Venue Guide
Sedona vs. Moab, Which Desert Destination is Right for Your Elopement?
Two of the most spectacular elopement destinations in the American Southwest, compared by someone who's shot extensively in both.
The Desert Question I Get Asked Most
Couples who've decided they want a desert elopement almost always end up asking me the same thing: Sedona or Moab? Both are extraordinary. Both are within driving distance of Los Angeles. Both produce images that make people stop scrolling. But they're genuinely different experiences, and the right choice depends almost entirely on what kind of day you want to have.
What Sedona Does Best
Sedona is intimate. The red rock formations are dramatic but the scale is human, you feel surrounded and held by the landscape rather than dwarfed by it. The town itself has a warmth and ease to it, with genuinely excellent restaurants and accommodations that make the days around your elopement feel like a proper trip. Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock offer ceremony spots that feel like they were designed specifically for two people to stand in front of. Sedona also has more permit flexibility than the national parks, which simplifies logistics considerably.
What Moab Does Best
Moab is epic. The Colorado River, the canyon systems, the silence that descends over Fisher Towers at dawn, it operates on a scale that makes you feel genuinely small, in the best possible way. If you want images that feel ancient and vast and otherworldly, Moab will deliver them. The Arches and Canyonlands are iconic for good reason, but the less-visited areas around Fisher Towers and the Dead Horse Point overlook are where I'd take couples who want something that feels entirely their own.
The Practical Differences
Moab runs hotter in summer, temperatures regularly exceed 100°F between June and August, making early morning the only viable window. Sedona is more moderate year-round, though summer afternoons are still intense. Both locations are spectacular in spring and fall. Moab's national park locations require photography permits that need advance planning. Sedona's state park and public land options are generally more accessible.
My Honest Recommendation
If you want epic and are willing to plan around the logistics, go to Moab. If you want beautiful and want the surrounding experience to feel like a real getaway, go to Sedona. Either way, you will not be disappointed. And either way, I'll be there.
Venue Guide
Sedona vs. Moab, Which Desert Destination is Right for Your Elopement?
Two of the most spectacular elopement destinations in the American Southwest, compared by someone who's shot extensively in both.
The Desert Question I Get Asked Most
Couples who've decided they want a desert elopement almost always end up asking me the same thing: Sedona or Moab? Both are extraordinary. Both are within driving distance of Los Angeles. Both produce images that make people stop scrolling. But they're genuinely different experiences, and the right choice depends almost entirely on what kind of day you want to have.
What Sedona Does Best
Sedona is intimate. The red rock formations are dramatic but the scale is human, you feel surrounded and held by the landscape rather than dwarfed by it. The town itself has a warmth and ease to it, with genuinely excellent restaurants and accommodations that make the days around your elopement feel like a proper trip. Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock offer ceremony spots that feel like they were designed specifically for two people to stand in front of. Sedona also has more permit flexibility than the national parks, which simplifies logistics considerably.
What Moab Does Best
Moab is epic. The Colorado River, the canyon systems, the silence that descends over Fisher Towers at dawn, it operates on a scale that makes you feel genuinely small, in the best possible way. If you want images that feel ancient and vast and otherworldly, Moab will deliver them. The Arches and Canyonlands are iconic for good reason, but the less-visited areas around Fisher Towers and the Dead Horse Point overlook are where I'd take couples who want something that feels entirely their own.
The Practical Differences
Moab runs hotter in summer, temperatures regularly exceed 100°F between June and August, making early morning the only viable window. Sedona is more moderate year-round, though summer afternoons are still intense. Both locations are spectacular in spring and fall. Moab's national park locations require photography permits that need advance planning. Sedona's state park and public land options are generally more accessible.
My Honest Recommendation
If you want epic and are willing to plan around the logistics, go to Moab. If you want beautiful and want the surrounding experience to feel like a real getaway, go to Sedona. Either way, you will not be disappointed. And either way, I'll be there.
Venue Guide
Sedona vs. Moab, Which Desert Destination is Right for Your Elopement?
Two of the most spectacular elopement destinations in the American Southwest, compared by someone who's shot extensively in both.
The Desert Question I Get Asked Most
Couples who've decided they want a desert elopement almost always end up asking me the same thing: Sedona or Moab? Both are extraordinary. Both are within driving distance of Los Angeles. Both produce images that make people stop scrolling. But they're genuinely different experiences, and the right choice depends almost entirely on what kind of day you want to have.
What Sedona Does Best
Sedona is intimate. The red rock formations are dramatic but the scale is human, you feel surrounded and held by the landscape rather than dwarfed by it. The town itself has a warmth and ease to it, with genuinely excellent restaurants and accommodations that make the days around your elopement feel like a proper trip. Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock offer ceremony spots that feel like they were designed specifically for two people to stand in front of. Sedona also has more permit flexibility than the national parks, which simplifies logistics considerably.
What Moab Does Best
Moab is epic. The Colorado River, the canyon systems, the silence that descends over Fisher Towers at dawn, it operates on a scale that makes you feel genuinely small, in the best possible way. If you want images that feel ancient and vast and otherworldly, Moab will deliver them. The Arches and Canyonlands are iconic for good reason, but the less-visited areas around Fisher Towers and the Dead Horse Point overlook are where I'd take couples who want something that feels entirely their own.
The Practical Differences
Moab runs hotter in summer, temperatures regularly exceed 100°F between June and August, making early morning the only viable window. Sedona is more moderate year-round, though summer afternoons are still intense. Both locations are spectacular in spring and fall. Moab's national park locations require photography permits that need advance planning. Sedona's state park and public land options are generally more accessible.
My Honest Recommendation
If you want epic and are willing to plan around the logistics, go to Moab. If you want beautiful and want the surrounding experience to feel like a real getaway, go to Sedona. Either way, you will not be disappointed. And either way, I'll be there.