My Tucson Wedding

July through early September is considered the Monsoon Summer in Tucson. We get close to half our rainfall for the year during this time. June is one of the driest months, and is in stark contrast with the rest of the Summer.  Typically July and August are the slow months for weddings in Tucson, with the warm temps and thunderstorms in the afternoon. But, it can be a time of beautiful sunsets with refreshing cooler afternoons and various cloud formations. Most wedding venues offer discounts for the Monsoon months, and may be worth considering for your wedding.

“Something Blue Photography” is a husband and wife team that has done the photography for many couples at Saguaro Buttes. They recently provided us with some of their highlights taken at Saguaro Buttes. They have some very unique shots and some gorgeous sunsets.  You may view them on our Facebook page. (click here) Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Information

Something Blues web pages is www.somethingbluephotoraphy.net  and their phone number is 520-808-9812

Miray and Joshua Rhoads are professional Chamber Musicians and call themselves, “dUO VibrAtO”. They do a simply wonderful job and can add a beautiful music arrangements not only your ceremony but also for your reception.   Here is a little information about Miray and Joshua, found on their web page. “dUO VibrAtO has been setting the bar here in Arizona since 2005, and has always exceeded the highest level of standards in the business.In 2005, violinist Miray Cakir, and guitarist Joshua Rhoads, discovered one another in the small Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Both were music students at the Eastern Mediterranean University where they collaborated together to produce this stunning ensemble. After their first musical experience as duo, they just knew… Joshua & Miray now perform beside each other as husband and wife, captivating audiences with their charismatic performances, impressive talent, and alluring stage presence, as they continue to charm their way into the hearts of music lovers from all over”. Their phone number is 602-315-6104 and their web page is www.duovibrato.com   their email address is music@duovibrato.com.

This hot dog stand famous for their “Sonoran Dog” was brought in by Ana and Brian as a little extra for their wedding guests. They arrived and set up after dinner and during the dancing time in the parking lot.  It was a very popular place as guests burned off calories on the dance floor and needed a late night snack.

Ana and Brian had a very elegant wedding reception at Saguaro Buttes on June 19, 2010. They brought in many extras, from an extensive dessert table, a live band, to a hot dog stand later in the evening.  More of their pictures can be seen on Facebook. (Click here)

Kristen and Braden provided a nice treat for their wedding guests on June 17th,  in the form of a Gelato Stand. It was a big hit for both young and old on a warm day in Arizona. “Frost - A Gelato Shoppe” provided the catering for a reasonable price and you may find more information on their web page. (click here)  What is Gelato? Translated from Italian, (jeh-lot-o) literally means frozen. Although Gelato is a frozen dessert, the word does not begin to describe its immense flavor and texture. Gelato is often compared to ice cream because it is a frozen, creamy product, but there are actually many differences. Unlike American ice cream, which contains 10-20% butterfat, Gelato contains anywhere from 3-8% butterfat. The United States Department of Agriculture has designated that any product under 10% cannot legally be called ice cream. As a result, Gelato will never be able to take the ice cream name.  Gelato is able to keep the low percentages of butterfat because we only use 3% milk instead of cream, raw eggs and butter in the production.  Another feature of Gelato that separates itself from American ice cream is the amount of air that is incorporated into the product. Most American style ice creams incorporate anywhere from 75%-100% of air. Gelato, however, incorporates a maximum of 20%. As a result, the Gelato flavors are intensified because the butterfat acts as a dam and dilutes or blocks the flavors. What does all of this information mean? Simply, that Gelato is the most intense, silky, dense, cool, and flavorful “ice cream style” product that will hit your lips. The flavor is simply indescribable. An added bonus: because of all these factors, Gelato is much healthier than ice cream.

Kristin and Braden were married on June 17th, at Saguaro Buttes by Pastor Randy Hammonds. They had three bridesmaids and three groomsmen, and they also included a sand ceremony. More photos of their wedding may be seen on Facebook (click here).

There are many places to have your outdoor wedding in Tucson, from Resort Hotels, Golf Courses, Parks, Botanical Gardens, Backyards, Etc. which make for beautiful backdrops for your special day.  But if your looking from something that is very private and exclusive with gorgeous views, Saguaro Buttes has few to compare. Sitting on 26 acres, located adjacent to the national park, we only allow one event per day, so your day is very special to you, and you only.  Some places will book a morning event, and an evening event, but we don’t believe that is fair to the Bride and Groom, because one wedding is being pushed out to hurry up and set up for the next wedding. Your day should be special and allow you to give special attention to the details. Some locations it is common to have people outside the invited guests, to be walking by, watching what is going on, etc. At Saguaro Buttes the only people there will be part of your wedding. The picture to the right was taken on June 16, 2010, as the wedding ceremony was being conducted.

This beautiful hors d’ouevre table was designed by Annette Hartman which included an antique chest, a white bonnet, teddy bear bride, along with various fruits, vegetables, with tasty dips. For more information on Annette’s services you can check out her web page (Click Here).

Steven & Regina were married at Saguaro Buttes on June 16th, at 6:15 PM by Pastor Ben Pitney from Vail Christian Church. Regina’s family from Portugal were in attendance. More pictures of the wedding can be see on facebook (click here).

