My Tucson Wedding

It all depends, each season has it advantages and disadvantages. Like the poem below states.

• “Married when the year is new, he’ll be loving, kind and true;
• When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate;
• If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you’ll know;
• Marry in April when you can, joy for Maiden and for Man;
• Marry in the month of May, and you’ll surely rue the day;
• Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you will go;
• Those who in July do wed, must labor for their daily bred;
• Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see;
• Marry in September’s shrine, your living will be rich and fine;
• If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry;
• If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember;
• When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last”.

The most popular months to get married in Tucson tend to be in the Spring and Fall, and yet every month or season in Tucson has it’s advantages and disadvantages. You can literally get married outdoors in Tucson every month of the year. In the following posts  I will try to give you what I see as the advantages and disadvantages of each season in Tucson.

January & February

Average high temperatures

• January  65 degrees
• February 69 degrees

Average low temperatures

• January 39 degrees
• February 42 degrees

Monthly Precipitation

• January .99 inches
• February .88 inches

Sunshine

• January 80%
• February 82%

Beginning your new life together at the beginning of the New Year can be real special.  January & February weddings have a lot of advantages with few disadvantages. One thing to keep in mind is that your start time will usually be earlier, as the sun sets much earlier in January and February. In January the sun sets about 5:30 pm which usually puts your wedding start time at around 4:00 pm.

Advantages:

• Your out of town wedding guests from the colder Northern States will love you. They will get a taste of why people move to Tucson, especially in the winter time when they may be looking at below zero temperatures and 6 foot snow drifts. They will be able to play a game of golf before they go back home. It is always fun to see those Minnesota people in their shorts and tee shirts when it is 50 degrees outside.
• Usually there are discounts for weddings in this month and there are more open dates to choose from making it easier to get a date at your favorite venue. It is also easier to get photographers and florists and other vendors as well as better deals on travel vacations for your honeymoon.
• The beauty of a snow capped mountain as a back drop. Tucson doesn’t get a lot of snow but when it does snow it can be oh so beautiful.
• There is usually more clouds in the sky for better sunset pictures

Disadvantages:

• Colder evenings. As it can get down below freezing at night during the winter months in Tucson. It can be compensated for by providing outdoor space heaters.
• Flowers and vegetation are not in bloom. This can be compensated for by bringing some of your own flowers to decorate.
• There is more of a chance for rain in January and February.

March & April

Average High Temperatures

• March  73 degrees
• April  82 degrees

Average Low Temperatures

• March 45 degrees
• April  51 degrees

Monthly Precipitation

• March  .81 inches
• April  .28 inches

Sunshine

• March 86%
• April 90%

March and April are very popular months in Tucson for weddings.  The days are longer which also pushes the start times back for the wedding ceremony.  March 1st sunset is at 6:22 pm, so weddings will be starting around 5:00 to 5:30 pm, and the flowers begin to bloom. The picture to the right was taken on April 10th.

Advantages:

• The weather is nicer, warmer but not hot. There are more sunny days and less rain.
• The flowers and vegetation begin to come to life, especially by April.

Disadvantages:

• Harder to find a wedding venue as these dates will book up over a year in advance.

May and June

 Average High Temperatures

• May 90 degrees
• June 100 degrees

Average Low Temperatures

• May 59 degrees
• June 68 degrees

Average Precipitation

• May .24
• June .24

Sunshine

• May 92%
• June 93%

May and June have the least amount of rain and the most amount of Sunshine for the year. You can usually expect clear weather, hot days and beautiful balmy evenings with very low humidity. The sun sets later, around 7:30 pm, so wedding ceremonies usually begin around 6:00 pm.

Advantages

• Weather is usually very nice especially in the evening, and these months have the least chance of rain.
• School is out, and people’s schedules are more open for travel.

Disadvantages

• The weather can get rather warm during the day, especially in June.
• Very few clouds in the sky, which makes it harder to get those spectacular sunsets.

July & August

Average High Temperatures

• July 99 degrees
• August 97 degrees

Average Low Temperatures

• July 73 degrees
• August 72 degrees

Average Precipitation

• July 2.07 inches
• August 2.30 inches

Sunshine

• July 78%
• August 80%

July and August in Tucson is Monsoon Season. These months get more rain than any other months in Tucson. The monsoons bring cooling to the hot desert, and much needed moisture, but also makes it more difficult for outdoor weddings. For weddings in Tucson these months are some of the slowest, although Nationally they are some of the busiest.

