Running away to get married might seem like something you’d do in Vegas or Atlantic City. But, eloping is possible anywhere in the United States of America. And not just in the closest courthouse. Here’s a short but detailed guide on how to do it in Arizona.
A short history of eloping
In the past, a couple would decide to elope when there were obstacles for them to get married. For example, families would be against them tying the knot. They would run away from the place where they live to get hitched.
But in this day and age, people choose to elope when they want to avoid the strings of the traditional wedding. It’s not anymore so much about running away. More about being able to avoid the traditions you don’t like. Plus, elopement means a much smaller wedding party, which is exactly what some couples want.
What are Arizona’s marriage requirements?
Eloping is a great solution for couples that feel like the whole traditional wedding is one big burden. But, every couple still must follow certain procedures if they want their wedding to be legal.
So what do you need to make sure you are married in the eyes of the law in Arizona? Both bride and groom must be at least 18 years old. And they must have two witnesses, also at least 18 years of age. Prepare to get a marriage license too. It will cost you around 80 dollars. The price depends on the county.
Additionally, in Arizona, your wedding must have an officiant. This can be solved pretty easily. Anyone can get ordained to officiate your wedding in a pretty simple procedure. This way you can choose your officiant to be someone special for you both. Just how you chose your witnesses. Or, it can even be your wedding photographer. Many of them are ordained exactly because they often photograph elopements.
What else is necessary to elope in Arizona?
The beauty of eloping and the reason people do it is that you don’t have to do anything unless you want to. Once you covered the requirements mentioned above, of course. Elopements usually don’t even have a dinner after the ceremony and the number of guests is less than 20.
If you’re not sure what to keep from the traditional wedding, here’s what we advise sticking to:
- Wedding jewelry is something you’ll have for the rest of your life to remind you of the wedding day. There are great Phoenix jewelry stores. There you can find some great pieces to remind you of your elopement and be the forever connection of you as the couple with the Grand Canyon state.
- A wedding photographer is another important part of creating those memories. You might think you can use just any iPhone to capture the beauty of the day. But we highly recommend hiring a pro. They are called pros for a reason, after all.
While both of these things seem pricey, they will be worth it. After all, you’re saving quite a lot by eloping, so treat yourself with these two very.
Choosing the location of the elopement in Arizona
Imagine saying I do in the Grand Canyon, what can beat that? Arizona has so many more great wedding locations. The selection is so huge this should be the reason you chose to elope to Arizona in the first place.
We won’t argue that the Grand Canyon is an amazing place. But just in case you want to avoid going for the obvious choice, here are some other ideas:
- Sedona
- Horseshoe bend
- Slot Canyons
- Boyce Thompson Arboretum
- Saguaro National Park
And this is just to name a few. Your final choice will depend on how much you want to travel, your budget, and a couple of other personal choices. But no matter what you go for, you’re in for unique views and nature.
Wrapping it up
So, Arizona has unique locations for elopement and not too complicated a procedure. Add to that a really warm climate and you have yourself a perfect location for the elopement and the magical beginning of your happily ever after.
