How to Elope in Sedona: Permits & Locations

Official Coconino National Forest / Red Rock Ranger District rules for Sedona elopements, plus marriage-license basics and local vendor links.

Sedona elopements often take place on Coconino National Forest land in the Red Rock Ranger District, or at a private inn or chapel. The rules below are from the Forest Service permits page, not from blogs. Always re-check the official page before you set a date — policies and contacts can change.

Do you need a Forest Service wedding permit?

According to the Coconino National Forest permits page (Wedding Information):

A permit is not required when fewer than 75 people attend, there is no sound equipment, and either (a) there are no paid service providers, or (b) the only paid service providers are the minister(s) performing the ceremony and/or a photographer/videographer.
A permit is required in all other wedding situations, including when other paid vendors (planners, musicians, equipment, etc.) are involved, or when a minister also plans the event or chooses the location.
All commercial activities on the forest require a special use permit. A permit is also required for groups larger than 75, or for any size group that charges a fee to attend.

Red Rock Ranger District contact, as listed on that page: L.J. Varon-Burkhart, laura.varon-burkhart@usda.gov, 928-203-7532.

Uncertain / confirm: We are not publishing a permit fee here because the official Coconino permits page we cited does not list a current wedding-permit dollar amount. Ask the Red Rock special-use administrator for current fees and lead time.

Rules that apply even without a permit

The same official page notes:

There are no reserved sites for weddings under 75 people. You may not ask other visitors to leave or make room for your ceremony or parking.
Weddings that require a permit are not allowed in classified wilderness (the page names Fossil Creek, West Clear Creek, and Wet Beaver). Staged wedding photography is also not allowed in wilderness because it is not “wilderness dependent.”
No rice, birdseed, or other non-native seeds. Doves, homing pigeons, and butterfly releases are not allowed.
Toilet facilities are required for groups greater than 25 people and/or groups staying longer than 24 hours.
Pack out all garbage. Fire restrictions must be followed.
A wedding permit does not replace day-use or campground fees.
Crescent Moon Picnic Site weddings are by reservation only (see the wedding policy linked from the permits page).

Parking and the Red Rock Pass

Many popular Sedona-area trailheads and day-use sites require a recreation pass. The Forest Service explains passes on the Coconino National Forest passes page. A wedding permit, when you need one, does not automatically cover those fees.

Uncertain / confirm: Pass prices and which exact trailheads require a Red Rock Pass or Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass change. Confirm on the official passes page or at a ranger station for your date and location.

Locations: public land vs. a private site

If you want a guaranteed time and a place guests will not share with hikers, a private Sedona inn or chapel is simpler than a popular trail. In our directory right now:

Sedona venues

See the full list →

Sedona elopement photographers

See the full list →

Popular red-rock viewpoints are often crowded, especially at sunset. The Forest Service will not set aside a public site for a small, unpermitted ceremony, and some archaeological sites will not be permitted at all.

Your Arizona marriage license

Arizona requires a license from the clerk of the superior court in any Arizona county before you can be married in the state (A.R.S. § 25-121). The license expires one year from the date of issuance and can be used anywhere in Arizona, including Sedona (in Coconino County). There is no statewide waiting period or blood-test requirement described by county clerks. See our Arizona marriage license guide for clerk links and the Maricopa County fee as published by that office.

This page summarizes official publications for couples planning a small Sedona ceremony. It is not legal advice and is not a Forest Service decision.