“I Do” in the Desert

We are proud to present the second-annual Bridal Issue and share with you the best places and people in the wedding industry in Arizona. No matter what age we are, there are always people planning weddings, whether it is their very first wedding, their child’s wedding or their second wedding. Weddings are very exciting, and Arizona has some of the best weather and places to get married.

I get invited to many weddings each year, and there has been a trend to have them at two places in Paradise Valley: Montelucia Resort & Spa and Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort. They are both pretty awesome spots to get married, and Sanctuary is the place celebrities stay and the elite escape to more than any other local resort.

I wanted to share with you some of my picks for the best wedding spots that I have experienced during the past year. Here they are:

Silverleaf Country Club located in North Scottsdale is by far the most luxurious country club in Arizona. The setting is very intimate and private, nestled against the McDowell Mountains overlooking the green golf course. Silverleaf is perfect for smaller weddings. The staff is friendly, and the service, along with food, is very consistent. I’ve never been disappointed.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana is one of my favorites—if not my very favorite. Driving up to the resort is breathtaking, and the resort is much smaller and intimate than most resorts. Weddings are totally private here, and you feel like you have your own resort. At the party I attended at the resort, the hosts rented the entire pool bar and restaurant; it gave the party a totally different feel with tons of fire pits blazing. Not as far as Tucson, the drive is less than 90 minutes from Scottsdale and a great escape. You must consider this not only for the food, service and luxury but for the setting.

Mirabel Country Club is located as far in north Scottsdale as you can go and offers a different feel than Silverleaf. It is a great setting for a more simple and yet sophisticated wedding. Mirabel is first-class, inviting and neighborly with gorgeous mountain views and desert vistas. (Like Silverleaf, Mirabel is a private club and you may or may not be able to host a wedding unless you are a member, so please make sure to ask your wedding planner or check before you drive to these places.)

These are three of my personal favorites, but Arizona has many great resorts and other wedding locations, making it one of the best places to get married. I always say this and believe this in my heart: Arizona is the best place to live. This season, we are all experiencing increased traffic, wait times at our favorite places to dine and lines at our favorite places for that morning cup of coffee. Why? We live in paradise.

Enjoy our Bridal Issue, and please e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with input so we can continue to grow and meet your needs when planning a luxury wedding. Also, we have a complete Web wedding planner and Bridal Buzz at AZFoothills.com. Follow us at @MichaelSDee, @AZFoothillsMag, @AZFoothillsFood and our new Twitter handle, @AZFoothillsFit.

Michael S. Dee  President and Publisher