Dreamy Backyard Wedding in Arizona : Arizona Wedding Photographer
For their Backyard Wedding in Arizona – Alyssa and David knew they wanted anything but basic. Alyssa’s aunt offered to lend the couple their backyard and from there they made absolute magic happen! Alyssa and David dreamed of an epic celebration with their friends and family with an intimate dinner under string lights and man did they deliver. Their friends and family came together and made this day a total dream!
When clients decide on having a backyard wedding in Arizona our number one tip is to have couples make sure this space has plenty of good light and opportunities for photos. Alyssa and David’s family home was nothing short of perfection, they could not have had a more stunning wedding location if they tried! The property was massive with lush greenery and beautiful architecture at every turn making it incredible for photo ops at every turn.
Alyssa and David wrote letters to each other to read prior to the ceremony and it made the build up of seeing each other that much more special. Hand written vows or letters are always so special to witness at weddings. A little tip if you are getting married and stressed about vows – write them the day of! Some will say that it is crazy to wait or that it’s bad because it is last minute, but several couples have actually told us they prefer to write their vows the morning of! Writing your vows the day of your wedding is actually much easier because you are so in the moment already that words come easier than they normally would. Another bonus, you get cute photos of you writing your vows too if you wait until the big day!
Their reception space was created with the help of their amazing family and friends who hand strung the string lights, it was unreal. They were able to transform the ceremony space into an intimate and elegant space where guests could mingle, enjoy the delicious food and listen to music while they enjoyed each others company. It was the most beautiful backyard wedding in Arizona, we were honored to be able to capture every minute of it!
Desert Wedding at The Paseo | Arizona Wedding Photographer
There is nothing more breathtaking than a desert wedding at The Paseo. The Paseo is breathtaking and a venue that couples come from all over the world to have their wedding day at. The large windows reflecting the superstitions, jaw dropping view of the Arizona desert and whimsical reception place is a show stopper for all guests. For Alana and Jimmy, being able to enjoy the outdoors and nature with their friends and family was a huge must for their wedding day – they chose a late winter wedding at The Paseo and it was the most incredible day surrounded by so much love.
If you want to see the most dreamy desert wedding at the Paseo venue in Arizona, here it is! Jimmy and Alana’s wedding day was nothing short of magical. The wedding was at the Paseo which is a beautiful venue in the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction, Arizona.
Alana and Jimmy rented airbnb’s near the Paseo to get ready at with friends and family the morning of, I highly recommend doing this if you have large groups staying with you or getting ready with you! These airbnb’s were next door to eachother making it the perfect space for both sides to get ready before heading to the venue.
Alana wore the most gorgeous all lace dress with a stunning long veil and Jimmy had a classic black and white suit with their bridal party in shades of red to compliment the desert background, it was absolutely perfect! I loved that they decided to do a first look and private vows before the ceremony together, it allows couples to soak it all in and not feel the pressure to react a certain way or even hide those feelings if they have a million eyes on them during the ceremony. For desert weddings at the paseo I love utilizing the big doors in the ceremony space for photos, it is one of my favorite areas in the whole venue!
After the ceremony finished we got to go out to the desert for sunset photos among the saguaros and cholla with the Superstition Mountains as the backdrop to capture the new couple! Being able to sneak away from cocktail hour and enjoy the quiet and sunset together is such a magical experience for couples. The Paseo really does an incredible job of creating such an intimate and beautiful atmosphere for the couples getting married there, I can not recommend them enough!
If you are getting married at The Paseo and are looking into how weddings can look in other seasons, check out our blog on a winter wedding at The Paseo here!
Fall Wedding Season in Arizona is my absolute favorite time of year! The weather is cooling down, the leaves are changing and there are a ton more outdoor weddings due to the cooler weather. Guests can actually enjoy being outdoors without the higher temps and couples can utilize outdoor venues making it a win win for everyone! I especially love this wedding at Schnepf Farms The Meadow!
Holding your wedding at Schnepf Farms The Meadow is absolutely perfect for those couples who are wanting the look of forest with lots of greenery, gorgeous string lit intimate dinners and an all around cozy woodsy vibe. I especially love this venue for couples who live in the valley and do not want to have themselves or guests drive 2-3 hours up to Northern Arizona to get the same look! The Meadow is an absolute hidden gem because it truly feels like you are in Northern Arizona when you are only a short drive from any area in the valley.
