How to Elope at The Grand Canyon

If you’re wondering how to elope at The Grand Canyon in Arizona, you’ve come to the right place! If you’ve ever been to The Grand Canyon, you know it’s absolutely magnificent and almost impossible for our minds to grasp! It is so vast and beautiful! It’s a gorgeous place to elope at! In this guide I’ll be walking you through exactly how to elope at The Grand Canyon!

Where Can You Elope in The Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon has two main parts namely: The North and the South rim. The North Rim is closed in the Winter months because of snow fall and unmaintained roads. At the North rim you can elope/get married at:

• Cape Royal Amphitheater
• Point Imperial Viewpoint.

At the South Rim, you can get elope/married at:

• Pima Point
• Rim Worship Site
• Grandeur Point
• Shoshone Point
• Moran Point
• Lipan Point
• Navajo Point (where most of the photos are taken in this blog)

When is the Best Time to Elope in The Grand Canyon?

The best time to elope at the Grand Canyon is Mid October through end of April. I wouldn’t recommend the Summer time. Not only is Summer extremely busy, but it’s also very hot! Winters can be cold but it’s still amazing! The snow is absolutely beautiful and there are far less people! You will have much more freedom.

Timing wise you would want to get married during golden hours, which is an hour before sunset or an hour after sunrise. These are truly the best times for those stunning, warm photos. Blue hour is also a great time for photos as the colors truly pop! Blue hour is the time right after the sun has completely set or just before it comes up.

What Do I Need to Elope at The Grand Canyon?

In order to get legally married in the park, you need to obtain an Arizona marriage license, acquire a Special Use Permit from the park and arrange a Justice of the Peace or an ordained clergy to perform the ceremony.

Weddings may be scheduled up to one year in advance. Special Use Permits must be requested by the individuals getting married and not by a third party (e.g. wedding planners).

The park requires a minimum of four weeks to fully process a basic permit request. Do not wait until the last minute to apply for your permit. To check if your desired location and date is available, please contact their offices via email. 

You will need to pay a non-refundable fee for applying for your permit in the National Park. Then depending which site you choose and how many guests you have, it will cost between $200-$500. The park requires at least 4 weeks to process a Special Use Application. You can find the special use permit application form HERE. You will need to email it to grca_permits_mail@nps.gov .

Recommended Grand Canyon Vendors

There are so many amazing vendors out there! Here are a few that are highly recommended:

• Photographer HERE!
• Hair & Make Up Artists HERE & HERE!
• Dress HERE & HERE!
• Officiant HERE!

Keep in mind that The Grand Canyon is a heritage site and needs to be protected. All outdoor locations prohibit the following: Flowers, balloons, arches, tables, chairs, confetti, amplified sound, signage, alcohol. Be sure to follow these rules and leave no trace.

Places to Stay Near The Grand Canyon

There are SO many places to stay at in The Grand Canyon. You can find a list of lodging options HERE. If you feel like camping, you can find more information on camping HERE. Otherwise Airbnb and VRBO have some amazing options as well! Check out these some amazing places HERE!

Activities to do at The Grand Canyon

There are plenty of activities to do in and around the Grand Canyon! Add some amazing activities onto your elopement and make the day (or weekend) one to remember! Here is a list of some of the best waterfalls you can hike to in the Grand Canyon. I highly recommend Havasu Falls!

Things to do near the South Rim include: Exploring downtown Flagstaff, Skiing on Humphreys peak, hiking, biking, and climbing in Sedona.

Things to do near the North Rim include: Zion National Park (Highly recommend doing Angel’s Landing!), eating in downtown Kanab, Visit Horseshoe Bend, Rent a boat on Lake Powell.

I hope this guide on how to elope at The Grand Canyon was super helpful to you! If you’re looking for a photographer to capture your special day and help you plan- Please reach out HERE! I’d absolutely love to connect with you!