HOW TO ELOPE AT THE GRAND CANYON
The Grand Canyon is located 4 – 6 hours North of Phoenix in Page, Arizona. In this beautiful national park there are miles of breathtaking views of amazing vistas and the Colorado River. Each point offers a unique experience of colors and different shapes of the 5 – 6 million year old canyon slots.
The Grand Canyon measures up to 270 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep from the edge of where you can stand! This natural creation is one of the biggest canyons in the world!
How To Elope: Step By Step Guide
1. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
2. ACCESSIBILITY & PRIVACY/ SECLUSION
3. FAVORITE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS
4. BEST TIME OF DAY TO GET MARRIED
5. ACTIVITIES TO DO AT THE GRAND CANYON DURING YOUR WEDDING
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The current vehicle permit to enter the Grand Canyon is $35 (US Dollars). If you are taking a motorcycle, entering by bus, foot, bicycle, etc entrance fees do vary. If you hold the America the Beautiful annual pass you may enter for free with no additional fees!
If you are looking for information on how to elope at the Grand Canyon, a wedding permit is required to get married within the national park at one of their pre-approved locations. For a list of approved locations and more information, click HERE.
When planning your wedding in the Grand Canyon please keep in mind of a few very important details!
- No props, tables, flowers, amplified sound, balloons, drones, signs, etc. are allowed at any location.
ACCESSIBILITY & PRIVACY/ SECLUSION
Many of the scenic viewpoints and facilities such as bathrooms and historic buildings at the Grand Canyon have rugged terrains that have rocky trails, narrow paths, and of course steep cliffs nearby. Shuttle Busses are available at the South and North Rim that are wheelchair accessible.
Tourist / crowd levels vary based on the time of year. Week days and avoiding holidays or weekends are a safer option to explore this amazing National Park to avoid large crowds.
Weather is also a factor on how many people are adventuring the Grand Canyon. When it is super cold, foggy, or raining often times people run to their cars to avoid the bad weather. If you don’t mind a change in temperature or getting a little wet and carrying an umbrella this is also a good time to adventure.
If you are not wanting any by passers to watch your ceremony I recommend hiking to a nearby flatground where not many people adventure to (as long as there are no signs that prohibit going past). Some photo examples of nearby hikes below!
I do not recommend hiking beyond the paved areas when it is foggy or slippery wet!
FAVORITE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS
Like mentioned before, you are allowed to hold your wedding ceremony only at pre-approved locations. Some of my favorites on that list are:
Lipan Point
This is the perfect location for watching the sunset and having a ceremony in front of some of the most beautiful views of The Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.
If you are wanting to avoid tourists and a more intimate feel during your wedding day there is a private spot away from where everyone parks behind some trees. If you are in wedding attire and exchanging vows or taking photos I have personally experienced some of the nicest people and they made sure to respect your privacy and space. But that may not be the case for every wedding.
From golden hour to seeing multiple peaks of the Canyon to green trees to sitting at the edge of the world this spot is one of my favorites.
MORAN POINT
This viewpoint is a perfect ceremony spot for wanting to get away from tourists and is accessible to anyone who is handicapped.
You are allowed to hike down the the flat spot below the paved walkway (as long as there are no signs that prohibit going past) to have a private ceremony and for those who are not good with steep hikes can watch your ceremony from above!
Or if you are ok with by passers and prefer to stay near the paved area there is still a beautiful view at the top.
There is also a beautiful forest nearby you can walk around and take super cute photos in and still get stunning views of the Grand Canyon below. This spot is perfect to get photos of the Colorado River in the background, privacy, and sunset photos.
Grandeur Point
Grandeur Point is 0.4 miles West of Yavapai Point parking lot. It is about a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot to the lookout but once you get there the view is incredible!
There is a tiny drop from the pavement to the flat area that you will need to be careful of if you are wearing heels. This location is another one of my favorites because you literally feel like you’re on the edge of the world!
BEST TIME OF DAY TO GET MARRIED
I can answer this question in three words for you.. Sunrise or Sunset. Why?
Any other time other than those two times the sun will be directly on your eyes. Lighting will be so harsh for you and your photographer – honestly, your photos just won’t turn out good.
Sunrise and Sunset the sun will be at an angle and your photographer can position you so the light is not direct. Plus, you get some super beautifully lit photos during golden hour and sunset!
BLUE HOUR WHERE THE SKY IS COTTON CANDY
BLUE + PINK
GOLDEN HOUR WHERE EVERYTHING THE LIGHT TOUCHES IS GOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
ACTIVITIES TO DO AT THE GRAND CANYON DURING YOUR WEDDING
There are lots of other activities you can experience during your adventure at the Grand Canyon besides driving to different viewpoints to look at different scenery.
1. PARK RANGER INFORMATIONAL
– Learn more about the Grand Canyon history, nature, science, and culture from park rangers
2. EXPLORE THE GRAND CANYON VILLAGE
– On the Eastern side of the South Rim there is a village outside the entrance that has a movie theatre, a bunch of food stops, and a hotel for if you don’t want to take the long drive back home.
3. HIKING
– Did you know you can hike all the way down to the bottom of the canyon?! You can take a 7 mile scenic hike with multiple outlooks along the rim. I do recommend planning and training ahead of time for this trek because the hike back up is very difficult and you need to carry a backpack with more water than you think, lots of snacks and food, and proper gear like footwear and sun protection.
4. MULE TRIPS
– If you don’t want to walk around to explore the Grand Canyon you can ride a mule along the canyon rim for 3 hours. How cool is that!
5. RAFTING ON THE COLORADO RIVER
– You can go either smooth water or whitewater rafting during your trip! You do need a reservation ahead of time to experience this adventure but it is super easy to book and plan! This is a summer experience I highly recommend. You can learn more about smooth water rafting HERE and whitewater rafting HERE.
6. RIDE THE GRAND CANYON RAILWAY
– Take a train ride from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon twice in one day. This is a fun and alternate experience from driving and dealing with traffic, construction, and finding a parking spot. Learn more HERE.
7. TAKE A HELICOPTER RIDE ABOVE THE GRAND CANYON
– View the Grand Canyon from a bird’s eye perspective not a lot of people get to experience! Most helicopter rides start out of the Las Vegas Strip but you can also explore the Red Rocks of Sedona or other parts of Arizona and end your day watching the sun set over the Grand Canyon.
Hey, I’m kelcee!
YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTER BEHIND THE CAMERA
I believe in real moments and capturing timeless memories you can look back on your special day and think ‘I can’t believe we did that’.
My priority as your wedding photographer is to make you feel how much I love and care for you! Being able to stand by your side as your friend and photographer is the main reason why I love my job!
Your happiness is my happiness and being by your side as your biggest supporter on your special day is truly a blessing in itself!
As much as I love grand scale weddings, elopements hit different for those of us who spend Saturday nights watching rom-coms. The most touching photos were those of your client with their children and of the two ladies waving back, very sweet. I don’t know, call me crazy, but I believe it to be good fortune for newlyweds to have strangers congratulate them on their wedding day. Something that rarely happens with large scale weddings. Thank you for showcasing these moments. ✨