This shoot is long overdue for a blog appearance, friends. Katie and Brad were up for an adventure when I was hunting for a couple to look in love and married in Antelope Canyon. They were newlyweds, gorgeous, and perfect for the job.

Antelope Canyon is on the bucket list of a lot of photographers, me included. It’s not particularly easy to get to under the best of circumstances and requires the arrangement of an approved tour guide for EVERY tour. Add an elopement or portraits and there’s a whole extra layer of red tape. Really though it wasn’t impossible to navigate if you know who to talk to! (If getting married in Antelope Canyon is something you’re interested in, inbox me and we’ll get the ball rolling!)

With the newest Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders in hand, I knew this was my best chance to visit. And the window was closing fast.

So I did the legwork, made my plans, and found a couple on board with my crazy plan. I got a dress, made a bouquet, a bouttoniere, and a crystal crown, and threw a sleeping bag in the truck bed. Page, Arizona, the home of Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, is a little short on hotel rooms. Especially during the busy season. Staying in the campground was a better option for me since I was traveling alone. And there’s plenty of room for one little photographer in the truck bed, no need to haul our camper up for one night, right? Probably not the best night of sleep I ever had, but 10/10 would stay again.

Totally worth it.

If you’re already in Page to get married in Antelope Canyon (or for any other reason), it’s absolutely worth the effort to make a stop at Horseshoe Bend. A visit to this landmark is the complete opposite of planing a trip to Antelope Canyon. Simply pull off the road into the large parking lot, hike up the hill, and there it is. It was an easy step for us to visit after our breathtaking tour in Antelope Canyon.

We scheduled our “married in Antelope Canyon” tour as early as possible in the morning. This served to minimize both the number of tourists sharing the canyons with us and avoid the intense heat of later in the day. Unfortunately, that meant that by the time we headed to Horseshoe Bend there were lots of tourists already present. But with some creative angles and photoshop, we had the landmark all to ourselves. Or at least it feels that way. Dawn is the best time to visit either location in my opinion as you’re planning your trip! Sunset at Horseshoe Bend is also gorgeous, but crowded.

Many many thanks to Katie and Brad! They helped make my dream of photographing a couple married in Antelope Canyon come true! I’m always happy to put it back on the bucket list, though, if you and your partner are willing to cross it off.