Sedona has become a very popular destination wedding location in the last 20 years.  With its majestic backdrops and fairly temperate climate, it has a lot going for it!!

One major consideration when planning any wedding is whether it will be an indoor or outdoor experience, or maybe both!  Either way, the weather is a major factor to consider for any wedding location.  Sedona’s busy wedding months are from the end of March through the end of May.  We are even seeing more clients choosing to have their weddings in June, with a few sprinkling into July.  Keep in mind, those of you not familiar with our climate, even though you may see that Sedona is cooler than many of the Arizona regions, Sedona can have sporadic higher temperatures even in April!  Our warmest temperatures are usually at the beginning of May all the way through September.  Unknown to many, Sedona also has an amazing monsoon season that usually occurs from the beginning of July through some of September.  While these storms are incredibly beautiful and thrilling, they can also have a huge impact on outdoor weddings, so plan carefully and have either a tent or indoor space reserved as a weather backup!  Sedona is a wonderful Fall wedding location and the best venues tend to book as early as a year out.  The beauty of Sedona in the Fall is something to behold!  For those of you who are comfortable with cooler temperatures, our winter season can also be extremely special!  If you are lucky, you may just get a light dusting of snow that looks so magical in wedding photos!  

The heat (and cold) can really play a big part in how we suggest you go about planning your event florals and decor, and the venue you choose makes this all the more important.  There are many factors to consider when planning a wedding in our finicky climate! You will want to carefully consider the time of day for planning to say your I Do’s.  Even if you decide on a later ceremony in the Summer, remember that your guests will be sitting outside in the heat as they await your arrival.  The 4:00 to 5:00 time period can be the hottest part of the day.  If your venue doesn’t offer a shaded area, you may want to consider supplying some large rented, free-standing or hand-held umbrellas, or even a small tent to cover the seating area to help your guests stay a little more comfortable.  Having a ceremony beverage station with ice-cold water or other beverages can also greatly help!  

The heat can really wreak havoc on fresh flowers, so make sure that you take this into consideration as well.  Your florist will need to install anything that is going to be placed outdoors in the direct sun, as close to the ceremony time as possible to try to help them stay as fresh looking as possible through your entire ceremony.  You may want to explore options in faux, dried, silk, or dried bleached elements for the arrangements that will be placed in direct sunlight for at least an hour or more during the hot months.  

One more thing… not to be a buzzkill, is that periodically we do get some very strong winds.  These can either be a nice reprieve from the heat or gusty and decor-destroying!  Our recommendation for these months is to make sure that the florals and decor you are planning to use outside are more wind-resistant, heavy and lower-lying.  This applies to your table decor as well.  We suggest not using small bud vases with single stems or small cluster designs for your centerpieces during these months if your reception is outdoors. If your heart is absolutely set on using small pieces or bud vases, we have found that those with a more weighty base or a square shape work the best! 

Truly our best suggestion for outdoor events in our crazy gorgeous climate is to be ready for anything and make sure that you aren’t going to be bothered if the weather does happen to take an unexpected turn!