Merry Go Round Rock Elopement With Guests | For the Fun Loving Couple
A Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests is a Sedona wedding experience that is truly unforgettable. The views are breathtaking, which means bonus; your wedding photos will be too, and it’s a rad location for an off-road adventure on the day of your wedding. There’s a common misconception that eloping at Merry Go Round Rock is a “just the two of you” scenario, but that’s totally not true. Want to plan Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests? We can show you how. And yes when we say guests, that includes bringing your dogs along.
But, don’t be fooled. Just because you are planning an adventure elopement in Sedona, it doesn’t mean you don’t need a planner. It’s quite the opposite, you need a pro who can put together your timeline, help you coordinate, and remind you to stay hydrated (we’re getting ahead of ourselves). There is plenty that goes into a Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests, and it all happens behind the scenes.
You also need a professional elopement planner to help you determine the best time of year to elope at Merry Go Round Rock (spoiler: it’s amazing year-round). But like we said, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. In this article, we’ll help you decipher how to plan a Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests. Whether they come along for the adventure or not – you get to decide!
Your Elopement Ceremony at Merry Go Round Rock
If you want a Sedona elopement location that is ultra-private, it is hands down Merry Go Round Rock. it’s entirely secluded and there’s a strong chance (depending on the day & season of your wedding) that you will have the whole place to yourself. Even if you don’t, this location has ample space and folks are happy to share it respectfully. As far as adventure elopements with friends & family in a secluded location a Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests in tow gets our vote.
The hike to your ceremony location is not a difficult one, but it’s also not a walk either. We typically plan about 10-15 minutes in our couple’s timelines for them to hike into their ceremony. But, if you’re planning a Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests, you might have grandparents attending. If so, that’s something to discuss throughout the planning process. It’s entirely likely that your grandparents will need 30-40 minutes as opposed to 10-15. We like our couples to enjoy their wedding day at a relaxed pace, so knowing this information ahead of time will help us plan a wedding day timeline that works for everyone.
Arizona Elopement Collective also follows the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles. Which means we like to leave your ceremony space in better condition than how we found it. If your Merrry Go Round Rock elopement with guests includes popping a bottle of champagne after your ceremony, cool. But we’ll be chasing after the cork with a trash bag in hand to pick it up. And if we find corks from other weddings in the process, you bet we’ll be picking those up too.
The Terrain
Beyond your accessible wedding ceremony location, the climb to Merry Go Round Rock is pretty extreme off-roading. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s “just a dirt road”. It’s bumpy and rugged. Without a doubt, you (and your guests if they’re coming) will be bounced around. There are two elements that will be crucial to your Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests (aside from your planner) and that’s your vehicle & your photographer.
Vehicles
Do not bring a personal vehicle. Tell your guests we said so. We’ve seen plenty of folks attempt this, and we’ll just say it does not end well, ever. Personal vehicles break down more often than not and your wedding day is not the time when you want to be stuck and left wondering what to do.
On that note, a rental from the airport is an equally bad idea. Yes, even if it’s a Jeep. Have you ever gone to book a rental car and noticed the disclaimer next to the photo that says “or similar vehicle”? You don’t want to be left with a Ford Focus when what you really needed was a 4×4.
Even if you do get a rental from the airport and they, by some stroke of luck, are able to provide you with a Jeep, it will not make the trip. The vehicle you choose has to be capable and built for the terrain. Rental cars are beaten to death and not exactly in the best shape to climb Merry Go Round Rock. There are plenty of reputable companies to rent a vehicle from, and if you want the best rates, you can reach out to us and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
So what vehicle is durable & built for the climb? Here are some of our top recommendations:
- Jeep
- Tacoma
- Tundra
- Bronco
- Tahoe
- 4 Runner
But, if we had our choice we would probably go with the Jeep. In addition to being durable and providing a safe drive, it’s aesthetically pleasing and looks amazing in your wedding photos.
Jeep Guide Through Merry Go Round Rock
In digging through your vehicle options you might’ve come across plenty of sites advertising guided Jeep tours. They can be a valid option. But, always read the fine print. If you decide that a guided tour is definitely for you, you need to ask the company how late you can stay out. Some companies want you back down before sunset.
Which can be counter-productive for wedding photography when the best time for Sedona wedding photos is right at sunset.
Bringing Your Guests up Merry Go Round Rock
Now that you have a better grasp of how & why to rent your own vehicle from a reputable company, you get to decide if you’ll be bringing your guests along for the adventure. One of the amazing things about a Sedona elopement is the flexibility to plan an adventure on your own terms. And yep – that includes bringing (or not bringing) your guests along for the ride.
Guests Come for the Adventure
If you wanna bring your guests, yes, you will more than likely be responsible for booking their transportation. That means acquiring the appropriate number of vehicles for the number of guests you have, and figuring out who can ride with who.
The amazing thing about bringing your guests along is that you can plan a picnic and have a live musician play for everyone to set the vibe. It’s an epic experience and a beautiful way to spend intentional time with your guests on the day of your wedding.
Guests Head Back
Wondering if it’s a good idea to have your guests go off-roading with you? You can still host your Sedona elopement ceremony at a nearby location that is accessible. This will allow you to celebrate with granny or small children attending. After your hugs & celebration, you go off-roading with your photographer (one who gets your vision) stopping along the way for scenic wedding day photos at Merry Go Round Rock while your guests enjoy the comfort of their Airbnb.
Photography
Like we mentioned before, the experience of your Merry Go Round Rock elopement with guests comes down to two key elements. Your vehicle, and your photographer. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, a Sedona wedding is not one where you can get away with hiring a destination wedding photographer.
You’ll be riding up in an off-road vehicle, so your photographer has to be the one to tell you where to stop. Wedding photos at Merry Go Round Rock are so much more than just drive up, shoot, and drive back. Your off-roading adventure will include stops at hidden gem photo locations and a local Sedona elopement photographer will know each of those locations in specific detail.
The other thing about wedding photography at Merry Go Round is that it’s very technical, so it’s not the time to hire your friend who recently took up wedding photography as a hobby. A seasoned Sedona elopement photographer will be able to tackle the heights and endure the climb, while a newbie photographer will be freaked out and potentially get hurt.
Every photographer on our team is personally trained by our lead on the safest way to approach wedding photography at Merry Go Round Rock. So while the scenario might seem unsafe to a newbie photographer, ours is a skilled approach that ensures you can get that cool hole-in-the-rock shot on the day of your wedding.
Merry Go Round Rock Elopement Packages
The idea of inviting guests to your Merry Go Round Rock elopement should leave you feeling excited. You have our full permission to bring your guests along on your off-roading adventure or invite to them your ceremony only. You are in control of your adventure wedding dial and you get to turn it up as loud as you want. If you need more information on planning a Sedona elopement with guests, you can check out this article while you’re here. Want to skip to the good part? Browse our homepage for more detailed information on packages.
