Plan a Surprise Sedona Proposal Vacation This Summer with a Caring, Creative Photographer!
Get inspired with real Arizona proposals!
Real Clients, Real Moments
by David Orr Photography
Sedona is best known for its gorgeous red-rock sandstone spires and buttes, ponderosa pine forests, and cool Oak Creek, making it an outdoor lover’s paradise. Add to that its moderate elevation and pleasant summer temperatures, popular swimming holes, fantastic art galleries, boutique shops, Southwest cuisine, modern spas and resorts—not to mention the spiritual vortexes—and you have the perfect vacation destination. It’s no wonder that so many choose Sedona as the ideal place to pop the question.
Want to plan your Sedona vacation with a unique surprise proposal experience?
We can help you find the best Sedona location for your proposal, as well as plan out the logistics. Below are a few of our latest Sedona proposals to get you inspired!
Awesome Proposal Vacation:
Two days together at Page Springs Cellars vineyard & Sedona
with Stuart & Courtney
It was so much fun capturing Stuart and Courtney’s proposal and engagement over the course of two days! My time with them started at the beautiful Page Springs Cellars, where I posed as a social media photographer that casually bumped into them while they were on a guided private tour and tasting at the Crow’s Nest.
Later that afternoon, Stuart and Courtney made the short 20-minute drive from Page Springs to a Sedona trailhead for a sunset picnic. I had hiked in earlier and was already waiting nearby–now dressed as a tourist so as not to be recognized from earlier–to candidly capture Stuart’s proposal.
Hidden in plain sight, I waited for the romantic moment to begin!
Stuart and Courtney hiked out to the scenic overlook of Oak Creek and nearby Cathedral Rock, and laid out a blanket to watch the sunset. After some time taking in the views, Stuart got down on one knee to ask for Courtney’s hand in marriage, all while I candidly captured photos from nearby.
The next day was filled with more adventure.
The following day I met up with Stuart and Courtney again–this time not as a surprise–for a Pink Jeep Tour on the Broken Arrow trail. The tour was a white-knuckle ride as we rock crawled, bounced, and slid down some seriously steep red rocks. We made several stops to take in the iconic red rock landmarks around Sedona, including Submarine Rock and the Chicken Point overlook.
Our favorite things about this proposal:
Stuart booked a guided private tour at Page Springs Cellars in the afternoon leading up to the proposal, which included a barrel tasting, and a spread of gourmet food and wine in the elevated and secluded Crow’s Nest overlooking the vineyard.
Stuart also presented Courtney with beautiful antique diamond earrings to complement the stunning ring.
Courtney’s utter surprise and delight was amazing to watch and photograph, which meant that Stuart had pulled off the perfect surprise!
Stuart and Courtney had no problem busting out fun yoga poses on the Chicken Point stop of our Jeep tour.
Sedona Hike Proposal at Dawn with Spencer & Jess
Spencer had a couple requirements for the perfect location for his Sedona proposal: a decent morning hike to take in the sunrise, and a nearby vortex where they could do yoga following the proposal.
Sedona’s vortexes are believed to be centers of energy, perfect for healing, meditation, and inspiration. The one location that checked all the boxes was Cathedral Rock, Sedona’s most iconic red rock formation and best known vortex.
The morning light glowed off the red rocks:
We started the steep hike up Cathedral Rock separately before sunrise in the dark. When Spencer and Jess arrived at the saddle viewpoint up top, they had it all to themselves for a private and beautiful proposal as the sun rose.
After the proposal, Spencer and Jess were game to hike past the saddle of Cathedral Rock, to a lesser known and stunningly beautiful red rock spire overlooking the valley. This viewpoint was even more private than the first.
A challenging hike, but with amazing views.
From high up on the trail we spotted a nearby water pocket in the sandstone, full of recent rainwater, and we were able to hike down to it for some fun reflective portraits.
After the proposal, Jess and Spencer video-called Jess' 95-year-old "grandma" to share the exciting news. Jess was a care provider for “grandma” in college after losing her own grandma. Jess showed off the engagement ring that Spencer had designed for her, which featured a rare and gorgeous green Montana sapphire.
Short Sunset Hike in the Red Rocks with Desmond & Anisha
When Desmond reached out to us about planning his proposal, he was looking for a Sedona location that provided beautiful scenery and a great backdrop, but without too many people.
He also wanted a location that could be reached by a shorter hike, so that he and Anisha could look fresh and not too exhausted in the photos. We provided him with a number of options, and he selected Chicken Point for its spectacular views and easy accessibility. From there, we planned out the right timing for sunset and to avoid huge crowds of hikers.
The perfect surprise.