At Saguaro Buttes, three times a year we hold what is called a “Taste Testing”, (June, November, March) with River’s Edge Catering, our in house caterer,  providing a sampling of many of the dishes on their menu. On Tuesday night, June 15th. we had a wonderful taste testing with close to 40 couples in attendance. The evening starts out at 6:00 PM with butler passed hors d’oeurves, Tea and Lemonade. There was also a table of various cheeses, crackers and fruit. Our DJ, Rashid, was in attendance providing music by request and answering any questions couples may have.  Jason Hartenbach the owner of “Rivers Edge Catering” was also in attendance, answering any questions that couples may have concerning food.  The room is set up just as it would be for a wedding, with linens, center pieces, candles, etc. The main dish consists of Beef, Chicken, Pork, Brisket, Lasagna, etc. with various sauces, various kinds of potatoes, and vegetables. The evening is finished off with a slice of cake from our in house Baker, “Sweet Creations”. Couples are given copies of the menu to take notes and make selections of those dishes that they would like for their wedding.  This is a fun evening for couples, a cheap date night, as it is a part of our services to the Bride and Groom. It is also a wonderful time to see what Saguaro Buttes looks like in the evening with the outdoor lights turn on. It is also a great time to meet other couples getting married at Saguaro Buttes.

At Saguaro Buttes we have over 120 large Saguaro Cactus on our 26 acres. During the months of May and June the Cactus blooms with a beautiful white blossom. The picture to the right is one of those blossoms. Here is more information found on www.50states.com about the Saguaro Blossom. “In 1901 the saguaro’s blossom was adopted as the official territorial flower, and later, in 1931, it was confirmed as the state flower. The saguaro cactus typically blooms in May and June. It is one of the most unique state flowers, and is characterized by having a waxy feel, but fragrant aroma. There may be hundreds of flowers on a saguaro cactus that bloom just several at a time over a period of more than a month. The saguaro flowers have a short life; they open at night and close permanently during the next day. Many of the blossoms will become pollinated and, later in the summer, the flowers become red-fleshed fruits that are enjoyed by the local bird population.”

Christina and Nicholas were married at “Our Mother of Sorrows” Church located on Kolb Rd. on June 12th, 2010 and they had their reception immediately following the ceremony at Saguaro Buttes. The wedding ceremony took place at 2:00 PM and the reception began at 3:30 PM.  Both the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids dressed and had pictures taken before the ceremony at Saguaro Buttes which made for less time for pictures after the ceremony.

A Unity Candle ceremony can work well during the Reception, after the Wedding Ceremony, especially if the ceremony is outside and it is a breezy day. It is very difficult to keep the candles lit outside if there is any kind of breeze, plus it is hard to see the candles is the bright sunlight. A nice time to have the Unity Candle ceremony in these cases, is as the couple is introduced for the dinner hour. It is usually dark, so the candles glow and you do not have the wind issue.

Beginning June 22nd Saguaro Buttes will be holding an “Open House” every Tuesday evening through the Summer from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Sunsets at Saguaro Buttes can be magnificent, and with the rope lighting and twinkly lights on the trees it makes for a magical atmosphere. If you would like to come for a tour, or if you have already booked your wedding and would just like to come out and enjoy the evening at Saguaro Buttes, you are welcome to come and enjoy.

A nice way to add something extra to your wedding ceremony is to include a Dove Release.  The White Doves against the Arizona blue skies makes for a beautiful picture. Usually the bride and groom release two doves and after they released these two doves, another dozen doves are released along with the first two.These doves were provided by “Desert Rose Doves” which can also be contacted by phone at

(520) 682-4417.

Meleah and Bryan were married on June 5th, 2010 at Saguaro Buttes. They surprised their guests with a dove release during the wedding ceremony. More photos can be seen on facebook (click here)

One way to add some fun to your wedding reception is to include a Photo Montage. Usually they consist of pictures of both the Bride and Groom through the years growing up, and then pictures of the couple together. The background music adds a lot of color to the production.  It is usually good to keep it under 10 minutes and to keep the slides moving fairly rapidly. At Saguaro Buttes we have the capability to show either DVDs or Computer slide shows.  Showing the Photo Montage during the dinner hour seems to work best as everyone is seated at their tables. Some have chosen to have a longer photo montage and loop it so it plays over and over during the cocktail hour while pictures are being taken. Either way it is a nice addition for your wedding guests. It is also fun to select pictures that include some of the wedding guests present at the wedding.

Ben and Lauren were married by Ben’s father Magdy on June 4th, 2010 at Saguaro Buttes. It was another lovely evenings, with balmy temperatures and a mild breeze at the time of the ceremony around 6:30 PM.  You can see more pictures of Ben and Lauren’s wedding on Facebook. (click here)

Brandon and Lenea were married on a beautiful evening on June 3rd, 2010 at Saguaro Buttes. The weather was gorgeous and the sunset was spectacular. With wedding guests from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas and California they enjoyed a magnificent Southern Arizona evening.  Brandon and Lenea met while he was in Tucson TDY with the Air Force, they will be living in North Carolina as Brandon is stationed there currently. You can see more pictures of their wedding on Facebook (click here)