Post Summary: This is a guide to the permits you’ll need to obtain for your Arizona elopement, based on what location you’ll be holding your legal ceremony at. You’ll learn about the required permits for each of Arizona’s national parks + what they allow and don’t allow, as well as permits for Arizona state parks, national forests, & other popular locations. Be sure to check out my Complete Guide to Eloping in Arizona for more in-depth Arizona elopement tips + info!
Why do we need a permit?
First off, why is it important to get a permit for your Arizona elopement?
Obtaining the appropriate permits for any locations you visit during your elopement (or any time you spend outdoors on public land, for that matter), is super important in making sure you take responsibility for the impact you have on the environment. Permits inform visitors of what is & isn’t allowed so that you don’t perform any restricted activities that could harm the environment or obstruct the experience of other visitors.
When it comes to eloping in the great outdoors, you need to be aware of how you can Leave No Trace with your elopement by following the 7 LNT Principles: plan ahead & prepare, travel & camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of others. Leave No Trace is an organization that empowers people to be the solution to conservation issues and to minimize the impact they have on the earth when participating in outdoor activities. I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with those 7 Principles and keeping them in mind when planning your adventure elopement in Arizona!
What happens if we don’t get our permit?
By skipping the permit process for, say, a national park, you’re showing that you don’t respect the impact that too many visitors may have on the land, as that’s why permits exist in the first place: to minimize the human impact on beautiful public land so that it’s kept clean & pristine for future visitors. The cost of permits and entry fees is also much less than what you could potentially be fined for parking on public land without the appropriate permit or for holding a legal marriage ceremony without the necessary documentation. Really, the process of getting a permit for your elopement is just a necessary part of planning an adventure elopement and getting the privilege of using beautiful land as a backdrop to your ceremony!
Arizona National Park Wedding Permits
First, let’s go through the exact permit you’ll need to get married in a national park in Arizona.
Grand Canyon National Park Wedding Permit
Entry Pass: 1-week pass ($35/vehicle) or Annual America the Beautiful Pass ($80)
Permit You’ll Need for Your Elopement: Special Use Permit
Permit Cost: $240-$500 + potential $65/hour administrative fee
Permit Details
- Required minimum of 4 weeks to process a permit request
- Weddings may be schedule for up to 1 year in advance
- Permitted locations:
- Pima Point
- Rim Worship Site
- Grandeur Point
- Shoshone Point
- Moran Point
- Lipan Point
- Cape Royal Amphitheater
- Point Imperial Viewpoint
- Shrine of the Ages
- Park Lodges
- NOT allowed at any location:
- Chairs
- Tables
- Flowers
- Amplified sound
- Balloons
- Signs
- Other large decor
How to Apply for a Grand Canyon National Park Wedding Permit
- Fill out this application form
- Submit your application (at least 4 weeks & no sooner than 1 year before your desired date) via email to grca_permits_mail@nps.gov
- Pay your required permit fees via the link sent to you once you submit your application
- If your permit request is approved, sign & return your permit to the park office once you receive a copy
Saguaro National Park Wedding Permit
Entry Pass: 1-week pass ($25/vehicle) or Annual America the Beautiful Pass ($80)
Permit You’ll Need for Your Elopement: Special Use Permit
Permit Cost: $100 + potential $35/hour monitoring fee
Permit Details:
- Required minimum of 4 weeks to process a permit request
- Weddings may be schedule for up to 1 year in advance
- NOT allowed at any location:
- Chairs
- Tables
- Flowers
- Amplified sound
- Balloons
- Signs
- Other large decor
How to Apply for a Saguaro National Park Wedding Permit
- Fill out this application form
- Submit your application (at least 4 weeks & no sooner than 1 year before your desired date) via email to nps_sagu_sup@nps.gov
- Pay your required permit fees via the link sent to you once you submit your application
- If your permit request is approved, sign & return your permit to the park office once you receive a copy
Ready to start planning your elopement at Saguaro National Park? You won’t want to miss out on my Saguaro National Park Elopement Guide!
