Romantic & Luxurious Southwestern Wedding Venues
Your wedding day is one of the most magical days of your life and it deserves to take place in a breathtaking location. If you’re looking for inspiration for your Southwestern wedding, you’ve made it to the right place. From stunning mountain-top wedding venues in Telluride to expansive desert wedding locations in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, I’ll show you some of the most gorgeous Southwestern wedding venues to get your wedding planning started.
When it comes to planning your wedding, the location you choose plays a significant role in creating the perfect ambiance and style of your wedding day. The Southwestern United States offers numerous benefits that make it an ideal destination for your big day.
First and foremost, the natural beauty of the Southwest is truly unparalleled. With its stunning mountain ranges in Colorado, expansive vistas in New Mexico, and unique cacti like the ancient Saguaros in Arizona, the Southwest provides a breathtaking backdrop for your wedding. What makes the Southwest even more appealing is that it doesn’t matter what season you get married in the Southwest; it offers picturesque settings with mild to moderate weather throughout the year that will make your special day truly unforgettable.
Another benefit of having your wedding in the Southwest, is the abundance of both indoor and outdoor activities for you and your guests to enjoy. From hiking and biking to skiing and rafting, the Southwest offers endless opportunities for adventure and exploration. If you’re not much of an outdoorsy person, that’s no problem – there are plenty of indoor activities to entertain your guests, too. From historic sites and stunning museums to world-renowned restaurants and breweries, the Southwest has a plethora of opportunities for indoor entertainment for you and your guests. Your wedding can be more than just a one-day celebration; it can be a weekend getaway filled with fun and excitement for everyone involved and that will surely make your wedding one that hardly anyone would forget.
In this article, I will provide five of the most gorgeous Southwest wedding venues that promise an unforgettable wedding day. Each location offers its own unique charm and ambiance, providing the perfect backdrop for your love story. So grab a glass of your favorite beverage (mine is a spicy, citrusy margarita) with your partner’s hand in yours and allow me to show you some of the most magical Southwestern wedding destinations. It’s time to turn your dreams into reality and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Arizona
El Chorro: A Luxurious Historic Arizona Wedding Venue since 1937
If you’re looking for an absolutely luxurious venue in Arizona with rich history and multiple ceremony and reception spaces to choose from, El Chorro is your ticket for an unforgettable wedding. With its history of excellence, refined, picturesque surroundings, and exceptional dining experiences, El Chorro should certainly be on your list of wedding destinations as you plan your wedding.
Surrounded by immaculate, luxurious grounds, your wedding weekend spent at El Chorro will provide you with romance beyond words. Plus, if you’ve never experienced a magical Arizona sunset, you will not want to miss witnessing the sun set behind the Camelback Mountains while you have your dinner under the beautiful Southwestern skies.
A friendly note as you plan your Arizona wedding: the Valley (considered the greater Phoenix / Scottsdale area) gets pretty dang hot in the summer. To ensure the weather is as mild as possible for you and your guests, I would recommend a lovely early spring, late fall, or winter wedding date.
**If you book me to photograph your wedding at El Chorro, I will throw in complimentary rehearsal dinner coverage to provide you with the best wedding weekend coverage to tell your wedding story in full detail!
Utah
Amangiri: Majestic Seclusion Paired with World Class Luxury
Oh my, Amangiri. If you haven’t heard of it, please search through their site and Instagram and I’m sure you will swoon over the secluded luxury that is the five-star resort in the middle of thousands of square miles of untouched desert landscape. If you’re looking for a unique, breathtaking venue that has all the beauty of the desert paired with a serene, luxurious experience, Amangiri is the venue for you.
The beauty of booking your wedding at Amangiri is that not only can you have the majestic Utah desert as the backdrop of your wedding weekend, but you can also pair that with personalized activities, spa days, and exquisite dining experiences for you and your guests, all at one singular wedding venue. It’s truly a dream come true of a wedding destination that you won’t want to leave off of your list.
**If you book me to photograph your wedding at Amangiri, I will throw in complimentary rehearsal dinner coverage to provide you with the best wedding weekend coverage to tell your wedding story in full detail!
