A Tlaquepaque Chapel Elopement in Sedona | Velvet & Bailey

Velvet and Bailey’s Sedona elopement centered on a small ceremony inside Tlaquepaque’s chapel. Family photographs and portraits around the village followed, keeping the ceremony and the photographs in one place. They had asked for a moody, almost vintage feel to their images, and the chapel’s old-world details gave that vision a beautiful starting point.

This is a lovely part of Tlaquepaque to consider if you’re drawn to an indoor ceremony, a small gathering, and photographs with architecture woven into the story. Velvet and Bailey’s elopement brought those pieces together with a straightforward plan: get married in the chapel, gather for family photographs, and spend time together around Tlaquepaque.

A small ceremony at the Tlaquepaque Chapel

The Chapel at Tlaquepaque has a character of its own within the village. Wooden pews, stained glass, antique doors, and a painted altar give the interior layers of detail. Its smaller scale makes the room worth looking at closely when you’re imagining a ceremony with just the people closest to you.

For Velvet and Bailey, the chapel was the center of the celebration. Their final plans skipped a first look, leaving their time together for the ceremony and the portraits afterward. It’s a simple choice that shapes the photography timeline: the ceremony comes first, followed by family pictures and a little time for just the two of you.

Family photographs, then portraits around Tlaquepaque

After the chapel ceremony, Velvet and Bailey’s photography continued with family portraits and photographs together around Tlaquepaque. Keeping these parts of an elopement close together gives each one a clear place in the day. There’s time to document the people who came to celebrate with you, then turn toward the two of you and the setting you chose.

Tlaquepaque’s archways, stucco walls, and courtyards offer a different backdrop as you move beyond the chapel. Those details are useful to think about when choosing a portrait location. A doorway can give a photograph a strong frame; a wider view can show the surrounding architecture. Closer portraits bring the attention back to the couple.

Velvet and Bailey’s request for a moody, almost vintage look was also helpful direction. If you have a particular feeling in mind for your photographs, share a few examples and what you love about them. The light, the composition, and the balance of close portraits and wider scenes are all worth talking through together.

Planning a chapel elopement in Sedona

If you’re considering a Tlaquepaque Chapel elopement, begin with how you want the ceremony and photographs to fit together. A few decisions will help give the day its shape:

• Decide whether you want a first look. That choice helps determine which portraits happen before the ceremony and which belong afterward.
• Choose your family photograph groupings ahead of time. Even a small gathering benefits from a short list of the people you want photographed together.
• Share the visual details that matter to you. If the chapel interior or Tlaquepaque’s architecture drew you here, include those priorities in the photography conversation.
• Confirm your venue arrangements directly with Tlaquepaque. Ask about the ceremony space and the areas available for your portraits as you make your plans.

I can help you work through the photography locations and timeline, with natural direction for portraits along the way. Read more about my approach as a Sedona elopement photographer, or get in touch about your chapel elopement.

Venue: Tlaquepaque Chapel, Sedona, Arizona
Photography: Hailey Golich Photography