Advantages

• You can usually book a venue with less lead time than other months
• More colorful sunsets, with clouds
• Vegetation is in full bloom, and the desert becomes much greener
• Easier for many people to take their vacation during the summer months when kids are out of school, to attend your wedding
• Wedding venues may discount to get your business

Disadvantages

• More chance of rain on your wedding day
• More humid evenings, hot days, and not as comfortable outside

September & October

 Average High Temperatures

• September 94 degrees
• October 84 degrees

Average Low Temperatures

• September 68 degrees
• October 57 degrees

Average Precipitation

• September 1.45 inches
• October 1.21 inches

Average Sunshine

• September 87%
• October 88%

September and October are very busy months for weddings in Tucson. The weather has gotten cooler, the monsoons are over, and it’s just a great time for a wedding. The Fall flowers are in full bloom and the ceremony garden is beautiful.

Advantages:

• Nicer weather and less rain
• Beautiful sunsets
• Flowers are blooming again

Disadvantages

• These dates book much earlier and it is harder to find open dates less than a year out.

November & December

Average High Temperatures

• November 72 degrees
• December 65 degrees

Average Low Temperatures

• November 45 degrees
• December 39 degrees

Average Precipitation

• November .67 inches
• December 1.03 inches

Average Sunshine

• November 84%
• December 79%

November is a very popular month for weddings in Tucson as the weather is usually perfect, and we have a lot of beautiful sunsets in the Fall.  December of course we are into the Holiday season, which can be to your advantage, as many couples will have family and friends in town for the Holidays and will coordinate this with their wedding date.  Ceremony times will be earlier as the days are getting shorter, so expect a 4:00 to 5:00 pm start time.

Advantages:

• Family and friends may be in town for the Holidays and can make it easier to attend your wedding.
• Weather is beautiful and Sunsets are gorgeous.
• The colors and vegetation are optimal. Flowers are still in bloom in November.
• Don’t forget the tax breaks for getting married this year rather than next year.
• Great time for a destination wedding in Tucson.

Disadvantages

• Holiday season can be a busy time for some, especially in December.
• If you’re still in college you may have finals and term papers due around this time.
• Cooler weather in the evenings in December.

Congratulations! You’ve just been pronounced husband and wife and the guests are all on their feet, standing, clapping, and now it’s time for you to make your way triumphantly back down the aisle. It’s time for a little music and celebration. The recessional is often the loudest music played at a ceremony. The song played should reflect the personality and emotion of the occasion and it should be a time of great joy and celebration. The classic song is “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven, but many couples are using more modern songs to express their joy.  Songs like the Beatles “All you Need is Love” to “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang, are used today. So give it some thought or ask the DJ if they have a suggestion, to spice up it up a little.

Here is another interesting chart from the Knot.com about the average timeline for preparing for a wedding.  There are many helpful websites to consult as you put together a timeline for your wedding plans (click here) and it is important to spend time putting one together. Most weddings are being planned about a year out, especially if you want to book the better venues and wedding professionals.

Here is something that may be a little different, and can add a little levity to the occasion. James Babcock is the artist for “WED-TOONS”, and will personalize any of your Wed-toon art by drawing your personal pictures that you provide into the art work that he has already designed. He has a collection of various Cartoon Panels like the one to the right, that can be used for anything from cake toppers to invitations or announcements. You can e-mail him for more samples of his work @ toons4u@msn.com.

Destination weddings, which are weddings held in a vacation location away from the couple’s home town, are gaining in popularity. At Saguaro Buttes we offer, starting in 2010, a “Concierge Package”, that is an all inclusive  total package especially for those coming from out of state. Included in this package is everything to make it easy to plan an out of town wedding. We include not only the photographer, cake, flowers, catering, DJ, officiant, lodging arrangements, but a wedding coordinator and everything that is needed to make it simple for planning a wedding out of town.

The advantages to a Destination Wedding include:

One advantage is by finding a location that has a “Complete Package”  with everything included, makes your planning less stressful and less time consuming. Secondly, you may be able to avoid stressful family situations, and at the same time save money by not having 250 people at a reception. Another hidden benefit may be in combining wedding and honeymoon, you may be able to afford to go to that dream locale.  If you live in the cold country, and would like to have an outdoor wedding in the winter time and play golf at the same time, Tucson may be the place for you.

Disadvantages of a Destination Wedding would be:

Primarily the fact that family members and friends you love may not be there as some of your loved ones may not be able to afford to travel.  There are always down sides to every decision you may make. People who have literally hundreds and hundreds of family, friends, clients and associates, and want to make everyone feel included, find that a destination wedding is one way of inviting everyone, and yet having a smaller wedding.

