Dani & Tim’s Secret Slickrock Elopement in Sedona, AZ

Dani and Tim chose a Secret Slickrock elopement ceremony surrounded by family and friends for their Sedona wedding. They knew that they wanted to find a way to share the beauty of the Sedona red rocks with their families, especially Tim’s who flew in from Florida to join them. After looking at numerous options, Dani decided an easier, less trafficked location would be best for their vows. We planned a split day timeline where we would meet the group for the ceremony, then leave as just the three of us to hike up the main Cathedral Rock trail to take stunning couples portraits at sunset.

Secret Slickrock is one of my favorite spots for couple’s eloping with kiddos or family with mobility limitations. It offers an easy to moderate hike to the main area, while having one of the most epic views of Cathedral Rock towering up behind you in the distance. Dani and Tim had both children and adults with limitations at their wedding, so it was a perfect choice to fit their vision. What we hadn’t planned for was the heavy rain the day before creating a large puddle to play with reflections!

Bride and groom kissing at their Secret Slickrock elopement with reflection in a puddle and Cathedral Rock in the background

Planning a destination wedding with little ones is never easy, add in family travel issues, recent earth shattering life events, and a couple of day of emergencies that would have brought other couples down into a puddle of tears… somehow Dani and Tim both made it through with smiles on their faces and good spirits in place.

Our day was pushed back by road closures due to a local structure fire, so we improvised and adjusted our evening couple’s portrait session up Cathedral Rock to a sunrise session the next morning.

This fearless bride not only hiked up before the sun rose, but she will forever be known as my first to climb up onto the vortex spire! Poor Tim was along for the ride, but he knows his wife too well to argue. After an incredible morning in one of my favorite places, we head down the mountain, with Dani making the hike in bare feet!

And in case you think her face looks familiar, our adventure together has turned into a cherished friendship. She has been my assistant and second photographer on several weddings this year, and I can’t wait to see her business grow!

Vendors for the Day:

Kind Words from the Couple

“Shannon was simply amazing through our whole process. My husband and I reached out to her as Sedona is her playground. She helped us do research on locations to decide where would be the perfect place for us to hold our special day with a small group of family and friends. She was such an amazing human to have be a part of our day and capture everything we saw and didn’t get to see. We had so much go wrong, but the one thing that didn’t was having her make our day unique and getting those memories on print forever. Her style is very true to color which is incredible with Sedona as your backdrop. The beauty of our day and the scenery all wrapped in one was perfection! You will not be disappointed one bit for letting her tell your story!”

~ Dani C.

Shannon Durazo

Hello! I’m

Shannon Durazo

and I would love to be your Sedona Elopement or Wedding Photographer!

As a Sedona Wedding Photographer, I specialize in helping couples find the best views for your wedding and portraits amongst the red rocks. Venues, hiking, off-roading, or climbing into a cave- I love this town and will help you find your “perfect spot”!

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9 Comments

  1. Sedona is my favorite location for eloping in USA. Just on the top of couple goals for this kind of adventure in the nature. Your storytelling worked so good here by showing all special moments and their vibrant emotions.

  2. This Slickrock elopement in Sedona, AR is gorgeous! Your eye for detail is stunning! I love the color and edits in your work, and the gifs are so well done too! Sometimes, rain ends up being a plus, as shown in the reflections through the puddles 🙂 It’s great that they were able to navigate the fire as well. And how awesome is it that you made a friend and photography counterpart?! I thoroughly love your story telling and photography – great work!

  3. These photos are gorgeous! I have done that hike before you captured it so well and their love. <3

  4. Love how your photos capture the joy and connection their family shares, a beautiful elopement!

  5. This is an absolute jaw dropper of a gallery! I love the rich tones of the rock and how the couple pop in those big scenes. Thanks for sharing!

  6. What a beautiful day! You captured this beautifully! It looks like they had a blast climbing down on the rocks for those stunning photos! Also, that heart shaped cactus!!! How perfect!!!

  7. Such an epic spot I wish I could visit soon! Very beautifully captured! I love the faces of the kids in the first photo. They are soooo kids. 🙂

  8. What a stunning elopement wedding! I love the landscapes, the colours, and the cute gifs too 🙂
    You did an amazing job capturing their special day in Sedona, Arizona!

  9. Cathedral Rock AND Secret Slick Rock in one day?!?! Talk about a dreamy elopement! Your photos are so amazing, as always. Makes me want to re-marry my husband so you can take my photos!!!

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