We love when couples chose to hold their wedding at Schnepf Farms The Meadow also because of the amazing features this venue has! Some venues in Arizona make you chose from a list of their own vendors and you have to abide by that, with The Meadow you are able to bring in unique outside vendors to truly customize your experience. I was also a big fan of the cozy a frame for the bride to get ready in and the tent for the groom, it definitely added to the overall vibe of a woodsy wedding! Schnepf Farms also has other locations on site for couples to get married at aside from The Meadow, you can check those spaces out here!
David and Amanda’s Wedding at Schnepf Farms The Meadow was so special to me! They had a smaller guest count and really wanted to focus on keeping the entire day intentional and intimate. I absolutely loved the sparkler entrance they did into their wedding reception, most couples do sparklers as an exit so it made it really fun and exciting for guests to do this to welcome them in to party instead! They also brought their dog Duke in for photos and to enjoy some of the wedding with them and that was so sweet!
If you are looking for a beautiful Arizona wedding venue make sure to check out our blog on our favorites!
Stonebridge Manor is one of the most beautiful garden wedding venues in Mesa, Arizona. Located in the Phoenix area, this Wedgewood Weddings venue is known for its lush greenery, mature trees, romantic pathways, elegant reception spaces, and iconic stone bridge that photographs beautifully year round. As Arizona wedding photographers, we love photographing weddings at Stonebridge Manor because the venue offers incredible lighting, multiple ceremony locations, and timeless architecture throughout the property.
Stonebridge Manor is a hidden gem in Arizona, if you live in the valley you are probably already aware at how difficult it is to find a lush green venue without traveling atleast an hour or so up north. Not only does Stonebridge Manor have two different areas for couples to access for their wedding but the property is HUGE! There are photo ops at nearly every corner with a flower garden, a stone bridge, a courtyard, balcony, the list goes on! It is such an elegant venue and pretty decently priced compared to other local venues, I definitely recommend scheduling a tour to see for yourself!
Stonebridge Manor Wedding in Mesa, Arizona
There’s something incredibly special about a wedding at Stonebridge Manor. Tucked away in Mesa, Arizona, this beautiful garden wedding venue feels like a hidden oasis in the middle of the desert. With mature trees, lush greenery, romantic pathways, and elegant architecture throughout the property, Stonebridge Manor is easily one of our favorite Arizona wedding venues to photograph.
As Arizona wedding photographers, we love venues that offer both stunning natural light and a variety of beautiful backdrops for portraits, and Stonebridge Manor delivers on every level. From the iconic stone bridge to the tree-lined ceremony spaces and glowing reception courtyard, every corner of this Mesa wedding venue photographs beautifully.
Ashley and Garrett planned a timeless and romantic Stonebridge Manor wedding filled with meaningful moments, elegant details, and one of the sweetest celebrations surrounded by family and friends. Their wedding day perfectly showcased why so many couples choose Stonebridge Manor for their Arizona wedding.
If you are recently engaged and looking for your wedding venue, make sure you check out our recent blog on Arizona’s Top Wedding Venues!
Why We Love Photographing Weddings at Stonebridge Manor
One of the things that makes Stonebridge Manor stand out among Mesa wedding venues is how versatile the property is for photography. Whether couples want romantic garden portraits, elegant architectural backdrops, or soft sunset light, the venue offers so many incredible options throughout the day.
Some of our favorite photo locations at Stonebridge Manor include:
The iconic stone bridge
The lush garden pathways
The courtyard reception area
The grand staircase
The tree-lined ceremony site
Sunset portraits near the greenery and ivy-covered walls
The venue also photographs beautifully year round, which is especially rare for Arizona wedding venues. Even during warmer months, the mature landscaping creates a softer, more romantic atmosphere that couples love.
Wedding Venue Details
Located in Mesa, Arizona, Stonebridge Manor by Wedgewood Weddings is one of the most popular garden wedding venues in the Phoenix area. Couples love the venue for its elegant outdoor ceremony spaces, beautiful reception areas, and all-inclusive wedding experience.