Paul and Denise were married at Saguaro Buttes on Sept 17th at 5:00 PM by Pastor David Hallstrom.  It was a beautiful evening, the weather was balmy and the sunset was colorful. They met for the first time in Feb 2001 as they worked together for the same company.

In these economic times it’s even more important that you put together a budget for your wedding.  The Knot.com which Saguaro Buttes is a member of (Click here) has put together an interesting chart on the averages that are spent on weddings. It is also interesting to see where more is being spent. This is a national survey, and doesn’t always accurately reflect what bride and grooms spend in Tucson but gives you a general idea of costs and the direction that they are heading.

Julie Clark, Melanie Brown and Cindy Hallstrom were at the Tucson Bridal Expo on Sunday July 19th, at the TCC, manning the Saguaro Buttes booth. (Julie picture on the left, Melanie on the right). It was a wonderful time of meeting present and future brides and grooms.  For more information about the Tucson Bridal Expo you can check out their web site (click here)

Saturday is by far the most desired day for weddings, but Fridays and Sundays are becoming much more popular, and even Thursday evening weddings. Some of the reasons are cost savings but there are also many other reasons you may want to consider having your wedding on a Friday, or Sunday.  Let’s consider the advantages of having your wedding on a Friday:

1. Shorter Booking Time

With the most popular venues booking over a year and a half in advance, especially for Fall and Spring Saturdays in Tucson, it makes it difficult to find an open Saturday especially if you are looking for a date 9 to 12 months out. To make matters worse, it’s even harder if there’s one particular site you’ve set your heart on.

2. Cost Savings

Cost savings are one advantage, not only for the bridal party but also for your guest. Lower airfares are often available for your out-of-town guests. Hotels and restaurants may require a lower minimum number of guests for off-day weddings. If your budget is tight, these advantages can make a difference.

3. More Time With Family

Another reason for the growing popularity of Friday weddings is the opportunity to spend more time with your family and friends. With most guests leaving or flying out on Sunday, a Friday event provides all day Saturday to spend time together with loved ones. Some plan special activities, Golf, sight seeing, etc. or even a U of A football game to entice your out-of town guests. Holiday weekends make for great choices too as this allows your guests to have a longer stay.

Deborah McCoy, wedding specialist, has this to say, “Clients might balk, saying that it’s difficult for out-of-town family and friends to make it, however, it’s been my experience that people have no problem taking an extra day off from work. Besides, the people who are important to the bride and groom-family and close friends-will make it.”

4. Easier to Move your Wedding Day

If you have to postpone your wedding or switch dates, it is much easier to find a Friday open close to the date that you are looking for. This is especially true for if you don’t have a lot of time for wedding planning and preparation, or if a sudden job move or other unexpected event makes you advance your plans.

5. A Special Anniversary Date

The anniversary factor can also have you setting up an off-day wedding. When a particular date (like the one-year anniversary of his proposal) is more important than a Saturday time frame, you should not let tradition stand in the way of significance. Many people take dates like 9/9/09 or 10/10/10 over a year in advance because of this reason, even if it falls on a day other than Saturday.

Off-day weddings also appeal because bridal professionals are more likely to be available when there are fewer demands on their time and attention. Florist, photographers, bakers, etc.

6. Rehearsal is Easy

Restaurants are usually thrilled to have rehearsal dinners booked on Thursdays or other evenings during the week, since those are typically their slower business days. You will find a more relaxed atmosphere and the staff will be more attentive to your party’s needs.

7. More Time to Decorate

Friday weddings usually allow for more time to decorate the day before as there are much fewer Thursday weddings. This can allow your family and friends after a Thursday evening rehearsal to decorate to their hearts content.

8. More of a Reunion

Guests many times like Friday weddings because they don’t have to face a workday to soon after a night of celebration. The wedding becomes more like a reunion than a quick ceremony. People aren’t in a major rush to go directly from a wedding to a honeymoon. It gives your wedding guest an excuse to take a day off also.

9. Churches Easier to Book

If you are getting married at a Catholic Church it is easier to find a church open or a priest available on a Friday for your ceremony.

“Catholic clients, who are being married in the church, will be pleased to know that many churches perform late afternoon and early evening weddings in church on Fridays (unlike Saturdays, where weddings are held earlier in the day).”   Deborah McCoy

Many people take advantage of having their ceremony outside at Saguaro Buttes but you may want to have a priest perform your ceremony and they are only allowed to do so in the church.

Friday Weddings are catching on, and becoming more popular, and it may be something to consider as you plan for that important day.

