There are few places in the world that offer such a wide variety of backdrops for the most important day of your life, all within one state’s borders. With its vast array of landscapes, sunsets and venues, Arizona offers the perfect location to mark the first day of the rest of your lives.
Whereas in other parts of the country there are only a few short months throughout the year that boast ideal outdoor conditions for what is arguably the most important day in one’s life, but for those marrying in Arizona, wedding weather lasts year-round. From a guest ranch in the high desert to a posh resort surrounded by vivid red boulders, Arizona makes a wedding day unforgettable. For out-of-towners attempting to plan a wedding from a distance, a good resource for everything from location to flowers is at Arizona Weddings. The site offers location options, vendors and organizational ideas to keep your nuptials on track. There are also several bridal fairs in Arizona to help couples in their effort to manage every last detail, including the topper for the cake.
Something to consider when selecting a location for a wedding is the personality of the couple and their guests. Are you looking for a church wedding or an all-inclusive location? Would you like to be married at an exclusive mansion in the desert, or a hotel that can accommodate all your needs? With lavish resorts and venues, and awe-inspiring scenery, not to mention a multitude of sightseeing opportunities for guests and picturesque mountain views, betrothed couples have endless options to create their dream day.
With sacramental blessings: For those seeking the more traditional route, Arizona hosts some of the most beautiful sanctuaries in the southwest. St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix has hosted many unions since its dedication in 1915, and is the only basilica in Arizona. If you’re seeking a more contemporary setting, the striking-blue First Christian Church in Phoenix was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and offers a sanctuary with organ pipes embedded in the eaves. Churches established throughout the Tucson area offer a dramatic backdrop of desert flora and fauna visible through large picture windows, such as those included in the Spanish colonial mission architecture featured at the 1936-circa St. Phillips in the Hills Episcopal Church. If you’re looking for the place that feels like the only church in town, many of the state’s smaller communities such as Prescott, Flagstaff, Bisbee and Jerome host beautiful houses of worship built during territorial days in the late 1800s and early 1900s that feature original stained glass and wood floors, and maintain that sense of charm and intimacy that they have since their founding.
A geologist’s fantasy: Does your love have an affinity for rocks? Then check out one of Arizona’s rustic, natural settings, where your guests can also enjoy the adventurous landscape. The Grand Canyon with its majestic Shoshone Point offers brides and grooms the finest views of the South Rim, creating memorable photo backdrops. The wildflowers of Lockett Meadow, at the base of the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff offer an ideal spot for garden-inspired nuptials. Couples are surrounded by native wildflowers in shades of blue, yellow and red such as silvery lupine, firecracker penstemon, mountain moardella, heartleaf arnica and red banberry while Humphrey’s Peak at more than 12,000 feet stands triumphantly in the background.
As one of the most beautiful destinations in the country, the red rocks of Sedona offer romance and dramatic scenery, creating wedding memories that last a lifetime. Red Rock Crossing is a colorful destination, where couples can recite their vows along Oak Creek, whose waters reflect Cathedral Rock glowing crimson in the setting sun. For intimate ceremonies, Red Rock State Park is a nature preserve offering a rooftop view of the red sandstone canyons while larger weddings are held beneath the “wedding tree,” a magnificent 60-foot cottonwood. Several resorts in the Sedona-Oak Creek area are accustomed to creating the perfect environment and experience for wedding parties, so all you have to worry about is relaxing and taking in the moment.
Among the vines, let them drink wine! Arizona has three distinct wine regions, with established wineries that create an unpretentious and casual atmosphere among the vines. Couples can select from the northern wine area of Verde Valley near Sedona, the Willcox region of southeastern Arizona or the most established wine destination in Sonoita/Elgin (southern Arizona). While Arizona offers idyllic outdoor conditions most of the year, these areas offer the most predictability with sunny days and cool, refreshing evenings at their 5,000-foot elevation. Imagine a barefoot ceremony among the grapevines in Elgin, followed by an intimate dinner in the fields, prepared by one of the critically acclaimed southern Arizona chefs using all locally grown ingredients, the sun setting against the grasslands with a colorful display of Mexican poppies. Sounds like something dreams are made of!
Want a shotgun wedding? As a popular venue for many famous western movies, Arizona has an abundance of settings that offer an old west authenticity to those seeking a rustic experience. While Tombstone is probably the best known of these, as home to the historical O.K. Corral, many would be surprised to discover the soft, romantic side of “the town too tough to die.” From the end of March to the beginning of May each year, the world’s largest Lady Banks rose tree (planted in the late 1800s) offers couples a sweet-scented canopy of ivory tea roses under which to exchange their vows.
