begin planning your Sedona Elopement?


Elopement photographer and planning consultant for destination weddings in the U.S. and Europe

I'm Carly, a destination wedding and elopement photographer + planning guide who's documented weddings from Hawaii to Scotland. My top priority on elopement days is to help you create an experience, not just deliver great photos. I want to tell your wedding story, share the emotions you felt that day and the fun you shared together, and provide you with memories that you'll love forever. And in addition to photography, I'll also provide:


✓  Location Scouting & Research

✓  Vendor Recommendations

✓  Customized Timeline Building

✓  Activity Recommendations

✓  Assistance with Permits

✓  An exclusive elopement planning guide


If you're ready to take the first step towards your best day ever, fill out the contact form on my site! We'll talk about all of the possibilities, ease your mind of any hesitations you may still have about eloping, and get planning!





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