Some of the reasons couples choose Stonebridge Manor include:
Indoor and outdoor wedding options
Romantic garden ceremony spaces
Large reception courtyard with twinkle lights
Convenient East Valley location
Beautiful landscaping year-round
Multiple locations for wedding portraits
For couples planning a Phoenix or Mesa wedding, Stonebridge Manor offers a timeless and elegant atmosphere that feels both upscale and welcoming.
Best Time for Wedding Photos
One of our favorite things about photographing weddings at Stonebridge Manor is the variety of lighting throughout the property. The venue has beautiful shaded areas for daytime portraits, while sunset creates the dreamiest golden light for bride and groom photos.
We always recommend setting aside at least 15–20 minutes near sunset for portraits around the gardens and stone bridge. These are usually some of the most romantic images of the entire wedding day.
The reception courtyard also comes alive at night with glowing string lights, creating an incredible atmosphere for dancing and candid moments.
Planning a Stonebridge Manor Wedding
If you’re planning a Stonebridge Manor wedding in Mesa, Arizona, we highly recommend building extra time into your wedding timeline for portraits throughout the property. There are so many beautiful locations around the venue that are worth taking advantage of.
We also recommend:
Scheduling sunset portraits
Taking detail photos in the garden areas
Using the courtyard for nighttime portraits
Planning a first look if you want more portrait time
Choosing florals that complement the venue’s greenery and romantic architecture
Stonebridge Manor is one of those venues that truly creates a beautiful experience for both couples and guests from start to finish.
Fall Wedding at Venue at The Grove | Arizona Elopement Photographer
Eric & Lexi’s wedding at Venue at The Grove took place in November. Fall weddings in Phoenix are some of our absolute favorite because of the colors, lighting and the weather during our fall months just can’t be beat! The couple opted to do a first look before the ceremony which was so sentimental and emotional, capturing moments like this is one of the best parts about being a wedding photographer! A big misconception about doing a first look before the ceremony is that your partner will not have a big reaction to seeing you walk down the aisle after, which is absolutely not true – Eric is proof of that!
For couples who choose to have their wedding at Venue at The Grove, this venue provides them with a lush garden like scenery with plenty of greenery and trees to surround them and their guests! Getting married in Arizona it is often hard to find a venue that is not in Northern Arizona that can provide a scenery other than desert or a modern indoor venue. Venue at The Grove is a really great option for those looking to escape the heat and desert feel that most venues in Arizona offer. The venue also has an incredible staff who is so helpful to their couples at every event we have photographed here, an onsite coordinator team and a list of amazing vendors for couples to choose from!
A few of our favorite things about Eric and Lexi’s wedding at Venue at The Grove was the colors of their bridal party outfits, their absolutely stunning design choices to compliment the fall season in Arizona and just how close and sweet all of their family and friends were! You could really tell this was such a big day for everyone attending! We absolutely love when bridesmaids do different colors and styles for their dresses, not only does it look so fun in photos but it really allows your bridal party to be able to show off their personality!
The reception was so beautiful as well! The string lights throughout the reception area help create such an intimate setting for guests to enjoy while eating dinner and mingling. Cruisin’ Photo Bus was at the reception as well which is always a huge hit for guests and so fun for photos! The couple shared a last dance surrounded by guests before exiting through a sparkler tunnel! If you are getting married soon and need any other wedding exit ideas make sure you check out our blog for more!
Luxury El Chorro Wedding | Arizona Wedding Photographer
Ryan and Rebecca’s Luxury El Chorro Wedding was nothing short of breathtaking. El Chorro is perfect for those who are looking for a sophisticated venue with jaw dropping views. El Chorro leaves nothing to be wanted for – with it’s beautiful desert views, indoor and outdoor options and ability to completely customize the space to give you the wedding of your dreams. El Chorro is unique as well because there are 4 different areas on the property that you are able to utilize for your wedding day!
El Chorro is seriously one of our absolute favorite venues! This wedding was also so fun because we got to work with such incredible vendors to bring it together – including Jane In The Woods who absolutely transformed this space into something straight out of a magazine! The couples planner Kelsey did such a fantastic job!
