Shoshone Point is one of the most unique wedding locations at the Grand Canyon. It is simultaneously one of my favorite yet most challenging places to capture in the park. I love shooting incredible adventure weddings there for just the right couples. Here is my guide to making a Grand Canyon Shoshone Point elopement happen!
Your Wedding Destination: Grand Canyon Shoshone Point
As much as I love Shoshone Point, it’s important to understand the challenges it presents before deciding if it’s the right fit for you. The biggest factor to consider is the light.
Most couples naturally want a sunset ceremony so guests can enjoy the cooler evening temperatures and the beautiful colors of the canyon. Unfortunately, Shoshone Point isn’t oriented toward the setting sun. Throughout the year, the canyon bends in such a way that the sun actually sets behind you rather than in front of you.
That means during a sunset ceremony your guests and often the two of you are looking directly into bright, low-angle sunlight. On clear evenings, it creates harsh light, squinting, and strong shadows in photographs. If you’re lucky enough to have large clouds moving through, the difference can be minimal, but on a typical clear Arizona evening, it’s one of the more challenging locations in the park for sunset photography.
Ironically, the point becomes absolutely gorgeous about 20-30 minutes after sunset during blue hour. The light softens, the canyon glows, and everything becomes much more flattering. The only drawback is that this beautiful light only lasts for a short window of time.
We can still hold the ceremony at the point itself as it is a beautiful spot for canyon views. Out on the overlook is a dramatic rock formation many people affectionately refer to as “the Monolith.” The view stretches out over one of the quieter sections of the canyon. Another option is staging the wedding just beside the pavilion and picnic area where it’s possible for guests to be seated. We’ll find what fits your Grand Canyon adventure best!
Finding Your Own Approach to a Shoshone Point Wedding
One of my favorite weddings at Shoshone Point took a completely different approach. They chose an alternative timeline starting by photographing the couple’s wedding portraits at sunrise. We took advantage of the beautiful morning light around the canyon while everything was quiet.
Later that morning, wedding guests gathered at Shoshone Point for a relaxed brunch, ceremony, and celebration. The light is still somewhat directional in the morning, but it creates a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed breakfast together before continuing their own Grand Canyon adventures. You can also include guests in a sunrise ceremony followed by first look photos and brunch.
For couples who want a larger guest list, or are dreaming of a catered celebration inside the park, Grand Canyon Shoshone Point is the ideal experience while also getting the best possible photographs.
A Grand Canyon Site Fit For You & Your Wedding Guests
One of the biggest advantages of Shoshone Point is its infrastructure. Unlike most ceremony locations along the South Rim, it has a large covered pavilion, picnic tables, grills, trash cans, and even a restroom (which is a rare find at permitted wedding locations).
Having these amenities can make a surprisingly big difference when you’re hosting guests. Shoshone Point is the largest permitted location and can accommodate up to 85 guests. While you cannot bring in your own tables, chairs, arches, or other structures, you can absolutely dress up what’s already there. Beautiful tablecloths, floral centerpieces, bouquets, and simple decorations can transform the pavilion into a really lovely reception space while still staying within park regulations.
Even if you’ve reserved the wedding site, the road and overlook remain open to the public, so visitors may still be walking to the point during your ceremony. It’s always important to be respectful of their park experience just as they’re respectful of yours.
Another element to plan for is accessibility to the site itself. While the path to the point is short, it is uneven and rocky and there are a couple larger steps and a bit of a natural esplanade that leads to the point.
For larger weddings, I strongly recommend arranging transportation for guests. I’ve seen this handled several different ways:
- Hiring a local shuttle or tour company to transport guests in small groups.
- A family member with a four-wheel-drive vehicle makes several trips.
- Coordinating carpools to minimize the number of vehicles.
Personally, if it were my own wedding, I wouldn’t want to spend the evening driving back and forth shuttling guests. It’s one of those logistical details that’s worth outsourcing so that everyone, including you, can simply enjoy the day.
Grand Canyon Shoshone Point Details
- Parking/Accessibility: five parking spots on site and a one-mile walk on a dirt road from the public parking. Not wheelchair accessible, the ground is uneven dirt including the permitted area.
- Guest Count: 85 people
- Seasonal Closures: permitted openings May 15 – October 15. I love it during the summer!
- Closest Toilet: vault toilet located on site without a hand washing station.
- Note: this is the only permitted site where catering may be authorized. These are some of my favorite catering options:
Vendors
Destination | Grand Canyon National Park
Photographer | Terri Attridge Photography
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