Mountain Shadows Resort Phoenix’s Best Wedding And Reception Venue

Paradise Valley / Scottsdale / Phoenix Destination Wedding Venue

Mountain Shadows Resort is the nicest resort I have ever stayed at and the perfect Phoenix-area wedding venue. This five-star resort is located in the town of Paradise Valley sandwiched between Phoenix and Scottsdale. While I did not photograph a wedding here, I spent a great deal of time watching other weddings take place and scouting locations for myself. In my opinion, this is a great place to have an outdoor wedding and reception in the Phoenix area. You will love the hotel property, wedding areas, and especially the amazing service.

Although I am an experienced wedding photographer of 17 years, I did not photograph either of the weddings the week I was there. I have put together this blog post for future wedding couples who want a photographer’s unbiased review of this Phoenix wedding venue.

If you love my wedding photography and are having your wedding at Mountain Shadows Resort, contact me to discuss hiring me. We can work out a deal, as this is a must-photograph-wedding-destination for me! I want to be your Scottsdale and Phoenix elopement and destination wedding photographer!

Wedding Ceremony Location Camelback Mountain And Golf Course Backdrop

Weddings take place on a two-section outdoor lawn beyond the main lobby. This area is bordered by the main hotel building on the east, lobby on the north, hotel building and reception area on the west, and Camelback Mountain on the south. The wedding ceremony takes place on a curved, concrete platform facing the mountains to the north. Guests are seated in white chairs on two large lawn areas surrounded by flowering trees, various cactus, and hummingbirds. My second-floor room balcony overlooked the wedding areas providing the perfect aerial view.

Phoenix Rooftop Wedding Reception At Sunset

Receptions take place on a rooftop event area next to the ceremony. A beautiful curved staircase leads from the lawn to the roof. While I could not go up once the tables were set, you can get an idea from the photo below how beautiful it is. The cafe lights crisscrossing provide just enough light after the sun sets. There is room for maybe 15 round tables, a DJ booth, and a large dance floor. A dedicated bar area and restrooms are located at the north end of the rooftop. This is by far the most beautiful reception location I have ever seen in my 242 photographed weddings.

Top-Notch First-Class Service

From the moment we walked up to the front door of the hotel until the moment we checked out of the hotel, the service was impeccable. Staff greeted us by name, always asking if there was anything they could do to make our stay better. The front desk staff took kindly to maintenance issues I presented to them. Kevin, one of the staff at the pool, was fantastic all three days. He served us and took care of us while we rented a daybed from 10 am-5 pm. Highly recommend!

One morning we watched a wedding rehearsal from our hotel balcony. It was a typical rehearsal with a coordinator on hand. She was helping everyone learn their roles and positions for the wedding. At the end, she did something that set her apart from others I have worked with. She got everyone’s attention and implored them to have no alcohol until the reception. The rehearsal took place the day before the wedding, and she warned people to hydrate with water only. This was due to the oppressively hot 115-degree temperature and the dangers that come from heat, dehydration, and alcohol. Great job, wedding coordinator!

Destination Weddings Require Five-Star Accommodations

A great destination requires friends, family, fun, and five-star accommodations. This hotel on Lincoln Drive is absolutely beautiful and modern in a mid-century modern shell. You can feel the history here and step back into the early 1960s nostalgia. With that being said, everything was modern, sleek, and up to today’s standards. Even the most discerning guests will enjoy the spacious rooms, beautiful mid-room glass showers, and large balconies. There are large open spaces inside and outside where you and your wedding guests can gather for meals, drinks, and chats. Your destination wedding will be perfect at Mountain Shadows Resort.

Resort Amenities And Facilities To Enhance Your Phoenix Arizona Destination Wedding

Resort amenities include the full gym and exercise classroom, free exercise classes, two amazing edge-to-edge pools (one with an infinity edge), and plenty of pool chairs, which are just the start. Hearth 61 restaurant is a gorgeous open kitchen and full-service bar. Seating can be found inside as well as outside overlooking the pool. There is a sunken-in lounge with a mid-century-modern fireplace in the center as well. All around the hotel were tables, chairs, and couches for private conversations away from others. Also, there are banquet facilities that look nice as well. I would imagine these could double as getting-ready rooms on wedding days.

Why You Should Have Your Destination Wedding At Scottsdale’s Mountain Shadows Resort

I would suggest having your wedding at Paradise Valley’s Mountain Shadows Resort if you want world-class service, an immaculate mid-century property, and the most amazing backdrop for a wedding I have ever seen. Gorgeous sunsets and Camelback Mountain are an impossibly amazing double-whammy of beautiful wedding backgrounds. The highly professional staff will ensure your wedding is absolutely perfect.

Mountain Shadows Resort Destination Wedding Photographer For Hire

As I said, if you love my wedding photography and are having your wedding at Mountain Shadows Resort, contact me to discuss hiring me. We can work out a deal, as this is a must-photograph-wedding-destination for me!

Also: Pacific Northwest / Seattle destination and elopement wedding photographer.