Your Wedding Day

Desert



Sorrel River Ranch & Spa, Moab, Ut If your guests are the “outdoor type,” Sorrel River Ranch & Spa will appeal to even the most adventuresome. Located on a scenic Colorado River bend, this 160-acre ranch offers picturesque buttes, arches, canyons, dramatic mesas, and towering red rock views. On site, or nearby, your guests can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, rock climbing, and much more. The location for many contemporary movies, this was once a “stage” for John Ford and John Wayne movies too. Several wedding venues reflect that history, the John Ford Room, featuring African slate floors and original artwork, and the adjacent John Wayne Room, in characteristic western-rustic fashion. The riverside Castle Rock Media Room is a popular spot with banks of windows providing incredible views. The Fisher Towers Pavilion, host to the Moab Music Festival, is the choice for many receptions due to the level of comfort provided, state-of-art sound systems, and the Pavilion’s unparalleled views. (435) 259-4642, sorrelriver.com
	Miramonte Resort, Indian Wells, CA A Tuscan village in the mid-California desert may be unexpected, but not in Indian Wells, minutes from Palm Springs, where the Italian-inspired Miramonte Resort & Spa sits at the base of the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains, welcoming you and your guests. The Miramonte’s 11 acres offer you red-tile roofed two-story villas with arched terra cotta paved breezeways, bougainvillea-filled gardens, sparkling pools, the famous destination Well Spa, and numerous gourmet restaurants. And of course there several exquisite wedding venues. The Olive Grove, a meticulous grassy courtyard, features mature olive trees, balconies draped with strawberry-colored bougainvillea, and a magnificent Italian fountain. The Miramonte Green, a highly manicured lawn, has flowered borders in a rainbow of vibrant hues. The Piazza second-floor terrace provides fabulous pool-, garden-, and mountain-views and a large fireplace to ward off the cool of desert evenings. For larger events, ask about the Tuscany Ballroom, a Mediterranean-design space with an adjacent event lawn. On your wedding day at the Miramonte Resort, you’ll be radiant under the Tuscan sun. (760) 341-2200
La Quinta Resort & Club, Palm Desert, CA La Quinta Resort & Club, tucked at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, has been a legend since its 1926 opening when it immediately became home-away-from-home to celebrities including Katherine Hepburn and Clark Gable. Director Frank Capra even declared La Quinta his good luck charm after the script he penned there, “It Happened One Night,” became a success. La Quinta has many wedding sites including the popular Waterfall, where cascading water, towering palms, and fragrant gardens create an unparalleled atmosphere. Another popular outdoor venue is the courtyard at La Casa, a private 1920s home favored by Greta Garbo. Indoor settings include Salon De Fiesta, “Room of Celebration” accommodating up to 1,800 guests. The Salon De Flores, “Room of Flowers,” featuring hand-made copper chandeliers. The Frank Capra Room can be divided into five separate areas to accommodate banquets and receptions of almost any size. With a La Quinta Resort & Club wedding, you’ll be in good company: La Qunita is still home to the stars including Matthew Perry, Christina Aguilera, and Oprah. (800) 598-3828, laquintaresort.com

Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, AZ The magnificent Tempe Center for the Arts is centrally located in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. It is situated in a 17-acre lakeside art park, is home to a breathtaking 3,400 square foot lakeside venue with views of Tempe Town Lake and the Papago and Camelback Mountains. There is a 300-foot waterfall with state-of-the-art technology, and water surrounds the Lakeside Banquet Room on three sides, so it feels somewhat like you’re floating. This facility has a studio, which can be used for additional seating, and there are adjacent dressing rooms for you and your wedding party. Other wedding venues include the 201 Lounge, the Rooftop Terrace, the Sculpture Garden, and the Gallery, with exhibits your guests will enjoy. There is also a plaza with fire and water features, serving as an exquisite setting for the wedding and wedding photos. Weddings can be held at other locations in the art park, and all are lakeside with catering staging areas. There are many elegant hotels and restaurants nearby to make your Tempe weekend wedding complete. (480) 350-2814, tempe.gov/tca
CopperWynd Resort and Club, Scottsdale, AZ CopperWynd Resort and Club recently won the Condé Nast Gold List World’s Best Places for Scottsdale, Arizona. This intimate European-inspired boutique resort, nestled high on a mountain ridge above Scottsdale, is also among the best wedding venues worldwide. Wedding sites, with views of the majestic Four Peaks Mountain and Sonoran desert, include the Mountainside Event Lawn with lush gardens for outdoor weddings up to 200 guests. If you prefer an indoor wedding, the Sonoran View Room’s floor-to-ceiling window view will bring the outside in to you. The famous restaurant, Alchemy, offers an awarding-winning culinary experience for your guests in a magical atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling glass panels that slide open to bring in a romantic panoramic view. Consider one of CopperWynd’s luxurious Mountainside Resort Villas for your weekend too. These are spacious - up to 2,700 square feet , with two- and three-bedroom floor plans - a perfect spot for your personal space. At CopperyWynd, majestic mountain views, caressing desert winds, and the soft light of the desert moon will be joining you on your wedding day. (877) 707-7760, copperwynd.com