Flagstaff, with its stunning pines and the rustic charm of the Coconino National Forest, is a unique and picturesque location for a wedding. But when it comes to planning your special day in Flagstaff, where do you begin? What are the available venues? Where should you capture your engagement photos? Fear not, for I’ve compiled the ultimate Flagstaff wedding guide, a comprehensive resource that covers everything from venue recommendations to ideal areas for accommodation and insider tips from the locals.
So, let’s get started!
Flagstaff Wedding Guide: The Venues
Ok, if you’re just starting out in your Flagstaff wedding planning, your first question will no doubt be, what venues are available.
Before we dive into the venue listings, I’ve streamlined your planning by sorting each venue according to theme. If a charming outdoor wedding is what you envision, I’ve curated a list of perfect spots just for you. On the other hand, if you’re drawn to a more elegant and timeless aesthetic, you’ll find plenty of exquisite options awaiting your discovery.
Flagstaff Wedding Venues: Outdoor
If you’re looking for a Flagstaff outdoor wedding venue, which, let’s be honest, if you’re from the Valley, you most certainly are, Flagstaff has some of the most beautiful outdoor wedding locations.
Cabins on Strawberry Hill
Situated at a cool 6100′ elevation atop Strawberry Hill and enveloped by the expansive Mogollon Rim, the Cabins on Strawberry Hill offer a stunning setting for your special day (and I mean stunning).
Just a short drive from Flagstaff, these cabins are ideally positioned 17 miles north of Payson and are the closest cabin rentals to Phoenix and Tucson. This stunning location combines breathtaking natural beauty with the comfort of spacious and well-appointed cabins, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a unique and memorable outdoor wedding experience with mountain recreation, relaxation, and guest accommodation opportunities.
Why You’d Love It
The Cabins on Strawberry Hill offers a comprehensive wedding experience. You can access up to 14 two-night cabins when you book here, with six additional cabins available the day before arrival. In addition to the stunning cabins, the resort provides a custom wedding webpage, online planning tools, and a guest lodging payment portal for seamless organization.
Arizona Nordic Village
The Arizona Nordic Village opened in 1984 as the Flagstaff Nordic Center. This venue is absolutely stunning and filled with Flagstaff’s picturesque outdoor beauty. The Arizona Nordic Village caters to outdoor adventure seekers, offering cross-country skiing, camping, and hiking trails. It is most famous for offering cabin and yurt rentals.
Why You’ll Love It
The Arizona Nordic Village is peak outdoor Flagstaff wedding. If you’re looking for an almost exclusive outdoor wedding experience, this is most certainly it. By comparison, this venue also offers some of the most economical wedding venues for those looking to get married without breaking the bank.
Lazy Oaks Resort
If an off-the-grid wedding is exactly your vibe, don’t worry. Lazy Oaks Resort offers the same outdoor experience while also providing cozy cabin amenities. Nestled on 3.5 acres along the picturesque Rainbow Lake near Lakeside, AZ, Lazy Oaks is the only wedding venue in the White Mountains located directly on a lake. Our resort features 15 cabins perfect for guest accommodations. Lazy Oaks offers exclusive use of the entire property for your wedding, accommodating between 30 to 130 guests.
Why You Will Love It
If you’re the kind of person who wants to customize the entire wedding experience to your liking, this is the venue for you. Because Lazy Oaks Resort doesn’t offer chairs, tables, DJs, or catering, you can personalize your entire wedding to your exact liking. Plus, who wouldn’t want to get married on a lake?
Basecamp at Snowbowl
I would be remiss not to highlight Basecamp at Snowbowl, a quintessential choice for an outdoor Flagstaff wedding. With Snowbowl’s mantra of experiencing Flagstaff at 11,500 feet, the views are simply breathtaking. Ideal for both winter and summer weddings, the beauty of this venue is unmatched. Additionally, you can treat your guests to the thrilling gondola rides offered at Snowbowl, adding a unique touch to your special day.
