These two had a clear vision for their day from the start. This stemmed from the knowledge that having a big wedding to celebrate their marriage wasn’t really who they are. That’s why they decided to elope instead! Laynee and Adam were not afraid to be their goofy selves because they wanted to have a day that reflected them. See how lucky I was to capture this personalized sunrise Sedona elopement!
A Clear Vision for a Sunrise Sedona Adventurous Elopement Day
Laynee described their Sedona elopement vision as a “go-with-the-flow, stress-free day! We plan to take in every moment and have an amazing, special, intimate time.” As we started their sunrise Sedona elopement planning, they had to select the location, timeline and guest list.
Coming from Nashville, Tennessee, Laynee explained that “we wanted something different and unique…so the desert landscape seemed like a perfect place. We love the beautiful views!”
Laynee shared their specific timeline wishes: “we want to wake up, and start getting wedding-day ready, have some first look moments with each other and family, go to our first location and have an intimate ceremony, then just enjoy the rest of our time taking pictures and taking in the beautiful landscapes, enjoying a picnic at some point…then more pics and adventuring.”
When it came to the guest list, the couple had a hard time narrowing it down or finding Sedona wedding locations large enough for a full guest list. Time restrictions forced on their getting-ready time and the ceremony was another big reason why they didn’t choose to have a traditional wedding.
Laynee and Adam wanted the day to remain intimate and about them. As Laynee explained, “we have been together for 11 years (met in high school) and want our special moment to be just us.” This included inviting both sets of parents for the ceremony (plus an officiant) and getting-ready part of the day.
Quick Elopement Tip
Choosing to elope doesn’t mean that you don’t want friends and family there. It may just mean that you have too many friends and family to choose from! For Laynee and Adam, “we’ve made so many friends and relationships with people, that our guest list was just overwhelming. We also don’t want to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings by not inviting them.”
Instead of announcing their elopement to the world, they chose instead to tell some family and close friends, and use their Sedona elopement photos for their announcement! This was followed by a celebration with all their friends and family a month after the elopement.
Sunrise Sedona Timeline & Tips
Boho Vibes for a Sedona Arizona Desert Chic Elopement
When you’re a couple that loves to travel and do anything outdoors then an elopement is definitely in your future! Laynee and Adam love camping and hiking trails through the woods. Laynee explained, “we enjoy lengthy hikes more than steep but we enjoy a view most of all. We love sunrises and sunsets and will do anything for a view!”
They chose to elope in Sedona Arizona because of a shared love for the Arizona landscape. It was their desire to be surrounded by red rock formations, canyon walls, greenery, and do shots from the road with the desert landscape in the background.
Inspired by the natural colors of their sunrise Sedona surroundings, they went for all of the boho wedding decor ideas with a fall wedding color palette including blacks, dark browns, and rust orange. They caught all of the fall-themed boho vibes with their flowers including pampas grass, baby’s breath, greenery and dark orange flowers.
A Unique Day That was Long in Coming
My favorite part of the day was THEM! Laynee and Adam are such a dream couple. Our personalities matched perfectly making them so much fun to hang out with. We were able to crack jokes with each other throughout the entire day. It was easy for them to even forget that I was around at times because they were so into experiencing the day together.
We ended the day by saying our goodbyes while happy tears (from me) were shed. The lovebirds later gifted me a camera lens coffee mug which has become my favorite mug along with a Starbucks gift card because they knew how much I love hot chocolate. Now it’s my turn to adventure to Tennessee and visit them as a follow-up to such a special day!
Ready to begin planning your own special day? Let’s get started!
Wedding Vendors
Photographer | Escape and Adventure
Groom’s Suit | Banana Republic Suit
Groom’s Shoes | Dr. Martens Supreme
Dress | Breathless Bridal Boutique
HMUA | Kelly Ruiz
Officiant | Jen with Life Passages
More Sedona Elopement Inspiration & Resources
Hey, I’m Kelcee!
I would love to be your Sedona elopement photographer
I’ve been capturing Sedona elopements since 2021, and it’s my passion to help adventurous couples like you create the perfect wedding day.
Your elopement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you deserve the support to make it uniquely yours. Together, we’ll create quality memories that beautifully tell your love story, lasting a lifetime.
