Legal guide · Arizona
How to Legally Elope in Arizona
Marriage license cost, waiting period, witness rules, and the complete process for eloping in Arizona — written by the team that has handled 8,000+ ceremonies in Arizona and across the United States.
The short answer
To legally elope in Arizona: both partners visit any Arizona Clerk of Superior Court in person with photo ID, pay $83, receive the license the same day, get married within 12 months, and have two adult witnesses sign the license at the ceremony. No waiting period and no blood test required.
License cost
$83
Waiting period
None
Witnesses
Yes — two witnesses age 18 or older must sign the marriage license
Blood test
Not required.
Arizona is the most flexible state in our service area for couples planning ahead. The marriage license has no waiting period and no blood test, costs $83, and is valid for a full year from the date of issuance — meaning you can pick up your license months before your Sedona elopement and use it whenever you're ready. Two witnesses age 18 or older are required to sign the license, but Elopements Inc. provides the witnesses if your group is just the two of you. Our Sedona elopements take place at red rock venues including Cathedral Rock, Crescent Moon Ranch, Yavapai Vista, and Secret Slick Rock, and our coordinators handle the entire marriage license process — including driving you to the Yavapai County Clerk's office if needed.
Arizona marriage license at a glance
- License cost
- $83, paid directly to the Clerk of Superior Court at the time of application — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; Elopements Inc. cannot obtain it on your behalf.
- Waiting period
- None. Arizona issues marriage licenses on the same day with no mandatory wait between issuance and ceremony.
- License validity
- 12 months. The Arizona marriage license is valid for one full year from the date of issuance — the longest validity window of any state we serve.
- Witnesses required
- Yes — two witnesses age 18 or older must sign the marriage license. Witnesses do not need to be Arizona residents.
- Blood test
- Not required.
- Minimum age
- 18 without parental consent. Couples 16-17 require notarized parental consent and a judge's approval.
- Proxy allowed
- No, except for active-duty military serving overseas under specific conditions.
- Online application
- Yes — Yavapai County (covering Sedona) and other Arizona counties allow online pre-application, with in-person signing and payment at the Clerk of Superior Court.
Important
The marriage license fee is paid directly to the county clerk's office at the time of application — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; we cannot obtain the license on your behalf. We walk every couple through the process step by step (which clerk to visit, what to bring, when to go), but the application itself has to be signed by you.
The Arizona elopement process, step by step
Every legal Arizona marriage follows the same six steps. Elopements Inc. handles steps 1, 5, and 6 directly. Couples handle the in-person license signing in step 2.
- 01
Visit the county clerk
Any Clerk of Superior Court office in Arizona — the license is valid statewide. For Sedona elopements, the Yavapai County Clerk in Cottonwood (~25 min from Sedona) or Camp Verde is closest.
- 02
Bring required documents
Both partners need a valid government-issued photo ID, Social Security number, and the license fee. If either partner has been previously married, bring the divorce decree or death certificate.
- 03
Pay the license fee
$83, paid directly to the Clerk of Superior Court at the time of application — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; Elopements Inc. cannot obtain it on your behalf. This fee goes directly to the county clerk's office at the time of application — Elopements Inc. does not collect or pay the license fee on your behalf.
- 04
Observe any waiting period
None. Arizona issues marriage licenses on the same day with no mandatory wait between issuance and ceremony.
- 05
Hold the ceremony with a licensed officiant
Witnesses required: Yes — two witnesses age 18 or older must sign the marriage license. Witnesses do not need to be Arizona residents. Elopements Inc. provides witnesses at no extra cost for couples eloping just the two of them.
- 06
Officiant returns signed license
After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed marriage license to the issuing clerk. The clerk then files it and issues a certified marriage certificate, usually within 1-2 weeks. Elopements Inc. handles this step automatically for every package.
Arizona elopement questions, answered
Yes. Arizona requires two adult (18+) witnesses to sign the marriage license at the ceremony. Witnesses do not need to be Arizona residents and can be friends, family, or anyone present. If you're eloping just the two of you, Elopements Inc. provides the two witnesses at no additional cost.
Arizona marriage licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance — the longest validity period of any state in our service area. This means you can apply for your license months in advance and use it on your eventual Sedona elopement day. The license remains valid statewide for the entire 12 months.
An Arizona marriage license costs $83, paid in cash, debit, or credit directly to the Clerk of Superior Court at the time of application. Arizona does not offer a premarital counseling discount, but the fee is among the lowest in the southwest. The license fee is paid directly to the county — not to Elopements Inc. Both partners must apply for the license in person; we cannot obtain it on your behalf.
Yes — with the right setup. Cathedral Rock itself sits inside the Coconino National Forest, where ceremonies of up to 25 people are allowed by Special Use Authorization. The most-requested Cathedral Rock backdrop ceremonies happen at Crescent Moon Ranch on Oak Creek (where Cathedral Rock fills the background) and at Yavapai Vista (an accessible overlook). Elopements Inc. handles the venue access for both.
Sedona straddles the Yavapai-Coconino county line, but the nearest Clerk of Superior Court office is the Yavapai County Clerk's office in Cottonwood (about 25 minutes from uptown Sedona) or Camp Verde. The license is valid statewide regardless of which Arizona county issued it. Coconino County's office in Flagstaff is also an option for couples staying north of Sedona.
Yes, with a permit. Red Rock State Park, Slide Rock State Park, and other Arizona State Parks issue wedding permits ($150-$300 depending on park) that allow ceremonies in designated areas. National Forest land surrounding Sedona requires a separate Coconino National Forest Special Use permit. Elopements Inc.'s Sedona packages cover venues that don't require permits, so most couples never deal with the paperwork directly.
Arizona allows ordained ministers (any denomination), judges, justices of the peace, and judicial officers to officiate. Online-ordained ministers are recognized in Arizona, but Elopements Inc. uses traditionally ordained officiants to ensure no ambiguity if the marriage is recorded out of state. Both partners and the officiant sign the license, along with two witnesses.
Yes. Arizona does not require residency or pre-registration. Out-of-state couples can fly into Phoenix or Flagstaff, drive to Sedona, apply for the license at the Yavapai County Clerk in Cottonwood on arrival day, and elope the next morning. The license and marriage are valid in all 50 states.
Both partners need: a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport), proof of age if either partner appears to be under 18, and the $83 license fee. Social Security numbers are requested but not required for non-U.S. citizens. Divorce decrees are required only if the prior marriage ended within the past 30 days.
No. Arizona has no waiting period between license issuance and ceremony. Couples can apply for the license in the morning and be legally married that same afternoon. This makes Arizona, along with Tennessee, one of the fastest states for legally eloping in our service area.
Where to elope in Arizona
Elopements Inc. operates in one Arizona city. Every package below includes the venue, professional photography, a licensed Arizona officiant, ceremony coordination, and complete marriage license guidance.
Iconic Arizona elopement venues
The most photographed elopement spots in Arizona, covered by our packages:
- Crescent Moon Ranch (Cathedral Rock backdrop)
- Yavapai Vista overlook
- Secret Slick Rock (Oak Creek)
- Baby Bell Rock
Ready to elope in Arizona?
Our coordinators handle the marriage license process, the venue, the officiant, the photography, and everything in between. Pick your Arizona city to see venues and pricing.