Your elopement day deserves to be endlessly special, so to help you out, I’ve created a one-stop guide on How to Plan a Grand Canyon Elopement. It includes everything from Arizona Marriage Licenses to Elopement Locations in the Grand Canyon.

But before we dive in, picture this…

You’ve had the most wonderful few days exploring the Grand Canyon and its surrounds, and finally, your wedding day has arrived. It’s just you and your love (and perhaps a few of your favorite people), and you head to one of the incredible viewpoints along the Canyon to share your vows. You arrive at the viewpoint and feel like you’re the only two people in the world – it’s an intimate moment surrounded by the most incredible scenery, scenery that will take your breath away as you commit your lives to each other.

The beautiful golden glow of sunset hits just as you share your first kiss, and you take in the view together – dancing, laughing, sharing long embraces. There’s no place for you to be but here, enjoying the importance of this day with the person you love most.

Your Elopement: A day that is true to you

The good news is, you don’t just have to imagine this. A Grand Canyon Elopement is a really special, intimate way to get married. It’s a chance to get married in an impossibly beautiful location, without the stress or planning of a big traditional wedding.

And you can plan a day filled with the things you love most, whether that’s just like this, or completely different. We could tailor it to include smores over an open fire, stargazing as you share your first dance, or adventure activities in the endless rocky wonders of the Grand Canyon National Park.

All you need to do now is start planning! To help you out, I’ve created this comprehensive Grand Canyon Elopement Guide.

HOW TO PLAN A GRAND CANYON ELOPEMENT

How to Get Married at the Grand Canyon: Arizona Marriage Laws and Licenses

Unless you want your Grand Canyon Elopement to be symbolic, you’ll still need to arrange the legalities of the day in advance! Don’t worry though – this just involves applying for an Arizona Marriage License, and a Wedding Permit from the National Park. To get an Arizona Marriage License for your Grand Canyon Elopement, the two of you will need to appear in person at an Arizona Courthouse. The closest ones to the Canyon are:

Williams, Arizona Courthouse
Fredonia, Arizona Courthouse
Flagstaff, Arizona Courthouse
Page, Arizona Courthouse

You’ll need to show your ID, potentially proof of age, and pay a fee that’s usually about $83. Some courthouses require additional information, so make sure to check online before you go! Arizona Marriage Licenses are valid for 12-months after you get them, and you should apply a minimum of 4-weeks before you plan to get married.

How to get a Grand Canyon Wedding Permit?

Like most National Parks across the country, the Grand Canyon National Park allows wedding ceremonies but requires couples to have a Special Use Permit. It’s well worth filling in the easy application form – after all, the Grand Canyon will make a spectacular backdrop for your elopement. Sunrise and sunset ceremonies will take your breath away as the light hits just right and illuminates the Canyon’s famous intricate cliff faces.

I’m more than happy to walk you through the process of applying for a Grand Canyon Wedding Permit, but basically, you just need to decide on your favorite two locations and send off an application form! Applications can be made a year in advance, and fees vary depending on the spot you choose.

Planning Your Grand Canyon Elopement: Choosing the Right Location

There are eight authorized, outdoor wedding locations in Grand Canyon National Park and each of them has something unique and special. By far my favorite two spots though are Moran Point and Lipan Point.

Moran Point is usually one of the quieter ceremony spots in the park, making it perfect for your intimate elopement. There’s parking available immediately nearby, so you don’t have to walk too far. Moran Point is especially beautiful for sunset elopements where you’ll have the most amazing view out over the canyon.

If you’d like to make the most of a few different views, then consider a Lipan Point Elopement! It is a much longer viewpoint, this means we can stop at different spots along the way to take in the ever-changing view (and take some beautiful photos together) as you share your vows.

The other outdoor Elopement Locations in Grand Canyon National Park are mostly spread across the South Rim, and include:

Pima Point
Rim Worship Site
Grandeur Point
Shoshone Point
Cape Royal Amphitheater (North Rim)
Point Imperial Viewpoint (North Rim)

Best Ways to Get to the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon National Park is a big place! Even though I live in Arizona, it’s still an 8-hour drive for me to get to the North Rim. So, when planning your elopement, it’s a good idea to make sure you’ll arrive as close to your chosen ceremony spot as possible. I’m more than happy to help you figure out the best place to arrive, but as a general rule, the easiest way to get to the Grand Canyon is to fly into a nearby airport. The three airports closest to the Grand Canyon are:

Flagstaff Airport (FLG) – Even if Flagstaff Airport is tiny, it’s only 1.5 hours from the Grand Canyon.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) – From Phoenix Airport, it will take you about 3.5 hours to drive to Canyon.
McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS) – Las Vegas Airport is the furthest away, being about a 4 hour drive, but it’s the easiest option for international travelers.

Unless, of course, you fancy a good old-fashioned road trip from your hometown to your Elopement spot! In that case, make the most of Google Maps and be sure to leave extra time for stops along the way. Arizona has so many incredible spots to explore and discover. Whether you fly in and rent a car, or you plan an epic road trip as part of your elopement, I’d love to recommend some great spots around Arizona for you to visit!

