| Growing up in Northern Arizona, I can say that I have had more experiences
in the Grand Canyon than most people in the world. My dad used to take me
hiking there about ever few months or so. We grew up in Flagstaff, which
is only about an hour and a half from the south rim of the canyon. We
always saw newlyweds up there, or weddings in progress. I always thought
that this would be a spectacular place to tie the knot. I mean, what more
beautiful backdrop can you imagine than the most spectacular gorge in
the world?
The south rim, of course, is probably the easiest place within park boundaries
to get married. This is simply because all of the conveniences and amenities
you'll need are right there. The south rim has plenty of lodging, restaurants
and shops to take care of the bride, groom and the wedding party. The
south rim also has a small airport, so your guests could technically fly
into the Grand Canyon. Most people, however, fly into either Vegas, Flagstaff,
or Phoenix. It is probably a bit cheaper to do it that way.
My recommendation for lodging on the south rim is the El Tovar lodge.
This spectacular hotel is situated right on the rim, so it is a few steps
only to capture a magnificent view. The lodge opened in 1905 and was renovated
just a few years ago. There are 78 rooms and suites here. It is a Registered
National Historic Landmark. You can read more about the Lodge
to find out what their rates are.:
The south rim, however, can be very packed, and overrun with camera-toting
tourists who are more interested in the ice-cream shop than the view.
The south rim, during peak season, can be a bit maddening in this regard.
I just have to be honest here. However, if you catch it at the right time,
you can really have a nice time there.
The north rim, on the other hand, is much more mellow and I think it
is twice as beautiful. There are infinitely fewer tourists here, and it
is a lot quieter. There are lodges and places to stay, but it is much
more limited than the south rim. The north rim is also much more difficult
to get to. There are no real direct routes from any of the major cities.
One of the more adventurous things you can look into as a wedding option,
or perhaps even a honeymoon idea is to do a spectacular river
trip through the length of the Grand canyon. There are several outfitters
who run trips, but they are usually booked years in advance. The trip
can be very expensive, too. However, if you get on a waiting list, sometimes
cancellations come up and allow people to join with short notice. I have
known about people getting married on the bow of a boat at the bottom
of the canyon. You would probably be foolish to expect a black-tie affair
down there, but these trip outfitters run a really nice operation with
cocktails, great food, and lots of entertainment. We'd recommend this
as a wedding idea only for small ceremonies. This would take a bit of
research, too.
Whatever you might be interested in doing at the Grand Canyon, it is
our advice to plan well in advance, and to do thorough research and planning.
Due to the nature of where you will be, logistics can be a challenge.
However, if you want to have the wedding or honeymoon of a lifetime, there
is no better place on the planet to exchange vows, or to enjoy a honeymoon
in a wilderness paradise! |