In a “copper state” of mind. If wood-planked sidewalks aren’t your thing, consider the gourmet paradise of Bisbee, a mining town-turned-artists’ enclave. With an abundance of Victorian-style bed and breakfast inns set within a canyon community that hasn’t changed much in 100 years, this colony offers a vintage San Francisco feel with local chefs bringing gourmet credentials – often expatriates from major metropolitan cities. The mine tailings that create a natural berm around the town, whimsical homes and colorful “lavender pit” which was once an active mine evoke a real sense of charm in this relaxed yet sophisticated community.
Closer to the urban core. Rivaling cities for the most luxury resorts in the country, the metro Phoenix area offers couples a wide variety of wedding locations ranging from small bed & breakfasts to large-scale lavish resorts. Known as the Valley of the Sun, photo opportunities within just minutes of metropolitan areas include Camelback Mountain, the western towns of Carefree and Cave Creek, the olive groves of Queen Creek and the stunning Sonoran Desert backdrop. Want to get married on the 18th green? Many soon-to-be “golf widows” have done just that. There is even a wedding cake-shaped home in the center of the city called Tovrea Castle. With three tiers rising from a cactus-covered hillside, it doesn’t get much more fitting than that!
South of Phoenix, where the desert temperatures average a few degrees cooler, Tucson is ripe with charm. Lovebirds can choose from one-of-a-kind destinations such as historical adobe hotels in the downtown area, to guest ranches nestled in the Santa Catalina Mountains and world-class resorts. Upscale shopping, unique boutiques and dining are just a few minutes away from any location. Featuring rustic, Spanish old-world charm, Tucson’s landscape and architecture is reflective of its Spanish and Mexican heritage, and its potential wedding venues showcase this history. Its proximity to two of the most verdant wine regions in the state make the location ideal for day trips for wedding guests wanting a visit to Arizona’s wine country.
Keeping a healthy distance. For couples seeking a destination wedding in Arizona but prefer that all details be managed by a coordinator, various packages are available through both independent wedding professionals and venues throughout the state, at Arizona Weddings. Areas such as Arizona’s White Mountains, Lake Havasu, Lake Powell, Jerome, Tubac, Prescott and Payson offer secluded, out-of-the-way destinations for couples looking for a unique Arizona wedding experience.
Making sure it’s legal. Once the location is set, other details to manage include, among other things, the legalities. Logistically, Arizona has made it very easy and seamless for couples to marry inside the state. There is no waiting period for a marriage license and you don’t have to establish residency; a license costs about $70. Couples will simply need photo identification, such as a driver’s license. There is no waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued and there is also no waiting period from the date the license is issued to the date of the ceremony.
The parties before the party. Also a major consideration – the advance celebrations! Bachelor parties, bachelorette parties and rehearsal dinners can be managed from afar with the right resources. Most weekends in the metropolitan areas will find a trolley full of women, one with a mock veil, on the trek to experience her last hurrah as a single woman. Often times bachelor and bachelorette parties are combined with a fun group dinner at a casual restaurant and bar-hopping in Old Town Scottsdale, Tempe or Phoenix. Visit Arizona Guide to map your route.
Depending on the menu at the wedding, you might want something different for the rehearsal dinner. Restaurants and hotels throughout Arizona can accommodate both small and large groups in a more casual, intimate atmosphere before the big day. Looking for something uniquely Arizona? Try one of the state’s fabulous Mexican restaurants, where your guests can enjoy the same hearty meals that presidents have enjoyed at locally owned Macayo’s (several are located throughout the state) or Mi Nidito in Tucson. To give your out-of-town guests an artistic flavor, host a party at an art gallery in Tucson, Phoenix or Scottsdale on First Fridays and bring in a well-known local restaurant to cater the festivities. You can even offer your wedding party a floating reception on an evening cruise through Tempe Town Lake or Lake Pleasant. Arizona restaurants offer a taste for everyone, and many have separate meeting rooms to fit your party. The site Az Eats can help narrow your selection, with virtual tours of several restaurants.
After the big day, couples can steal away for a romantic Arizona getaway. Honeymooners will find the state is abundant with locales to celebrate those first few days of wedded bliss, creating a solid foundation from which to base a lifetime of happiness. From luxury resorts and award-winning spas to statewide road trips and small western towns, Arizona destinations ensure the honeymoon is never over.
Adventurous couples can choose from championship golf courses, jeep tours, mountain hikes, horseback riding, tennis, mountain biking, skiing, rafting trips, kayaking and even road trips, then take respite in a secluded inn or enjoy the amenities of a full-service resort. With sites like the Grand Canyon, Sedona red rocks, the old mining town of Jerome, Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns, the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert, honeymooners can spend one day or one month exploring all that the state has to offer. The Arizona Trail ( AZ Trail) is a nationally designated scenic trail that covers Arizona’s southern to northern borders in an 800-mile trek, connecting mountain ranges, canyons, deserts, forests, wilderness areas, historic sites, trail systems, points of interest, communities, and people.
More information about ideal honeymoon destinations is available at Arizona Guide.
