What’s Actually Included in an All-Inclusive Elopement Package?
So what’s included in an all-inclusive elopement package? You’ve decided to elope. You’re searching for packages. And every company you find calls themselves “all-inclusive.” But when you dig into the details, the inclusions vary wildly. Some packages are really just photography sessions with an officiant tacked on. Others include full planning, coordination, florals, beauty, and a team that handles every detail of your day.
The difference matters. It’s the difference between coordinating five vendors yourself… or showing up on your wedding day with nothing to do but marry the love of your life. If you’re looking for all-inclusive Sedona elopement packages that actually live up to the name, understanding what should be included is the first step.
So let’s break down what “all-inclusive” really means, what most companies leave out, and how to spot the difference before you book.
What Most Elopement Companies Mean by “All-Inclusive”
Here’s the reality: most elopement companies in Arizona are photographers. They’re talented, they take beautiful photos, and they’ve added “elopement packages” to their website because the demand is there. Their version of all-inclusive typically looks like this: a photographer, an officiant (sometimes the photographer doubles as the officiant), maybe a bouquet, and maybe help picking a location.
That’s not all-inclusive. That’s a photography session with extras.
There’s nothing wrong with hiring a photographer who offers a streamlined elopement experience. But if you’re expecting someone to handle your entire wedding day from start to finish, you need to know that most packages won’t do that. You’ll still be booking your own hair and makeup artist, researching permit requirements, building your own timeline, coordinating with any other vendors, and managing logistics on the day itself.
For couples who want to truly show up and be present, that level of self-managed planning defeats the purpose.
What a Truly All-Inclusive Elopement Package Should Include (and what ours does)
Most elopement companies in Sedona are officiant companies or photography companies that have added packages to their website. Their offerings are cheap: a ceremony and photos, sometimes at the same location every time. Hair and makeup, florals, full planning, day-of coordination, and vendor management are either not offered or listed as separate add-ons you source yourself. Some even hand you unedited photos on a memory card. You get what you pay for, and what you’re paying for is a fraction of what a full-service experience actually requires. This is your wedding day. Do you want cheap services thrown together from a vendor referral list, or a curated experience designed around you by a team that’s done this hundreds of times? There’s nothing wrong with a streamlined ceremony-and-photos experience if that’s what you’re looking for. But if you’re expecting someone to design your entire day, hand-pick every vendor, manage your timeline, and handle every detail so you never have to think about logistics, that’s a different service entirely, and that’s exactly why we exist.
A full-service elopement package means your team handles everything. Not most things. Everything. Here’s what that looks like when it’s done right.
Professional Photography
This is the baseline. Every elopement package includes a photographer. But the quality, style, and hours of coverage vary dramatically. Look for a package that offers enough coverage to capture your full experience, not just a 30-minute ceremony window. Getting ready, the first look, the ceremony, portraits, and any post-ceremony celebration all deserve to be documented.
A Dedicated Officiant
Your officiant should be more than someone who reads a generic script or simply sign the license. The best elopement experiences include an officiant who takes time to learn your story, writes a personalized ceremony, and makes the moment feel intimate and real. If you’ve ever been to a wedding where the officiant mispronounced names or read from a template, you know why this matters.
Florals (Bouquet and Boutonniere at Minimum)
Fresh florals elevate the entire look and feel of your day. A truly all-inclusive package includes at least a bridal bouquet and boutonniere, designed to complement your aesthetic and the landscape. Some packages offer additional arrangements for ceremony decor as well.
Bridal Hair and Makeup
This is where many “all-inclusive” packages fall short. Professional hair and makeup shouldn’t be a surprise add-on. It should be built into the experience so you feel your absolute best without having to source, vet, and book your own artist.
Full Planning and Vendor Coordination
This is the big one. Full planning means someone is building your timeline, coordinating every vendor, managing permits and location logistics, confirming details, and troubleshooting anything that comes up before or on the day. This is the difference between showing up stressed and showing up calm.
Vendor coordination means your team has hand-picked every person involved in your wedding day. Not just referred you to a list. Selected, vetted, and managed them on your behalf.
Day-of Coordination
Even if you’ve planned everything in advance, someone needs to run the day. Day-of coordination means there’s a person on-site making sure your timeline stays on track, vendors are where they need to be, and you don’t have to think about a single logistical detail.
Location Guidance and Permits
Arizona elopement locations often require permits, specific timing windows, or knowledge about access points and terrain. A full-service team handles all of this. They know which locations require a Coconino National Forest permit, which spots have the best light at which time of year, and which trails are accessible for guests in heels.
Filing Your Marriage License
A small but important detail. After your ceremony, your officiant should file your marriage license so you don’t have to make a post-wedding trip to the courthouse.
What “All-Inclusive” Usually Does NOT Include (But Should)
When comparing packages, ask specifically about these. They’re the most common gaps.
Hair and makeup. Many packages list this as an add-on, not an inclusion. If it’s not included, you’re booking your own artist, coordinating their arrival time, and hoping they understand the outdoor conditions at your location. We’ve heard multiple horror stories of brides who chose not to have professional hair and makeup done and began their day crying or having the groom help with hair (we’re not joking). This is something that can add so much stress and it’s treated as an afterthought.