Why You’ll Love It
Simply put, Snowbowl has a ton of things for you and your wedding party to do during your stay. Whether you are booking in the summer or winter, Snowbowl is second to none in providing skiing and snowboarding, hiking, gondola rides, tubing (yes, even in the summer), and so much more.
Flagstaff Wedding Venues: Resorts
Flagstaff has plenty of perfect resort wedding venues if you’re interested in the views but not so keen on roughing it as much.
Little America Hotel Flagstaff
Let’s start with the most obvious: Little America Hotel in Flagstaff is lovely. Nestled in 500 acres of Ponderosa Pine forest, Little America Flagstaff is the sole AAA Four Diamond hotel. Each AAA Diamond Hotel is rated on hospitality, cleanliness, and quality. In short, this rating represents an upscale style and amenities with the right touch of service, and as they say, it’s great for a romantic getaway.
Why You’ll Love It
This venue is stunning! It features an upscale restaurant, comfortable accommodations, plenty of activities, and a high-end look and feel.
High Country Motor Lodge
Let’s say you’re more of an old soul and want to be transported back to an era of the 1950s; the High Country Motor Lodge is perfect for you. This creatively designed venue merges Flagstaff’s outdoor beauty’s rustic nature with classic creativity. This venue offers beauty with a side of wellness, focusing on its upscale sauna and cold plunge to maintain a genuinely zen wedding.
Why You’ll Love It
This is the perfect place if you’re looking for modern amenities with a side of art. I absolutely love this location because it is truly memorable compared to the other venues throughout Flagstaff.
Forest Highlands
Let’s say you want to go all out on your wedding. Forest Highlands offers a picturesque wedding destination for all four seasons. This venue boasts a variety of stunning backdrops, from towering pine trees and vibrant landscapes to snowy winters and sweeping panoramic views of the San Francisco Peaks. In a word, this wedding venue is luxury. Whether you want your wedding indoors, outdoors, or in a luxury tent, Forest Highlands can accommodate your every wish. Plus, they boast an incredible menu made by celebrity chef Eddie Matney. If you’re looking for a high-end venue, this one is most certainly it.
Why You’ll Love It
Seriously, what’s not to love? The grounds and location are beautiful, the food is incredible, and the staff is incredibly accommodating. If you’ve got the budget to go all out, I couldn’t recommend this location more.
Honorable Mention
If you believe that’s all Flagstaff has to offer, think again. Instead of detailing each location individually, why not explore the full range of what Flagstaff offers by checking out this link!
Flagstaff Wedding Guide: When to Book a Flagstaff Wedding
When should you book a wedding in Flagstaff? Regardless of the time of year you want to get married, there are no restrictions on when you should book your wedding in Flagstaff. However, there are a few things to consider:
Planning a Flagstaff Winter Wedding
Flagstaff is amazing in the wintertime. If you’re looking for that blanketing snow look in your wedding photos, booking during the wintertime is perfect.
Here are a few things to consider when booking a winter wedding in Flagstaff:
- The Fall Colors: Flagstaff’s fall is a vibrant display of changing leaves, beginning in late September and continuing through October. This colorful season is brief, lasting only until the first snows arrive in November.
- Snowfall Starts in November: Winter in Flagstaff typically stretches from November to mid-April and is marked by periods of snowfall. During these months, daytime temperatures rarely rise above 40 °F, even in full sunshine, and nighttime temperatures often drop below 20 °F.
- Travel Can Be an Issue: If you’re traveling from the Valley to Flagstaff, winter road closures can cause many headaches. If you’re booking a Flagstaff winter wedding, this is something to be aware of. As Moore’s law says, if it can go wrong, it will, so be prepared and devise a plan to deal with a road closure if it happens.
Planning a Flagstaff Summer Wedding
Let’s say chilly weather isn’t your vibe, and instead, you’re looking to beat the heat of Phoenix and have a semi-destination wedding in Flagstaff. Similar to planning a winter wedding, planning a summer wedding in Flagstaff also has some important items to consider:
- Spring in Flagstaff: Spring in Flagstaff starts in April and features comfortable weather. Occasionally, snow may make a brief reappearance in May, but generally, the spring season is mild and dry, continuing until early June.