Michelle Burley Photography recently took photos at a wedding at Saguaro Buttes. She has an artistic touch to her photos. Her web site is www.michelleburley.com Her phone number is 520.622.3430

Michelle’s Bio

Michelle writes on her web page, “Creating photographs has been a passion for me for over 14 years. It all started in a Junior High Graphic Arts class, where everything we were doing seemed to revolve around the photographic process. I was always amazed when the images appeared.

I continued taking Photography and Graphics classes throughout high school and college. I graduated from Minnesota State University in Moorhead in the winter of 1997. I moved to Tucson a short time later, and eventually opened my studio in January of 2001.”

This nice table greeted wedding guests as they arrived at Saguaro Buttes for their wedding.  They provided their guest with fans to cool themselves during the outdoor wedding ceremony. An alternative to the regular guest book is to have a Polaroid camera and pen available as guests sign in at the reception. Each wedding guest can affix their picture to the book and write a well wish for the bride & groom.

Chester, (aka Goose), and Cortney were married on July 11th at 6:45 PM in the evening. They had guests from as far as Belgium in attendance. The temperature though warm was very comfortable by having the ceremony so close to sunset. Chester and Cortney met in Tucson at a house party. Chester is currently in the Air Force stationed in Tucson.

Joshua and Amy were married at Saguaro Buttes on August 1st, 2009 at 6:00 PM. They met while enrolled at ASU through the Navigators program. Amy has finished her teaching degree, and Joshua has a degree in communications. They plan to live in Phoenix after the wedding.

Graham and Brenda were married at Saguaro Buttes on August 8, 2009 at 10:15 AM. They met on a blind date which was set up by Graham’s sister, Fiona, at the urging of his niece, Emily.  Graham is an independent Contractor at Oro Valley Hospital as a Courier and he is also a Navy Veteran. Brenda is employed by Albertson’s.

Melissa and Jon married on July 18th, in an outdoor ceremony at Saguaro Buttes at 5:30 PM by Pastor David Hallstrom. They met while both were enrolled at the University of Arizona. Jon is a teacher for Sunnyside School District and Melissa has been teaching at TUSD. They were planning an Alaskan Cruise for their honeymoon.

Results from recent surveys by “The Wedding Report”  show that 62% of couples are cutting their wedding budgets by an average pf 32%. This is reflected in choices that bridal couples are making, such as the following:

• Smaller weddings with fewer guests
• Destination weddings or destination type weddings closer to home
• Increased reliance on family and friends to help plan, pay, and provide some of the services
• Simplified decorations, centerpieces and wedding invitations
• Increased use of online RSVP’s vs. traditional mail-in RSVP’s
• Off-peak weddings; Mornings, Afternoons, Fridays, Sundays
• Buffet meals, Hors d’oeuvres, and cocktail receptions
• All-inclusive packages

Outdoor ceremonies in Tucson, AZ during July and August, when the temperatures can rise to 105-110 degrees during the daytime, don’t seem all that inviting.  Here are some thoughts for making even those dates work for you.   One, do the ceremony closer to Sunset, when the temperatures and sun are a lot less intense. It can be quite beautiful around sunset and also very comfortable with a nice breeze.  Two, keep the ceremony short. Make sure that the Pastor is on board with keeping the ceremony to 15 or 20 minutes. Three, provide plenty of liquids. Pictured to the right, is a water station that was set up for guests as they arrive. Fourth, provide some sort of a hand held fan for your guest. It can be in the form of the wedding program, which works nicely. Fifth, don’t keep your guests waiting too long outside, start the wedding as close to on time as possible. Most weddings do not start on time, no surprise, but work hard to start as close to the time that was in the invitation.  Sixth, have the reception indoors if possible. At Saguaro Buttes, we have an indoor reception hall with air conditioning and beautiful views, which makes even Summer weddings very comfortable.

A ring bearer is usually a young boy between the ages of 4 and 8 who has a special connection to the bride or groom. (It can also be a girl if one chooses.) He may be related to them, or just be a family friend, but one should look for someone that is important in your life. He usually walks down the aisle immediately before the flower girl, or last bridesmaid, with the wedding rings tied to a small pillow. These little guys can really look cute in a little tuxedo or as picture to the right in a special outfit. If the ring bearer is younger than 4 years of age, it may be smart to have them walk with an older flower girl, and he can also be seated instead of standing with the groomsman during the ceremony.

A nice way to spruce up the ceremony site, that is fairly inexpensive, is to decorate with tulle. At this wedding at Saguaro Buttes, the bridal couple used Tulle on all the railings which added a nice accent to the ceremony location. You may also consider using other colors than white. Here is a web site that offers various colors of tulle. (click here)