Rebecca and Ryan spared no expense when planning their Luxury El Chorro Wedding. From the custom wedding dress down to the hand made seating chart, every detail about their wedding was truly unique to them as a couple. I loved the fact that they used the ceremony space for both the ceremony and reception. The awesome thing about El Chorro is the fact that you can customize the spaces however you please. So the reception was completely unrecognizable from how it looks only an hour prior. The team at El Chorro makes some magic happen when creating spaces for their couples!
I could go on forever about how insane this Luxury El Chorro Wedding was but I’ll let this photos speak for me! A huge shout out to all of the amazing vendors who made this day happen below!
Coming up with unique wedding exit ideas does not have to be a difficult task in planning your send off! As wedding photographers, we are pretty involved in helping couples plan aspects of their days that they may be unsure about. After all we do see hundreds of weddings in our careers and most couples have maybe attended a dozen weddings in their lifetime, so it totally makes sense that they may need some help brainstorming!
Whether you are going for classic or creative, there are wedding exit ideas out there for every couple! Here are some of our favorite send-off ideas that we have seen throughout the years. Browse through these awesome send offs to find the perfect fit for your wedding vision!
Traditional Wedding Exit Ideas
Sparklers
While sparklers are an absolute classic when it comes to wedding exit ideas, more venues over the years have begun to not allow this option due to fire hazards or guests being unsafe with them! If your venue does allow sparklers and you are not at risk of fires, I say go for it! You can’t go wrong with a sparkler exit!
Flower Petals
Flower Petals are a personal favorite of mine for wedding exits! Flowers can be more budget friendly as well because you can either use extra florals from your florist, or if you want to save even more money, buy some bouquets from Trader Joe’s the night before or day of to de petal toss!
Bubbles
Bubbles are a super fun and easy wedding exit idea! They are fairly inexpensive and all guests can hold a wand easily for a send off. If you want to really go crazy and have a TON of bubbles for your exit try these giant bubble guns!
Streamers
Streamers are a fun and festive way to head off toward your honeymoon! They are completely customizable with color, size, and length. A cool way to customize them could be to use your wedding colors as well for them!
Glow Sticks
Glow sticks are also a really easy and stress free send off option! They are decently priced and you can buy in bulk to make sure every guests has a few to really brighten your exit up. If you can, try and find the longer sticks rather than the short because they don’t photograph as well! Glow sticks or wands are also super fun to add to the dance floor for fun dancing shots!
Confetti
If you are in an indoor venue and they don’t mind traditional confetti this is a great send off option! If you are exiting outdoors in nature you’ll definitely want to invest in some biodegradable confetti instead. It looks no different but isn’t bad for the environment and is an easier clean up! If you do not want traditional confetti you can always go the dried lavender or hole punched leaves route!
Unique Wedding Exit Ideas
Fireworks
Is there anything more epic than fireworks lighting up the sky as you exit your wedding? This is the most incredible and unexpected way to end the night! Guests will be shocked and love this exit because it’s such a rare idea it isn’t done often but dang does it look cool!
Cold Sparks
Cold sparks are the perfect sparkler alternative! If you are wanting something epic like sparklers but your venue does not allow them this is the next best thing! The cold sparks are perfectly safe and can be used indoor or outdoors making it a safe option for locations with fire hazards.
Smoke Bombs
Smoke bombs are such a fun and unique way to be sent off! Typically this send off is done while it’s still light out or for epic bridal party photos since it’s tougher to see these outdoors. If the venue has additional outdoor lighting this is a really cool option though! If doing smoke bombs make sure you keep a good distance from the white dress so it doesn’t stain!
Getaway Car
Using a getaway car at the end of the night is such a classy and fun way to end your wedding night! It is great not only for photo ops but also gives you a way to say see ya to guests at the end of the night without having to wait around for an Uber or a family member to pull a car around. Pro tip – have the car arrive before sunset so that you can use it for bridal photos before v it’s dark out!
Charlotte Francis | Arizona Intimate Wedding + Elopement Photographer
LGBTQ-friendly | All skin colors & body sizes are loved here
Phoenix, Arizona based but fly us anywhere to document your love story