- Summer in Flagstaff: Summer in Flagstaff is warm, starting in June, when the last traces of freezing temperatures fade away, and lasting through September. During these months, occasionally, the daytime highs reach above 90 °F, and the nights in Flagstaff often dip to around 40 °F.
- Preparing for Rain: As with most outdoor weddings, rain is unpredictable but almost guaranteed. Flagstaff’s summers are marked by the monsoon season in July and August when thunderstorms occur almost daily. Similar to preparing for road closures in the winter, I suggest coming up with a game plan for if and when the skies open up with some heavy rainfall.
Flagstaff Wedding Guide: Things to Do
If you’re interested in getting married in Flagstaff, you’re undoubtedly looking for some outdoor adventure. From hiking to skiing and snowboarding, Flagstaff provides a lot. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Flagstaff that your wedding party will no doubt enjoy:
- Flagstaff Extreme: Slightly different than your average hike, Flagstaff Extreme offers ziplining through the beautiful forest canopy, a ton of fun for those who don’t aren’t afraid of heights.
- Lowell Observatory: If stargazing is more your style, check out the Lowell Observatory. You can even see Pluto through the telescope it was discovered with.
- Downtown Flagstaff: Flagstaff’s downtown district is a vibe. It’s everything you would want from old-town living. It’s historic, fun, and has plenty of shops and restaurants.
- Snowbowl: Snowbowl is not just an ideal wedding venue but also a premier destination for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and enjoying breathtaking rides on the 11,500-foot elevation gondola.
- The Arb: Also known as the Arboretum at Flagstaff, is a premier conservation location where you can enjoy nature and bird walks, science talks, and, in the summer, the annual Blacksmith’s exhibit.
- Bearizona: Bearizona offers you and your wedding party the unique opportunity to drive through the ponderosa pine forest and observe wildlife in their natural settings, all from the comfort and privacy of their own vehicle.
Flagstaff Wedding Guide: Rehearsal Dinner Locations
Like Flagstaff’s diverse and unique wedding venues, plenty of great restaurants cater to hosting your rehearsal dinner.
- Brix: If you’re looking for an upscale restaurant with delicious wines, Brix is the perfect spot.
- Atria: Similar to Brix, Atria also offers upscale food with a flair for deconstructed food, so if you and your party are more adventurous, be sure to check out Atria.
- Tinderbox: Another great location is Tinderbox, offering many great wine choices in a very comfortable atmosphere.
- FLG Terrior: If you’re looking for great wines in a more casual atmosphere, FLG Terrior is an excellent choice.
- Lumberyard Brewery: Lastly, if beer is more of your thing, I would check out Lumberyard Brewing.
Flagstaff Wedding Guide: Photographers
As you can see, Flagstaff offers something for everyone. Whether searching for an upscale resort wedding or an outdoor rustic event, Flagstaff is the perfect location for almost any wedding.
As a wedding photographer based in Northern Arizona, I couldn’t be more proud of the beauty that Flagstaff has to offer. I love capturing the beauty of my couples and their families as well as the surrounding area.
If you’re unfamiliar with my work or who I am, my name is Tess Gearhart, and I own and operate TG Photo and Film.
I’m passionate about morning hikes, the twang of country music, embarking on long road trips, spending time with my beautiful dogs, and cherishing moments with my wonderful fiancé, Kate.
Photography is just one aspect of my life, much like the special season you’ve invited me to capture is only a part of your story. I’m eager for us to really get to know each other.
This journey is more than just capturing images; it’s about me being there to document your most cherished moments. By the time we’re done, I hope to be more than just a photographer to you—I aim to be a friend you trust to preserve your memories beautifully.
Feel free to reach out to learn how I can capture the love and beauty you and your loved one share. I’d love to hear from you.
In the meantime, feel free to check out some of my work below!
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