Planning Private Vows at Payson Rim

Traditional wedding or elopement between the two of you and an officient, one of the most beautiful experiences is sharing personalized and private vows with one another. Cassie + Rob opted to share that experience and planned their stunning private vows at Payson Rim in Arizona.

Also referred to as Mogollon Rim, the landscape stretches over 200-miles long and is a true geological wonder offering an amazing array of backdrops. It’s elevation reaches up to 7300 feet and is covered in a beautiful carpet of Ponderosa pines and pristine mountain lakes. Nearby is another Arizona favorite, the Tonto Bridge.

Cassie + Rob knew that planning private vows was a huge important aspect to incorporate into their wedding day experience. After sharing their cabin elopement with close friends and family, the three of us adventured out onto the Rim overlooking the woods for a more private view, emotional vow exchange, and dreamy golden hour vibes.

“Courtney was communicative and had backup plans for where to shoot if our planned area wasn’t open. She was on time and also kept us all on time! Courtney made the day so much fun and has such a great personality! The best part, you can tell she is passionate about what she does, she gets so excited while shooting! We obviously won’t be having another wedding but hope to use her for other photography needs in the future! She gave me the wedding photos of my dreams!!!”

-Kind Words from the Couple

3 Tips for Planning Private Vows (at Payson Rim!)

Incorporating private vows, first touches, personalized letters, etc. into your wedding or elopement creates an intense and powerful emotional moment between you and your significant other. Prioritizing it in your day allows you to focus on the adventure you are beginning together and the journey you’ve walked on to this day.

While of course you don’t have to share your vows at Payson Rim, the views are a definite bonus. After exchanging your words of commitment to one another, you can take in a killer view and soak in the stunning scene unfolding before you!

However, these three tips are great for any location that you plan to share your private vows at!

1. Limit Distractions. Be present and embrace the moment in its entirety by finding a location off the grid with as little distractions as possible. No car or motorcylce noise, no tourists or public guests, no peering eyes from a nearby wedding venue. No cell-phones. Write out your vows on a piece of paper or order a special book to fully commit to a distraction-less experience.
2. Include a Symbolic Gesture. Skip the hoop-la of a unity ceremony in your wedding for everyone else, but incorporate a personalized symbolic gesture when it’s just the two of you. Then there’s no pressure to not “mess it up,” and you are still sharing a unique experience together symbolizing the start of your new adventure and commitment!
3. Discuss Expectations. Communication really is key in your marriage and in your relationship prior to marriage. Talk to each other and make sure that you are on the same page so that you feel comfortable with the arrangements.