Nestled in Tucson, AZ, Lodge on the Desert is a remarkable wedding venue. This charming establishment, steeped in history, offers hacienda-style lodgings and a range of versatile event spaces to create unforgettable wedding experiences. Strategically situated near the Tucson International Airport, the University of Arizona, and a plethora of shopping centers, cultural hubs, performing arts venues, and golf courses, it promises both convenience and luxury. With over seven decades of operational excellence, this venue is a testament to enduring quality.
Facilities and Capacity
Lodge on the Desert boasts four distinct event spaces, presenting both indoor and uncovered outdoor settings. In total, the venue provides 3,700 square feet of indoor space and an expansive 6,700 square feet of outdoor space, ensuring plenty of options for couples to craft their dream wedding. With 102 well-appointed guest rooms, wheelchair accessibility, and ample parking, the Lodge strives to meet every guest's needs. Its availability for bookings spans throughout the year. However you choose to celebrate your big day, you can host up to 250 guests.
The Lodge on the Desert offers a wide range of wedding services tailored to meet the unique needs and desires of each couple. With a dedicated wedding suite, they ensure that the couple has a comfortable and elegant space to prepare for their big day. The venue also provides comprehensive event rentals, including essential items like linens, barware, glassware, flatware, and even decorative elements such as altars, arches, and centerpieces. Tables and chairs are available, and they offer chair covers to match the wedding theme. Lodge on the Desert presents in-house catering services, offering various serving styles, including buffet, hors d'oeuvres, stations, and plated meals, allowing couples to choose the dining experience that suits their preferences. Additionally, the venue can accommodate cake services to add a sweet touch to the celebration. The team is committed to making the wedding planning process as seamless as possible. They provide setup and cleanup services, ensuring that the venue is beautifully arranged and left in impeccable condition. Lighting and sound provisions are available to create the perfect atmosphere for the event. Notably, the Lodge on the Desert is a pet-friendly venue, meaning that furry family members can be part of the celebration. Book your tour today to explore this beautiful venue for yourself.
**This is for hotel block, not reception venue**We had our wedding hotel block at Lodge on the Desert and it was a total dream! Gisela was one of the nicest people I have ever worked with and was caring, responsive and so kind as we were planning our wedding weekend for our several out of town guests. My now-husband and I stayed in the Casita Suite during our wedding weekend and it was nothing short of magical! All of the rooms at Lodge on the Desert were gorgeous and spacious and we loved getting to run into our wedding guests at the free breakfast (delicious!) and by the pool. We even ended up having our first look at Lodge on the Desert before going to our wedding venue and our pictures turned out so beautifully. This hotel is gorgeous and the staff are friendly and helpful. Thank you again Gisela and all!! Reviewed on 19-11-2023
Britta Nordahl(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 16-04-2022 We hired the Lodge on the Desert for our desert destination wedding 2 weeks ago and they absolutely nailed it. It's THE perfect venue for an adobe-style, historic, desert courtyard wedding. Wedding of our dreams! The Wedding Venue: The venue itself is worth staying at - it's a historic adobe lodge with so many nooks & crannies filled with beautiful cacti. Our guests loved hanging at the pool and ordering their DELICIOUS margaritas before the wedding. It's in the middle of Tucson - but a short drives away from the Saguaro National Parks and fun restaurants, especially the restaurant Locale which is a few blocks away. We encouraged guests to explore the rest of Tucson by creating a weekend of activities for them to join (ie hike, brewery, etc).The lodge gives the bride & groom the most beautiful room at the lodge - it has a HUGE patio with a gorgeous view of the mountains. It was large enough for the entire wedding party to hangout and eat lunch before pictures. That way, everyone could hangout in air conditioning while we all take pictures in the cacti garden down below. The cacti garden below is beautiful! The Staff: Karen, the wedding event manager, was amazing to work with. I had many many questions to ask her while planning the event from a distance, and she always answered very quickly! We scheduled a tour/tasting 4 months before the wedding, which was incredibly helpful to decide on the final menu, etc. They were incredibly supportive - I had no worries leading up to our wedding day. She even helped with the rehearsal the night before the wedding, which was very helpful. The Wedding Space: It's a beautiful grass courtyard with sparkly lights hanging (we also opted for the lights on the courtyard tree to dance underneath - incredibly magical!). The wedding was entirely outdoors. We got married with the Catalina mountains in the distance. The staff was incredibly accommodating to make sure the tables were set-up how we'd like + went above and beyond to pick out the perfect table linens. We hired a mariachi band during the cocktail hour, which added a lot to the \"fiesta\" theme.The Food: We chose the Mexican taco buffet and all the guests raved about the food - the Tres Leches Cake and churros are to die for. We served pitchers of margaritas and chips/guacamole during the cocktail hour.Overall, I would rate the lodge 10/10 to anyone that is looking to plan a wedding. The venue is beautiful, the staff is amazing...and you will be able to enjoy every moment of your wedding because everything is absolutely perfect. Reviewed on 03-05-2022
