Hi, I’m Katrina Wallace and the owner of Sedona Bride. I’ve photographed weddings in Sedona for over 20 years and below are my insider tips as a local to guide you through planning a Cathedral Rock elopement or photo session.
Cathedral Rock elopements
There’s no doubt you’ve seen the unforgettable photos from Cathedral Rock elopements and photo sessions. It’s become an iconic spot for couples that want to adventure and go the extra mile for these incredible views.
It’s become one of the most popular trails in Sedona and a go to spot for visitors to watch sunsets.
Pros:
- Awesome hike with unmatched views.
- Plenty of space at specific parts of the trail to have a private ceremony for an elopement.
- Shaded during the summer for hiking in the late day.
- Moderate hiking to the base plateau if you have a very small handful of guests.
- Beautiful year round.
Cons:
- Not a private location and one of the most crowded trails in Sedona.
- You must take a shuttle or work with a local photographer for accessing the parking lot certain times of the year.
- Parking can be very limited.
- Not ideal for weekends or holidays. Most couples plan a weekday in the off season for elopements here.
It is possible to have a beautiful Cathedral Rock elopement. Working with a local photographer that knows and understands tourism and the latest on Sedona shuttle updates etc. makes for planning an elopement at Cathedral easy.
Sedona Bride Insider Wedding Tips
Plan for PLENTY of time. While everyone LOVES the photo on the ledge at the saddle of Cathedral, there are so many beautiful spots all along the trail. You’ll want to make sure to have lots of time to stop for photos. Another reason you’ll want to plan for additional time is that it is a public spot with other visitors (and often times a lot of other photo shoots or elopement couples) wanting to spend time on the ledge for photos. We plan four hours for our Cathedral Rock Adventure Elopements.

For other tips and tricks for planning the perfect Cathedral Rock elopement, get in touch with us about your plans!