THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Romantic Wedding & Honeymoon Havens
Phoenix Bride and Groom Magazine
Winter/Spring 2004

You are about to set out on the most signifi-cant journey of your life. It only makes sense that you choose the perfect romantic locale for both your wedding ceremony and your honeymoon.

Arizona and its neighboring states (California, Nevada and New Mexico) offer many possibilities for every bride and groom. Whether you choose to stay close to home or travel a short distance away, you will be able to satisfy whatever your hearts desire.

PHOENIX, SCOTTSDALE AND TUCSON
Romance and luxury await you in your own backyard. Phoenix and Scottsdale are considered a metropoli-tan tourist mecca, where the unique desert beauty and cityscape meet. Lushly landscaped grounds, majestic saguaros, and picturesque mountains blend with city skyscrapers, world-class shopping centers, over 150 golf courses, and a flourishing cultural community.

Whether you crave the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, the upscale comfort of an urban luxury resort, or wish to feel as if you've escaped to the tropics, there is no need to travel any farther than Phoenix or Scottsdale.

In comparison, Tucson revels in its authentic Western small-town feel. This charming locale is com-pletely surrounded by the Santa Catalina Mountains. Desert landscaping and rocky washes are common. It, too, has golf courses and a thriving arts community, but on a smaller scale.

In Tucson, you will find not only posh resorts at which to marry or honeymoon, but because of its small--town, intimate atmosphere, you will find B&Bs and small inns to choose from, as well. It is not uncom-mon to find a property that embraces the rich sense of Arizona history with a backdrop that includes stunning views of the undisturbed desert terrain.

For your honeymoon in Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Tucson you can cool off in pools that will soothe your soul. Be pampered at some of the best spas in the world. Play golf on a championship course. Or play tennis on lighted courts when the sun goes down.

FLAGSTAFF
An easy two and a half hour drive north from Phoenix, four hours from Tucson, is Flagstaff, a funky little town located on famed Route 66. Located at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks, couples often opt for non-traditional wedding ceremonies, saying "I do" in the Ponderosa pines. If being at-one with nature isn't your thing, there are plenty of other places to wed. The historic Colton House, a Spanish Colonial Revival home built by the Hopi craftsmen in the 1920s, is a favorite for many. You can even wed at the Lowell Observatory, where meeting rooms are transformed into festive surroundings. As night settles in, guests are treated to private viewings of the evening skies, revealing millions of shimmering stars, making for a very romantic celebration.

THE GRAND CANYON
The Grand Dame of the state is, of course, the Grand Canyon, one of the most romantic destinations on earth. Couples can stay in either Flagstaff or Sedona and venture to the Canyon by car for the day, or by the classic Grand Canyon Railway, boarded in the town of Williams. For those who want to stay at the Canyon, the historic E1 Tovar hotel is a must. Because this hotel is so popular, make your reservations well in advance of your stay. Ceremonies can be performed on the South Rim of the Canyon.

LAS VEGAS
A 50-minute flight or five-hour drive from Phoenix takes you to Las Vegas. The leg-endary chapels on the Strip provide ben-efits such as affordability, convenience, and speed for those who want to get married at a moment's notice. And yes, you can even get married by an Elvis impersonator.

But quickie weddings are not your only choice. Luxury hotels allow you to experi-ence the true spirit of Vegas, fulfilling any fantasies for a fairy tale wedding. If you are adventurous, you can be picked up at your hotel in a stretch limo and whisked away to a private jet helicopter, where a minister and photographer await. Exchange your vows as you soar high above the lights of the Vegas Strip.

Escape the hustle and bustle and glitz and glamour of the Strip at Lake Las Vegas. Located only 17 miles from the Strip, this privately owned 320-acre lake boasts an ambience of elegant tranquility, with world-class hotels, a grand yacht, and white sand beaches as venues for your nuptials. You may be able to book the yacht with just a few short days notice, but plan ahead if you decide to have your wedding or reception at one of the prominent hotels located here.

LAKE TAHOE
From Las Vegas, head north to Lake Tahoe, the Jewel of the Sierra, where couples come from allover the world to exchange vows. Lake Tahoe provides the perfect contrast to the desert regions of Arizona and New Mexico. Bordering the California-Nevada state line, this is one of the three clearest alpine lakes in the world. The sapphire waters will mesmerize you.

According to Beverly Bedard, executive director of the North Lake Tahoe Wedding and Honeymoon Association, Tahoe is the perfect place for your destination wedding. In the winter season, North Lake Tahoe is a winter wonderland, with incredible slopes for the heartiest of skiers, tobogganing, snowmobiling-every winter activity imaginable. In the summer, boating, parasailing, rafting and skydiving will tickle anyone's romantic fancy. The natural, serene beauty found in North Lake Tahoe provides an idyllic romantic setting.

Couples will find everything they need for their wedding celebration in South Lake Tahoe. Teri Sweeney, president of the South Lake Tahoe Wedding and Honeymoon Association, describes South Shore as a small city in its own right that offers many options for weddings. There are quaintly appointed chapels, grand lakefront mansions, and mountaintop properties perfect for exchanging vows. In any season, couples can be married on roomy paddle wheeler boats, sailboats, and even yachts. After you've tied the knot, honey-mooning here will be a pleasure. Nightlife is abundant with world-famous casinos and an array of dining options. During the day, you can play golf or sip pina coladas on the beach when the weather accommodates.

Couples on either shore can exchange vows on sandy beaches, at mountain top chalets, in hot air balloons, aboard horse-drawn carriages, even on snowmobiles. The lure of the lake is undeniable, making it the perfect place to hold your ceremony.

NEW MEXICO
Within an hour's drive of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the town of Santa Fe, known as the "City Different." The Old World ambience, tranquil environment and breathtaking landscape scream romance for those who wish to wed or honeymoon here. Purple sage, buttes ascending from the desert floor, expansive blue sky, and snowcapped mountains create the perfect backdrop for love.

The charm of the town extends to the places where couples can marry. Venues range from quaint chapels to ranch resorts, historic lodges, candle-lit ceremonies in the courtyard of adobe-style B&Bs, to starlit mountain-top weddings at intimate inns, all providing a romantic wedding ambience.

Honeymooners can stroll hand-in-hand through nar-row streets filled with galleries, boutiques, and restau-rants, listen to reggae at a hot club, go horseback riding or sneak away to the Ten Thousand Waves Japanese spa for a little pampering. For a scenic four-hour trip, board the Santa Fe Southern Railway at the historic depot in Santa Fe. Travel to Lamy, an old Western town, and back again to experience the days of the Wild, Wild West. You will feel completely captivated by this enchanting town.

With only 5,000 residents, it is the intimacy, rugged beauty, and laid-back lifestyle that draw couples to Taos. Elopements and small gatherings are very popular, with B &Bs the preferred lodging for newlyweds.

A haven for artists, Taos offers brides the opportunity to request a painting of a scene from their wedding. It is a tradition in Taos that newlyweds drive through the Plaza in town and honk their horn as townspeople cheer them on. Taos bakeries sell biscochitos and traditional cookies made especially for weddings.

Fall is the favored season for weddings in both Taos and Santa Fe. The aroma of chiles roasting in the air, wildflowers lining country roads and leaves changing colors all add to lasting memories. However, be cau-tious when arranging a spring wedding in Taos; sudden spring storms can bring heavy rains and mud, making for quite a mess.

Noted romance expert Pamela Swartz is the author of Arizona Getaways for the Incurably Romantic. She can be reached at pam@cloudninepress.com, www.cloudninepress.com.