Eloping in Flagstaff is a great idea

So you’ve decided to elope! Excellent choice! I love a big wedding as much as the next person, but these days a smaller celebration just makes so much sense. Flagstaff is such a beautiful place to elope with so many options when it comes to location. The forest is always a great way to go.

My top five spots to elope in Flagstaff

  • Hart Prairie

  • Buffalo Park

  • Chapel of the Holy Dove

  • Aspen Corner

  • Flagstaff Nordic Village

Hart Prairie Flagstaff elopement

Hart Prairie

The area around Hart Prairie is one of the most beautiful places in northern Arizona. It’s a really fantastic spot for an elopement. It takes about 30 minutes to get there from downtown Flagstaff so it’s not so hard to get to but feels really secluded. During the fall, the aspens come alive with color but any time of year is pretty.

Elopement at Hart Prairie in Flagstaff
Flagstaff elopement portrait at Hart Prairie
Flagstaff bride and groom eloping at Hart Prairei

Buffalo Park

Buffalo Park is just minutes from downtown Flagstaff and features wide open meadows, shady forest settings and really good views of the San Francisco Peaks and Mount Elden. It is so easy to get to and has very smooth wide open trails making access easy for those that are not so mobile.

Horseshoe Bend elopement
Secret Antelope Canyon elopement
Flagstaff intimate elopement

Chapel of the Holy Dove

A bit further down the road is the Chapel of the Holy Dove. It’s a very small, very unique little chapel just off the side of Highway 180 about 45 minutes from Flagstaff. The chapel is a good option for folks hoping to elope but who want a little bit of church feel. It’s not your average church. Even if you’re not religious, this spot works well. It’s more like a really good spot for meditation and contemplation. Plus, it has a roof! Excellent for when it rains. The area around the chapel is super beautiful as well. Nice for portraits!

Chapel of the Holy Dove elopement in Flagstaff
Flagstaff forest elopement at Chapel of the Holy Dove
Flagstaff Chapel of the Holy Dove elopement

Aspen Corner

This spot is very popular in the fall because, you guessed it, the aspens look really beautiful. But a mid-week elopement usually thins out the number of people on the mountain. It’s also a beautiful spot to elope any time of year. Winter elopements are pretty fun if you are down for braving chilly temperatures. Snowy elopements are amazing!

Aspen Corner elopement location
Flagstaff forest elopement at Aspen Corner
Elopement portrait at Aspen Corner

Nordic Village

This forest location is also located off of Highway 180 outside of Flagstaff. It’s forest and meadow settings are really picturesque. With a lodge on the property, couples have a really nice, yet rustic, spot to get ready. The Nordic Village also has a number of Yurts scattered about, so rainy weather is not so much of a concern. The Nordic Village also has an arch for your ceremony at the end of the meadow.

Small elopement at the Nordic Village in Flagstaff
Meadow elopement at Nordic Village
Elopement portrait at Nordic Village

Bonus elopement location! Backyard wedding celebration

Some of my favorite intimate wedding celebrations take place in backyards. I’m serious! My wife and I got married on my folks’ property and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. There is something very special and meaningful about getting married at a location that has so much built in meaning and significance.

Backyard elopement in Flagstaff
flagstaff backyard elopement
Flagstaff backyard elopement in the pines

Thinking of eloping in Flagstaff but want to talk about possible locations, ask questions about logistics and get some help finding excellent vendors? Contact me at info@ryanwilliamsphotography.com. I’d love to help you out!

Also, more reasons to elope: Top Six Reasons To Elope in northern Arizona