As an Arizona elopement photographer who spends the majority of her time in the outdoors, I’m used to going with the flow. Plans may change due to unexpected weather or other surprises like a zero-guest elopement turning into a family event. I’m here for it all and I thrive in the chaos of scrambling to pull something special together last-minute. See how this couple was surprised by a new desert wedding plan that brought them to Honey Bee Canyon Park.
Ready or Not Here Your Surprise Elopement Destination Comes
When the longest government shutdown in U.S. history messes up your national park plans, we will find a way to work it out! Leah and Trey’s original plan was to elope at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Unfortunately, the road accessing their elopement location was closed during the shutdown.
Luckily, I am a Grand Canyon photographer familiar with all of Arizona including the Tucson area. With this elopement on the books, I started looking around for a new destination.
The catch was that this was an elopement with guests (20 total) who needed a restroom close by as well as access to shade. The shade was particularly important since the day was predicted to be hot and it really was at 90°F!
Finally, through a seemingly insignificant mention of a potential location that I saw on Reddit, I discovered Honey Bee Canyon Park. Located in Oro Valley just outside of Tucson, Honey Bee Canyon hosts the Sonoran Desert featuring miles of hiking trails.
Leah and Trey were both pretty easy going about their wedding destination so they left it up to me to find a new spot. Trey is from Texas so their only requirement was a desert elopement with southwest vibes and cactus! They specifically wanted saguaro cactus which are the tall ones known for having long arms.
I was nervous calling around for a wedding ceremony reservation because the first ones I tried required a permit or other fees. We ended up finding a pavilion for $10/hour with a bathroom right next door. The spot was fully ADA accessible, featuring a nicely paved path that led slightly downhill. This was our spot!
Making Changes to Elopement Day Plans in Tucson, Arizona
But, the location wasn’t our only problem. Falling upon their October elopement plans was a hurricane prediction set to move through the area with a 70% chance of rain. I suggested we visit Honey Bee Canyon Park early with a first look session the night before the elopement. There was no way we could rearrange the whole wedding but at least we had this as a rain backup plan.
I arrived early to scout the area, finding that with thicker clouds moving in we would have to push the boundaries of the camera’s capabilities to catch some light. The photos turned out dark, moody and full of emotion. I absolutely loved working in the purple light with all of the dark clouds.
We decided to play the next day by ear and work within the weather forecast. Our first precaution was moving the ceremony to earlier in the day when only thick clouds were predicted. Secondly, we brought a handful of clear umbrellas and our last resort would be taking photos under the covered pavilion if necessary.
Where to Go When Your Wedding is For You: Honey Bee Canyon Park
Having taken the time to design her own wedding, all of the desert wedding decor and details were self-defined and collected. Each of Leah’s florals matched and were made to honor the rustic reds of the southwest.
We added cactus to the dried flowers in her bouquet and I loved shooting the rings on different cacti too! The gluten-free cupcakes for the celebration featured the bride’s other favorite flora through frosting shaped like succulents.
Trey’s cowboy hat helped him to jump right into the southwest-meets-western vibe honoring his Texas childhood. Really, every little detail was perfection and I loved their desert chic wedding vibe!
For the honeymoon, these two got to explore the greater Tucson area for the first time. Visiting from Indiana, the newlyweds made the most of it visiting Tombstone and exploring more of the Tucson desert.
Exposure to new landscapes genuinely inspired me. But, learning from this experience, I would recommend wintertime even for a short elopement due to the intense potential heat and unpredictable weather.
There were so many sweet moments to this day starting with Leah’s friends helping her get ready followed by her daughter walking up the aisle as the ring bearer. Honey Bee Canyon Park really stepped in to save the day making the experience better than we could have expected!
Wedding Vendors
Destination | Honey Bee Canyon Park
Photographer | Terri Attridge Photography
Officiant | Sarah Kay
Cupcakes | Dedicated
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