Spring is the most popular season to get married in Sedona and, for hair, the trickiest. The light is soft, the cottonwoods along Oak Creek are green again, and the afternoons are windy enough to rearrange a style that was not built for them. Here is what March, April, and May are really like, and how I plan hair around them.
If you are reading this with a spring date in hand, good. Spring Saturdays are the first dates to go on my calendar every year, and the earlier we talk the more choice you have. Send an inquiry when you have a date and a venue, even if the rest is still a blur.
Spring in Sedona, month by month
March
Cool mornings and mild afternoons, with the occasional late cold snap. Sunset lands around 6:30. The wind starts to show up in the afternoons, and the red rocks against a crisp blue sky photograph beautifully. Bring a wrap for getting ready photos outdoors.
April
The sweet spot for many brides. Warm days, cool nights, wildflowers along the trails, and the creek running high. April is also the windiest month of the year here. Every outdoor ceremony I style in April is planned for a breeze.
May
Warm to hot by afternoon, still dry, with sunset after 7:00. The wind eases a little as the month goes on. Late May can feel like early summer at a 3:00 PM ceremony, so I set styles a touch firmer and we talk about timing.
All three months
Dry air, which is good news for hold, and big swings between morning and afternoon temperatures. Sunrise is calm and golden nearly every day, which is why so many spring elopements happen early.
What the wind means for your hair
I wrote a full guide to styles that hold in Sedona wind and heat, and spring is the season it was written for. The short version: anything pinned holds, anything loose moves. Secured updos, braided details, and pinned half up styles are my first recommendations for an open air spring ceremony at Enchantment, Sky Ranch Lodge, or on the trails below Cathedral Rock. Soft waves work with a firm set and the understanding that they will move in photos, which often looks wonderful. Fully loose, unpinned hair is the one look I steer spring brides away from.
Chapel and indoor venues change the math. At Tlaquepaque, in the Agave ballroom, or at The Little Daisy, Hollywood waves and polished loose styles are at home, and the walk from the car is the only wind to plan for.
Timing a spring morning
Spring sunsets are earlier than summer, so a sunset ceremony in March means a 6:00 PM start and a getting ready schedule that begins late morning. My timeline guide walks through the math, but the spring specific notes are these:
Morning light is the calm light. If your photographer wants outdoor portraits with still hair, the window is early. Sunrise elopements and 10:00 AM ceremonies get the gentlest air of the day.
Afternoon first looks happen in the breeze. A 2:30 PM first look at an open site is the windiest moment of the day. I finish every bride for that moment, not just for the walk down the aisle.
Temperature swings affect everyone in the chair. A getting ready suite that is chilly at 9:00 AM can be warm by 1:00 PM. I keep the room comfortable and the styling area near a window, and I plan the bride last so her hair meets the afternoon fresh.
Booking a spring wedding in Sedona
Inquire early
Spring weekends fill first. A signed contract and a $200 retainer hold your date. If you are reading this in the fall for a spring wedding, you are right on time. Planning a fall date instead? The fall weddings guide covers September through November.
Plan the preview for your arrival
Most destination brides schedule the preview the day before the wedding, once they have landed in Sedona. For spring, I like to send you outside after the preview so you see how the style behaves in real air.
Pack for the swing
A wrap or jacket for getting ready photos and the walk to the ceremony. Lip balm and moisturizer, because the air is dry. And clean, completely dry hair on the morning of.
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 spring weddings
Is April too windy for an outdoor wedding?
No. It is the windiest month, and it is also one of the most popular. We choose a style that holds, finish it for the conditions, and the wind becomes part of the photos rather than a problem.
Will my hair frizz in spring?
Rarely. Sedona’s spring air is dry, which keeps frizz down and helps curls hold. The exception is right along Oak Creek, where the air is more humid and I prep accordingly.
How far ahead should I book hair for a spring date?
As soon as you have a date and a venue. Spring Saturdays go first on my calendar, and a retainer is all it takes to hold yours.
What about Easter and spring holidays?
Observed holidays carry a $100 holiday fee. Otherwise spring weekends are priced like any other, and I am happy to work them.
Send your date, your venue, and your headcount. I respond within 48 hours and I will tell you honestly whether your date is open.