We Hiked Cathedral Rock in a $200 Wedding Dress

Sedona is gorgeous, no doubt. But hiking up to Cathedral Rock in a wedding dress? I was nervous. We did sunset photos there, and let me tell you, that trail is no joke—especailly when you're carrying a bag full of lace and tulle.

I found this boho gown online for about $200. My husband was the one who scrolled past it and sent me the link, which felt a little risky comming from him, but the reviews talked me into it.

Ordering a dress without trying it on is always a gamble, especailly when you're 5'5" and 165lbs with a 38DD bust. I ordered a size 12.

The deep V neckline made me second-guess myself at first, but I ended up skipping alterations because I liked the natural flowy shape. I did use a little bra tape to feel more secure up top—and suprisingly, it held up fine all afternoon without slipping.

The back has that corset tie thing, but I left it loose because the tight lacing was digging into my skin and making weird bunching.

I just zipped it up normal and it laid smooth over my curves, which looked way more romantic on my body type.

For the actual hike, I'll be honest—I stuffed the whole gown into a plain trash bag. Classy, I know. When I pulled it out up on that rocky ledge, there were definately a few creases in the tulle from being shoved in there. It wasn't that picture-perfect “completely wrinkle-free” moment the listing promises, but the layered ruffles and lace did a good job hiding most of it. By the time the golden light hit those orange cliffs, you couldn't even notice.

The skirt ran a little long on my frame, so I threw on some chunky platform sandals to keep the hem from dragging too much in the red dirt. I also added a poofy slip underneath to give it more volume, which made the sweeping shots against the rock ledges look really nice. The whole thing breathes well too, which was a lifesaver in the Arizona heat—I was sweating climbing up, but the dress didn't feel heavy or sticky like satin would've.

If you're planning a casual mountain elopment and don't want to haul a stiff ballgown up a cliff, this style is worth the gamble. Just go in with realistic expectations—the hem will get a little dusty, and you might have to shake out a few wrinkles.

But for 200 bucks and those insane sunset views, I'd recieve those little flaws any day. Worked out perfectly for us.