New Mexico
Los Poblanos: An Historic Inn & Farm with Exceptional Dining
Without a doubt, Los Poblanos is one of the most sought-after wedding venues in New Mexico. With its immense history dating back to the early 1900s, its 25 acres of magnificent lavender fields, and the stunning Spanish-style architecture, Los Poblanos is one of the most gorgeous properties in the Southwest.
When you book a farm like Los Poblanos for your wedding weekend, you will get an unforgettable experience at any season of the year. With its rich florals blooming in the summer to the colorful cottonwood trees offering an explosion of colors in the autumn, your wedding at Los Poblanos will be remarkable in every way. While the venue sits in the middle of the North Valley of Albuquerque, as soon as you step onto the Los Poblanos property, you’re immediately immersed in a serene and truly magical landscape. There’s nothing quite like Los Poblanos in New Mexico and if the state is on your list of locations to consider for your wedding, Los Poblanos will certainly serve you well.
Colorado
The Little Nell: Aspen’s Premier Wedding Venue
Known for its upscale resorts and stunning mountain vistas, Aspen is the perfect destination for couples seeking a luxurious and romantic wedding weekend. When I think of a Colorado wedding, I immediately think of a wedding in a lovely little mountain town and Aspen is always at the top of my Colorado wedding destination list. Queue The Little Nell: Aspen’s luxurious five-star, five-diamond wedding venue and hotel that is nestled in the breathtakingly gorgeous Rocky Mountains. By booking your wedding at The Little Nell, not only will you get extraordinary mountain scenery as your wedding backdrop, but you will also receive world-class service from the planning experts on the Little Nell’s planning team. I personally call that a win-win.
The beauty of booking your wedding at The Little Nell is that the venue is not only able to accommodate up to 500 guests, but it can also do so throughout the entire year. So if you’re wanting to have an opulent wedding weekend followed by a lovely little ski trip at one of the country’s most popular ski mountains, you can do so all at one location.
Three Peaks Ranch: Secluded Ranch Surrounded by Fourteen Thousand Foot Peaks
Getting married in Colorado means having abundant locations to choose from and if you’re wanting more of a ranch estate for your wedding weekend, I encourage you to check out the gorgeous ranch wedding venue, Three Peaks Ranch.
Three hours from Denver and nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, you’ll find the exquisite Three Peaks Ranch, a secluded, family-run wedding venue with luxurious accommodations that will suit your wedding needs. One of the benefits of booking a venue like Three Peaks Ranch is that you provide your guests a true Colorado experience: a lovely little road trip from Denver through the stunning Colorado mountains and valleys, an expansive ranch with nearby horses to admire, and Southwestern-inspired decor throughout the cabins your guests will stay in. It’s surely one of the most magical Southwestern wedding destinations you’ll find in Colorado.
Wedding Planning Tips
Planning a wedding in the Southwest requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the planning process and ensure that your wedding weekend is everything you’ve dreamed of:
- Start early: the Southwest is a popular wedding destination, so it’s essential to start planning as early as possible. This will give you ample time to secure your preferred venue and vendors.
- Consider the weather: the Southwest experiences various weather throughout the seasons in each area. Keep the weather in mind when choosing your wedding date and venue. Be prepared for sudden changes in weather, especially if you’re planning an outdoor ceremony.
- Hire a local wedding planner: A local wedding planner can be truly invaluable in navigating the logistics of planning a wedding in the Southwest. They will have in-depth knowledge of the area, the best vendors, and can help ensure that everything runs smoothly on your big day.
- Inform your guests: If you’re inviting guests from out of town, provide them with information about the destination, including accommodation options, transportation, and any activities they can enjoy during their stay.
- Embrace the natural beauty: the Southwest is known for its stunning landscapes, so incorporate the natural beauty of the area into your wedding decor, if desired. Use local wildflowers, incorporate elements of wood and stone, and let the scenery speak for itself.
The Southwest offers a plethora of stunning wedding destinations that will make your wedding weekend truly unforgettable. From the majestic Rocky Mountains in Colorado to the luxurious lavender fields in New Mexico, each location provides its own unique charm and ambiance.
Whether you prefer an historic farm or a luxurious hotel, the Southwest has the perfect venue to bring your wedding dreams to life. So, let’s start planning your dream wedding in the Southwest and create memories that will last a lifetime.