Where to Stay

Accommodation can really set the mood for your Grand Canyon Elopement. If you’re staying somewhere beautiful and unique, it’s more likely you’ll be able to soak in every moment of this incredible experience. You’ll have a beautiful space to wake up to and to arrive back to, where you can relax, have fun and maybe even dance around together! Or perhaps where you can prepare a beautiful meal, light a fire, or gaze up at the stars as you drift off to sleep. Whatever it is that takes your fancy, I’m sure you’ll be able to find the right accommodation for you.

You can also use your accommodation to make the most out of your Grand Canyon Elopement Photography. Getting ready photos can be such a wonderful part of your wedding day. Whether you get dressed together, or you prepare separately before having a beautiful first look, this is where you’ll probably start to feel all the feels, and you’ll want to have a memento of these moments! Plus, it gives us a chance to capture all the special details that you’ve chosen to include in your day, so that you can look back on all the things that made up your wedding day in years to come.

That said, here are some of my favorite accommodations that would be perfect for your Grand Canyon Elopement:

Glamping in the Grand A-Frame

This beautiful Airbnb is perfect if you want to be amongst nature and enjoy Arizona’s beautiful wide-open spaces while still staying in a beautiful, private accommodation.

Stargaze in the Dome House

There’s nothing quite like looking up at the night sky in Arizona – the sky is always full of stars, and it’s especially incredible near the Grand Canyon where there’s barely any light pollution. The Dome House near Williams will make your Grand Canyon Elopement truly unique, as you spend the nights before and after your wedding with an uninhibited view of the stars.

Sunset Views from the Log Cabin

If you’d like to stay in an actual house, while still enjoying the rustic, country vibes of Arizona, try out the Log Cabin! It’s located on 1 acre of land so you’ll feel like there’s no one else here but you. Plus, it has a firepit outside that would make for a wonderfully romantic end to your elopement day!

Country Club Condo near Flagstaff

If you’re endlessly excited for your Grand Canyon Elopement, but you’d still like to stay in a beautiful house, I’ve got you! This charming Country Club Condo will have you feeling right at home as you get ready for your most incredible day.

Under Canvas at the Grand Canyon

If you adore the idea of sleeping in a deluxe yurt, then check out the offerings at Under Canvas’ Grand Canyon Location! You’ll get the wonderful experience of sleeping almost under the stars, while enjoying the luxuries of a resort.

For more ideas about where to stay for your Grand Canyon Elopement, check out this Grand Canyon Airbnb Guide I made especially for you! I love scouting for beautiful Airbnbs, so I’m updating it all the time!

Making the Most of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is famous around the world for a reason, and that means that even though it’s remote, there are plenty of adventurous, unique things you could plan to make your Grand Canyon Elopement truly special. You could book these in for your elopement day, or plan something fun for the days before and after! A few ideas include:

Helicopter Tour
Jeep Tour
Biking Tour
Whitewater Rafting
The Grand Canyon Skywalk
Hiking Bright Angel Trail
Climb the watchtower to make a beautiful view even better

Keep the Celebrations Going: Things to Do Near the Grand Canyon

Your wedding celebrations absolutely don’t have to end on your wedding day, but seeing as you’re planning a Grand Canyon Elopement, I bet you already know that! The beauty of having an intimate wedding or elopement, and traveling to a dream destination for it, is that you probably have nowhere to be but there in the days before and after. Make the most of your time in Arizona by visiting downtown Flagstaff on historic Route 66 or take a day trip to Sedona. We could even plan a day-after portrait session if you really want to make the most of your Grand Canyon Elopement Photography!

For more advice about fun things to do in or nearby the Grand Canyon, let me know! I’d love to share more of my favorite spots with you.

About Your Grand Canyon Elopement Photographer

Hey, I’m Emily!

Arizona local, animal lover, and a wedding & elopement photographer.

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved exploring new places. It’s a love that’s stayed with me, and I can’t seem to stop planning new trips whether to the other side of the world, or to explore more of my home state.

Even though I’ve lived in Arizona my whole life, the Grand Canyon never fails to take my breath away. I can’t help but to pause whenever I’m there and drink in the incredible landscape. It seems impossible, that a place like this could exist – and exist so close to my own backyard – but I’m so glad that it does!

No matter your reasons for eloping, whether it’s because big weddings just aren’t true to you or you’d rather a small wedding ceremony without the fuss, I’d love to capture your Grand Canyon Elopement and guide you through the planning process.

So, feel free to get in touch, and let’s start Planning Your Grand Canyon Elopement.

"I cannot rave enough about Emily!! She was a dream come true in a photographer. My fiancé and I had to change our plans due to COVID, so we decided to elope at the Grand Canyon with just the two of us. I received a recommendation for Emily on Reddit r/elopements and contacted her for a quote. I can’t say how, but as soon as I got her email, I knew we had found our photographer. Emily gave us helpful info and tips about eloping In Arizona as well. And [as for] the actual photos… Oh my GOD...Emily is a genius!”