Emma Gibson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 13-11-2021 We started planning our wedding five months out and we were struggling to find a venue. We stumbled upon Lodge on the Desert and we’re so happy we did! Initially we were working with Ashley, but we started working with Karen, the Sales & Events Manager, two months before our wedding day. Karen is communicative and responsive. Since we don’t live in Tucson, all communication was handled via email and Karen sent pictures of the Catalina Room, different chair options, etc. We finalized the food order (hors d’oeuvres and plated dinner) about 1.5 months before our wedding day and then when we arrived in Tucson, we picked the linens in person. The night before our wedding, we were informed that we’d only have 1.5-2 hours for set up, so we did have to ask our florist (Mayfield Florist) to push their delivery time back. Overall, this was a pretty minor hiccup. On our wedding day, Karen worked with my Matron of Honor to make sure the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception set ups were all to our liking. Our primary server, Mindy, was a gem. She made sure everyone who wanted a drink always had one in their hand. :) The food and drinks were all delicious. If you’re thinking about getting married in Tucson, Lodge on the Desert is a wonderful choice. Our family and friends agree too! We highly recommend Lodge on the Desert. Reviewed on 15-11-2021
Mari K-H(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 07-11-2020 Lodge on the Desert knocked it out of the park for our November wedding! I would highly recommend booking a wedding here (or any event)! Ashley and Jim and the entire team bent over backward to help us make our wedding weekend special and were with us every step of the way. Even with the threat of rain, they expertly helped us navigate the process smoothly and we remained stress-free. The food was amazing and the bar was a perfect gathering area (try the prickly pear margaritas). We've received multiple compliments from guests about their positive experiences from the seasonal cuisine to charming accommodations. The Lodge provided a unique taste of southwestern beauty for our guests. We loved the hacienda vibe and felt so welcome. Excellent hospitality, great communication, beautiful location, and great value. I could not be more pleased with my experience. Reviewed on 26-01-2021
Joanne Smith(wedding party)2 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-04-2015 This is a beautiful setting for a wedding. However, in December 2014, both the long-time events manager and the chef left. We were left with an inexperienced events coordinator, no helpful banquet set up staff, and mediocre servers. Hope they can get their staff upgraded. Until then, BEWARE. Reviewed on 06-05-2015
Lauren Campbell(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-03-2013 Stay here. Seriously. For the price (way cheaper than comparable accommodations) location, facilities and service I could not recommend it more. The staff are incredibly pleasant and helpful, the rooms and grounds are GORGEOUS, the restaurant is delicious (this is coming from a chef) and the pool and hot tub are open 24 hours! There is a mall (the El Con) a few blocks away. We had our rehearsal dinner in the private dining room and everyone raves about the food. They also have a great happy hour with some really fun and delicious cocktails. The beds are super comfy, there is free wifi throughout the facilities, plus a guest computer in the library. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed their stay and we are already planning on returning next year for our anniversary. Reviewed on 18-04-2013
Trish Winter-Hunt(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-09-2010 This hotel is full of character and charm. We had quite a bit of family visiting from out of town and wanted to give them a taste of Tucson. \rEveryone LOVED the lodge. We received a great group rate and the rooms were beautiful. It's newly remodeled and centrally located. With an on-site restaurant, it was easy to run into family members at dinner and laugh until all hours of the night. \r\rWe hosted our rehearsal dinner here as well. Everything from start to finish was better than we imagined. Guests raved about their dinner and their accommodations. \r\rDinner could be a little pricey and I sometimes felt like we didn't have the full attention of the event coordinator, but I wouldn't change a thing. Minor details. Reviewed on 27-10-2010
Meet Arthur Burrell, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the hotel industry. With a passion for delivering exceptional guest service, Arthur has worked on numerous weddings ranging from intimate gatherings of 25 to lavish affairs of 500 guests. In 2005, Arthur moved back to the States and joined the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich CT as a Senior Catering Sales Manager. Arthur's attention to detail and personalized approach ensured that every couple had a memorable experience with their family and friends. Let him show you around the Lodge on The Desert, for your perfect day