October is the busiest wedding month in Sedona, and for good reason. The heat breaks, the light goes gold, the cottonwoods along Oak Creek turn yellow, and the afternoons are calm enough that nearly any hairstyle holds. If you are planning a fall wedding here, this is what September, October, and November are really like, and how to plan hair around them.
Fall is also the season that books earliest. October Saturdays are usually the first dates to go on my calendar for the following year. If you have a fall date and a venue, send an inquiry now, even if nothing else is settled.
Fall in Sedona, month by month
September
Still warm, often in the high 80s early in the month, with the tail end of monsoon season bringing humid afternoons and the occasional storm. By late September it settles. Sunset is around 6:30. Styles get a slightly firmer set in early September for the humidity.
October
The month everyone wants. Highs in the 70s, cool mornings, dry air, gentle wind, and sunsets just after 6:00 that light the red rocks on fire. This is the easiest month of the year for hair. Soft waves hold, updos stay crisp, and getting ready outdoors is a pleasure.
November
Crisp and clear, with highs in the 60s and real chill once the sun drops around 5:30. Still dry and mostly calm. Brides bring a wrap for portraits, and the early sunset means a getting ready schedule that starts late morning.
All three months
Fall color peaks along Oak Creek in late October and early November, which makes L’Auberge and Red Rock Crossing especially beautiful. The crowds peak too, so parking at Tlaquepaque and the Cathedral Rock trailheads takes longer on weekends.
What fall weather means for your hair
Fall is the season where the hair you want and the hair that holds are usually the same thing. The dry air keeps curls in, the wind is gentler than spring, and the temperatures mean nobody is sweating through a style before the ceremony. My guide to styles that hold in Sedona weather ranks every look, and in October nearly all of them move up a notch.
Soft waves and Hollywood waves are at their best in fall. With a proper set they hold through an outdoor ceremony and a reception under string lights at Enchantment or The Little Daisy.
Half up styles photograph beautifully against the fall color, especially with a few face framing pieces left soft.
Updos are a good choice for November, when a bare neck in the evening chill is a real consideration and a wrap or faux fur stole is part of the look.
Early September is the one stretch I treat like summer: a firmer set and a finish for humidity, especially along the creek.
Timing a fall morning
The early sunset is the thing fall brides forget. A sunset ceremony in late October means a 5:30 PM start, and in November it means 5:00. Work backward from there with my timeline guide: 30 minutes for the dress, an hour for the bride, 45 minutes for each guest, and a buffer. For a bride and four guests, that puts the first chair around 11:00 AM in October and closer to 10:30 in November.
The payoff is the light. October golden hour in Sedona is the reason photographers love this month, and a schedule that gets you outside for it is worth building the whole morning around.
Booking a fall wedding in Sedona
Inquire early
October Saturdays fill first, often a year out. A signed contract and a $200 retainer hold your date. If you are reading this in the fall for next fall, you are right on time.
Plan the preview for your arrival
Most destination brides schedule the preview the day before the wedding, once they are in Sedona. Fall previews are easy: the weather on preview day is usually the weather on wedding day.
Plan for the chill
Mornings and evenings are cool from October on. A wrap for photos, and a getting ready space that is warm enough for everyone in robes.
Know your pricing
Bride from $395, each styled guest $195, travel within Sedona included. The pricing guide has three sample mornings and everything that changes the total.
Common questions about fall weddings
Is October really the best month?
For hair, yes. Dry, mild, gentle wind, and the best light of the year. The only cost is competition for dates and parking.
Will monsoon humidity affect a September wedding?
Early September can be humid in the afternoon. I set styles firmer and finish for humidity, and by mid September the air is usually dry again.
How cold does November get?
Comfortable in the afternoon, chilly once the sun sets. Plan a wrap for evening portraits and a reception space with heat if it is outdoors.
Are holiday weekends priced differently?
Observed holidays carry a $100 holiday fee. Regular fall weekends are priced like any other, and the Thanksgiving weekend is a popular one.
Send your date, your venue, and your headcount. I respond within 48 hours and I will tell you honestly whether your date is open.