Chicken Point is most commonly reached via a Jeep tour. However, the Jeep tour only stops there for about 15 minutes. We opted to hike to Chicken Point instead, and helped Desmond plan the perfect route, which gave him more time for the proposal and some special portraits at sunset afterward.
Desmond brought along his own camera for the hike, and asked Anisha to face the towering red rocks at Chicken Point for some portraits. When Anisha turned around, Desmond dropped to one knee with the ring in hand. Anisha was so surprised that she laughed and smiled through tears of joy, said “yes!” and then happily embraced and kissed Desmond.
Colorful rain clouds were emerging as the sun set:
I brought along a tripod and extra flash on the hike, which allowed me to capture the perfect balance of colorful sunset clouds and portrait light for Desmond and Anisha.
In addition to Sedona, Desmond and Anisha hit up some of Arizona’s most-loved landmarks on their trip including the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Desert Botanical Garden.
Good to know: the trail to Chicken Point allows you to take in one of Sedona’s most iconic buildings, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a Roman Catholic chapel built directly into the red rock in 1956.
A Surprise Proposal in the heart of Tlaquepaque Garden District with
Braxton & India
When Braxton first contacted us about his proposal, his initial plans were to propose atop the 15th floor of the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale at Orange Sky restaurant, with a sunrise balloon ride in Sedona the following morning, after which he would meet us for an engagement session.
After some research, we found out that Orange Sky would not allow photography of the proposal. So our new plan was to capture the proposal in Sedona. We reached out to the beautiful arts and crafts village of Tlaquepaque to obtain a photo permit. Then, a month ahead, I scouted out the various patios and plazas at Tlaquepaque for a location that would offer the best combination of a beautiful backdrop and privacy. I shared my scouting photos and thoughts with Braxton and we decided on the perfect location in Tlaquepaque together.
The Arizona Monsoon changed some plans.
Braxton and India flew in from Atlanta, and left Phoenix at 2:45 am to make it up to Sedona for their sunrise balloon ride. Unfortunately heavy monsoon rains canceled the balloon ride. They grabbed a quick nap, and then browsed the shops of downtown Sedona before walking over to Tlaquepaque.
India was thrilled to find a pet shop and they stopped to pick up a special gift for their dog. Then they walked over to the beautiful vine-covered arches of the Patio de las Campanas. Braxton knelt down to tie his shoe, and then pulled out the ring box, which he had tucked in his sock for the walk over!
An extraordinary moment shared with family:
India screamed with excitement when she saw Braxton on one knee, holding out the ring, and telling her how much he loved her. India’s parents, who had flown in from Texas, secretly watched the proposal from a balcony upstairs.
Once Braxton finished proposing, India’s parents rushed downstairs to congratulate and embrace their daughter, who they had not seen in person since the start of the pandemic, nearly two years! A number of onlookers gathered to congratulate Braxton and India as well.
A location full of possibilities!
Tlaquepaque’s architecture is modeled after a traditional Mexican village, and offered us a bounty of beautiful portrait opportunities: vine-covered arches, cobbled patios, blue-tiled fountains, a chapel and bell tower, huge Sycamore trees, lush green foliage and bright red flowers, and cozy brick passageways.
We hope you found these proposal stories inspiring and uplifting!
Ready to plan your Arizona Outdoor Proposal? Our cameras are ready to go!
When you hire us to photograph your proposal, we’ll recommend and review locations with you, plan timing for beautiful sunrise or sunset light, and keep an eye on the weather. We’ll help you secure a photo permit when required, find parking, and come up with a back-up plans for weather and alternate locations just in case plans need to change. We’ll help locate the best spot to stand for beautiful lighting and the most impressive backdrop for this once-in-a-lifetime moment. And we’ll be in constant communication through texts and photos, so we can recognize and find each other out on the trail, plus much, much more!
Thank you for reading!
- Amanda and David Orr
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ARIZONA PROPOSAL SESSION INCLUDES:
1 Photographer
Download access to high-res, fully-edited images
Travel included from Phoenix as far as Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott, Payson, and Tucson, Arizona.
Access to your personalized Online Print Ordering Gallery for 4 months. Share with Family and Friends so they can order their own prints/downloads with ease!
Surprise Proposal in Arizona Pricing:
1-Hour Session: $525
2-Hour Session: $625
3-Hour Session: $725
We also offer a 10% discount on any package you choose if you serve in the military, are a firefighter, police officer, or college student. Additional travel fees may be required for travel beyond 175 miles from Phoenix, Arizona. Contact us for a personalized quote!
We pride ourselves in putting our hearts and souls into creating beautiful photography for you.
David Orr is the main photographer behind the camera, and Amanda Orr is the photo editor and album designer.
Together, we strive to make heartfelt, artistic imagery that not only sparks joy for you, but for all of your loved ones – today and for years to come!