Petrified Forest National Park Wedding Permit
Entry Pass: 1-week pass ($25/vehicle) or Annual America the Beautiful Pass ($80)
Permit You’ll Need for Your Elopement: Special Use Permit
Permit Cost: $115
Permit Details:
- Required minimum of 4 weeks to process a permit request
- Weddings may be schedule for up to 1 year in advance
- NOT allowed at any location:
- Chairs
- Tables
- Flowers
- Amplified sound
- Balloons
- Signs
- Other large decor
How to Apply for a Petrified Forest National Park Wedding Permit
- Fill out this application form
- Submit your application via email and pay your application fee via pay.gov
- Pay your required permit fees via the link sent to you once you submit your application
- If your permit request is approved, sign & return your permit to the park office once you receive a copy
Arizona State Park Wedding Permits
Moving onto Arizona’s beautiful state parks! The process of getting a Special Use Permit is the same for every Arizona state park, which you can find below.
A few of the most popular parks in the state include:
Arizona State Park Special Use Permit Information
Entry Pass: Day-use pass ($2-$30) or Annual Pass ($75-$200)
Permit You’ll Need for Your Elopement: Arizona State Park Wedding Reservation
Permit Cost: Varies by park
How to Apply for An Arizona State Park Wedding Permit
- Take a look at the pre-application packet for the specific state park you’re interested in
- Call the park to inquire about availability for your desired date + to start your reservation request
- Fill out the wedding pre-application form and send it to your park contact
- Determine final park wedding fees with your park contact
Wedding Permits for Arizona National Forests + Other Popular Locations
Finally, in this section, I’ve included what you’ll need to know about Arizona national forests as well as some of the other popular scenic areas + elopement destinations in the state!
Arizona National Forest Wedding Permits
Arizona has 6 national forests, most of which honor a variety of different recreation passes and only require a Special Use Permit for weddings involving more than 75 people.
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- Coconino National Forest
- Coronado National Forest
- Kaibab National Forest
- Prescott National Forest
- Tonto National Forest
Glen Canyon Wedding Permits
The Glen Canyon Recreation Area is a super popular area for adventure elopements, home to the iconic Horseshoe Bend and spectacular views of the winding Colorado River!
Entry Pass: 1-week pass ($30), annual Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Pass ($55), or Annual America the Beautiful Pass ($80)
Permit You’ll Need for Your Elopement: Special Use Permit
Permit Cost: $100 processing fee + $200 cost recovery charges
How to Apply for A Glen Canyon Wedding Permit
- Fill out this application form
- Submit your application (at least 45 days before your desired date) via email to glca_sup@nps.gov
- Pay your required permit fees via the link sent to you once you submit your application
- If your permit request is approved, sign & return your permit to the park office once you receive a copy
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Entry Pass: $8 entry per person, per day
Permit You’ll Need for Your Elopement: Special Use Permit
Permit Cost: Varies
How to Apply for A Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Wedding Permit
Contact the Visitor Center for Special Use Permit information.
BLM Land Wedding Permits
Finally, to get married on any public BLM land in Arizona, you’ll need a specific BLM recreation permit.
Some of the most popular BLM land wedding locations in Arizona include:
Entry Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Permit You’ll Need for Your Elopement: Special Use Permit
Permit Cost: Varies by location
How to Apply for A BLM Land Wedding Permit
- Reach out to the local BLM office in the desired area of your elopement
- Fill out the application & follow the procedures provided by the office
How to Elope in Arizona: The Complete Guide
Woohooo, you now know all about the major permits you may need to get for your Arizona elopement and why it’s so important to get them! If you KNOW you want to elope in the epic desert landscapes of Arizona (whether it be in the Tucson desert dripping in Saguaro cacti, or the red rocks of Sedona), head on over to my Complete Arizona Elopement Guide that goes into even more depth about info you’ll want to be aware of. Read through my fave locations, vendors, planning tips, fun activities and ideas, & more good stuff!
More Arizona Elopement Resources
Okay and before you go, make sure to check out the two articles below if you’re still not sure of the exact location you want to pick for your Arizona elopement!
The 25 Best Places to Elope in Arizona in 2023
Complete Guide to Eloping at Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ
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