“When is the best time to elope in Arizona?” is always a hard question to give a clear answer to, because it really depends on what kind of atmosphere you’re dreaming up for your elopement. So let’s go through what the weather tends to look like in each season in Arizona; that way, you can decide for yourself which season will help you craft the day you’re envisioning!

SPRING WEATHER

Spring is an amazing time to visit Arizona, because temperatures are still slightly milder, and you might get to see wildflowers depending on the locations you go to! That’s right, even the desert has flowers – if there’s a good amount of rainfall in the early spring, the deserts will bloom with gorgeous wildflowers that make for unreal views. Temperatures typically range from 75°F-100°F, so it is still pretty dang warm, but the evenings get to a perfectttt temperature to enjoy the desert.

SUMMER WEATHER

Summer is a popular time to visit Arizona because a lot more people have time off of work, but it’s really not the BEST time to visit – simply because of the heat! Arizona is obviously a desert climate, so it’s a dry, dry heat that you experience, with temperatures ranging from 85°F-115°F on average (whew – I’m sweating just thinking about it!). Evenings and early mornings are the coolest times to be outside, but not “cool” by any means. So if you’re eloping in Arizona in the summer, I highly recommend being outside in the early mornings and late evenings as much as possible to avoid the insane dry heat that the day brings – plus this way you can experience the magical desert sunrises & sunsets that Arizona has to offer!

FALL WEATHER

Fall in the desert is STUNNING if you’re eloping somewhere with a decent amount of foliage (and not the barren desert with no leaves/trees)! You’ll get amazing gold, red, and orange colors, milder temperatures, and long evenings (no Daylight Savings Time!). Arizona temperatures in the fall typically range from 60°F-95°F, so there’s a fairly big range of potential temps you could experience depending on your location & the month you choose.

WINTER WEATHER

Finally, winter is one of the most popular times to visit Arizona because it’s not exactly “winter” – it’s still warm(ish)! That explains why so many people from the PNW and other places with cold winters visit often between November-February/March – we’re just looking to escape the cold and get some sun & warmth on our faces! Winter temps in Arizona usually fall between 44°F-75°F, so there is a pretty big range of possible temperatures depending on where exactly you’re at. Desert temperatures are wild because it can be super warm in the daytime and drop drastically once the sun goes down, so be prepared for that if you’re sleeping outside.

Overall, if by “best” you mean the time of year with the most comfortable temperatures and humidity levels, that would be spring or fall. If by “best” you mean when the amount of crowds will be lowest, that would be winter! And if you mean when you’ll get the best desert sunrises/sunsets, and the longest days + most light, that might be summer. Think through what’s most important to you (temperatures, comfort, humidity, potential extreme weather, tourists/crowds, etc.) and pick the season that accommodates that best for you.