Designing for the Chapel of the Holy Cross is an exercise in restraint. This is not a venue that needs “beautifying”—it is a piece of sculpture in its own right, and the surrounding red rocks provide a backdrop that no florist can compete with. The goal here is to ground the ceremony and provide a soft, organic counterpoint to the brutalist concrete and sharp desert light.
When we approach this space, we think about the intersection of the man-made and the natural. The chapel was designed to grow out of the rock, and your floral design should feel like it was unearthed from the same landscape.
The Spaces
Main Sanctuary
The interior of the chapel is dominated by the massive crucifix and the windows that frame the Sedona landscape. The lighting is dramatic, shifting from bright, direct desert sun to deep, cool shadows against the stone.
- What works: Low, sprawling ground “nests” that wrap around the base of the altar or the foot of the crucifix. These create a lush, garden-like feeling without competing with the verticality of the architecture.
- Skip: Tall pedestals or stands. They look spindly and out of scale in a room with such massive architectural weight.
- Watch out: The “fishbowl” effect. Because of the glass, flowers will be backlit during the day. Avoid thin, wispy fillers like baby’s breath, which disappear in bright light. Opt for solid shapes like garden roses, dahlias, or tropicals. Budget hero move: Focus your entire ceremony budget on two large-scale, crescent-shaped floor installations at the head of the aisle.
Altar Area
The altar itself is modest in size and often holds religious items. Space is at a premium here, especially during the liturgy.
- What works: Asymmetrical bud vase clusters or a single, long-and-low arrangement that sits off-center. This allows the priest or officiant to move freely.
- Skip: Large, round “traditional” altar sprays. They look dated against the 1950s modernist lines of the chapel.
- Watch out: Candle heat. The chapel often uses real tapers; ensure no greenery or silk ribbons are close enough to catch fire or wilt from the heat.
Outdoor Plaza
Most couples use the outdoor area for photos rather than a full ceremony, but if you are hosting a small gathering here, the environment is harsh.
- What works: Heavy stone or ceramic containers. The wind at this elevation can be significant, and lightweight plastic liners will tip over instantly.
- Skip: Delicate, high-moisture blooms like hydrangeas or sweet peas. They will brown and shrivel within thirty minutes of exposure to the Sedona wind and sun.
- Watch out: Foot traffic. The chapel is a major tourist destination. Any outdoor floral must be clearly contained so it isn’t stepped on by visitors.
What Works at Chapel of the Holy Cross
Desaturated, Earthy Palettes. The red rocks are a very “loud” color. To make your flowers pop, go in one of two directions: high-contrast white and cream, or tonal harmony using terracotta, sand, mauve, and sage. Avoid bright primary colors, which can look “theme-y” in this spiritual environment.
Structural and Textural Foliage. Because the walls are textured concrete, use foliage that has a similar “grit.” Dried fan palms, bleached ruscus, manzanita branches, and seeded eucalyptus hold their shape and add architectural interest that matches the building.
Freestanding Installations. There are zero rigging points in this chapel. You cannot hang a floral arch, and you cannot pin greenery to the walls. Every design must be self-supporting. We utilize heavy metal bases and weighted floor structures to ensure stability on the uneven stone floors.
Monochromatic Groupings. The interior can feel busy with the shadows and the landscape outside. Grouping flowers by color—for example, a cluster of all-white reflexed roses—creates a clean visual “rest” for the eye and looks much more editorial in photographs.
Respecting the Horizon Line. The most common mistake at this venue is blocking the view. When guests sit down, their eye level should be clear to see the red rocks through the windows. Keep your aisle and altar flowers below 30 inches or above 7 feet.
Budget Guide
| Tier | Investment | Floral Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $1,750 - $3,000 | Focus on high-impact personal flowers (bouquets/boutonnieres) and a pair of petite altar accents. |
| Sweet Spot | $3,000 - $5,500 | Adds a significant ground-level ceremony installation (nest or semi-circle) to frame the couple. |
| Full Experience | $5,500 - $8,500 | Includes lush aisle markers, a larger-scale altar moment, and repurposable pieces for a secondary reception site. |
| Statement | $8,500+ | Floor-to-ceiling floral “growth” emerging from the sanctuary floor and heavy, multi-layered aisle decor. |
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a venue of quiet power; your floral budget should be spent on quality and scale rather than quantity and clutter.
Tips
Hydrate for the Desert. Sedona’s humidity is often in the single digits. We use professional-grade hydration sprays and keep all ceremony flowers in water sources until the absolute last moment before the doors open.
Zero-Impact Mechanics. The chapel is a historic landmark. We never use tape, wire, or any adhesive on the stone or concrete surfaces. All our mechanics are freestanding and non-marring.
Plan for Repurposing. Most couples move to a nearby resort (like Enchantment or L’Auberge) for their reception. Ensure your ceremony floor nests are designed in moveable sections so they can be transported and used to frame your sweetheart table or cake display later.
Lighting Matters. If you are having a sunset ceremony, the light inside the chapel will change rapidly. Deeper colors like burgundy or navy will turn into “black holes” in photos once the sun goes down. Stick to mid-tones or light colors if your ceremony is late in the day.
The “Tourist” Factor. Because this is a public shrine, setup times are often very tight. We pre-assemble as much as possible off-site so that the on-site installation is a “drop and adjust” process rather than a full build.