Full planning. Coordination and planning are different things. Coordination means someone manages what’s already been decided. Planning means someone helps you design the day from the ground up. If you want to show up and not think about anything, you need planning, not just coordination.
Real vendor relationships. There’s a difference between a referral list and a hand-picked team. A company that has worked with the same officiant, florist, and hair and makeup artist hundreds of times delivers a seamless experience. A company that emails you a vendor list and wishes you luck does not.
Guest logistics. If you’re bringing family or friends, someone needs to manage guest communication, parking, access, and seating. This is rarely included in “all-inclusive” packages under 20 guests.
How to Compare Elopement Packages (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
When you’re looking at all-inclusive elopement packages in Arizona, ask these five questions before you book:
1. Who is on the team? Is it one person doing everything, or a dedicated team with specialized roles? A photographer who also officiates and also coordinates is stretched thin. A team where each person does one thing exceptionally well delivers a different caliber of experience.
2. What happens if something goes wrong? Weather changes, vendors cancel, permits get complicated. A full-service team has backup plans. A solo photographer with a package does not.
3. What is NOT included? Ask directly. If hair and makeup, floral design, or planning are add-ons, factor those costs into your real total. A $3,500 package with $6,000 in add-ons is not a $3,500 package.
Understanding how much it actually costs to elope before you book will save you from sticker shock later.
4. How many elopements has this team planned? Experience in elopement planning specifically matters, especially when it comes to Sedona. Wedding photographers who occasionally do elopements and companies that specialize in elopements are fundamentally different businesses.
5. Will I have to manage any vendors myself? If the answer is yes, it’s not truly all-inclusive.
If you want to see what a full-service experience actually looks like, our all-inclusive elopement packages in Arizona include everything listed above, and then some. Every vendor is hand-picked. Every detail is planned. Your only job is to show up.
If you’re considering Sedona, we put together a guide to the best places to elope in Sedona that breaks down every location by vibe, accessibility, and light.
Why “All-Inclusive” Matters More Than You Think
Couples who choose to elope are usually doing it for a reason. They want a day that feels calm, intentional, and deeply personal. They want to be present with each other instead of managing a production.
But if your “all-inclusive” package still requires you to book your own vendors, build your own timeline, and coordinate logistics, you haven’t actually escaped the stress. You’ve just moved it to a different setting.
The whole point of an all-inclusive elopement is that someone else carries the weight. You get to breathe. You get to be in the moment. You get to look back at your photos and remember how it felt, not how much you had to manage.
That’s what full-service means. Not a checklist of inclusions on a website. A team that anticipates your needs before you even think of them, and a wedding day that feels effortless because someone made it that way.
Ready to see what an all-inclusive elopement experience actually looks like? Start planning your Sedona elopement with a team that handles every detail, so all you have to do is show up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in an all-inclusive elopement package?
A truly all-inclusive elopement package includes professional photography, a personalized officiant, florals, bridal hair and makeup, full planning and vendor coordination, day-of coordination, location guidance and permits, and marriage license filing. Many packages that call themselves all-inclusive only include photography and an officiant.
How much does an all-inclusive elopement cost?
All-inclusive elopement packages in Arizona typically range from $7,777 to $18,000 depending on coverage time, guest count, and customizations like live musicians, videography, or additional florals. Packages under $5,000 that call themselves all-inclusive usually require significant add-ons, are rushed experiences, and/or work with very inexperienced vendors.
What’s the difference between all-inclusive and full-service elopement packages?
All-inclusive means everything is bundled into one price. Full-service means a team actively plans, coordinates, and manages your entire day. The best elopement packages are both. Some companies use “all-inclusive” to describe a photographer and officiant bundle, which is far from full-service. If you want to show up and not manage a single detail, look for a company that offers both full planning and all-inclusive pricing.
Can you bring guests to an all-inclusive elopement?
Yes. Most all-inclusive elopement packages accommodate anywhere from just the two of you up to 20 guests. Guest count typically affects pricing, with an additional per-guest fee after a set number (often 10). A full-service team will handle guest logistics, seating, and communication so you’re not playing coordinator on your wedding day.
Do I need a separate wedding planner if I book an all-inclusive elopement package?
It depends on what “all-inclusive” actually includes. If your package comes with full planning and day-of coordination from a dedicated team, no. You should not need to hire anyone else. If your package is really just photography and an officiant labeled as all-inclusive, you may need a planner to fill the gaps. Ask before you book: will I have to manage any vendors myself? If the answer is yes, planning is not included.
How far in advance should I book an all-inclusive elopement?
For peak spring and fall dates in Arizona, 6 to 12 months is ideal. Full-service elopement companies work with a limited number of couples each year to keep every experience personal. That said, elopements in as little as 1 to 3 months are possible depending on availability and season.
Ready to see what an all-inclusive elopement experience actually looks like? Start planning your Sedona elopement with a team that handles every detail, so all you have to do is show up.
If you want to dive into how to elope in Sedona, check out our Sedona Elopement Guide ➜
