Ultimate Guide: Planning Your Dream Wedding in Tempe, AZ – Top Venues, Hotels & Tips
Planning your perfect wedding involves countless details, but hosting it in Tempe, Arizona, can simplify the process. As local experts, we're sharing our top recommendations for venues, hotels, and group dining options for rehearsal dinners to reduce your stress and create unforgettable moments.
From bridal showers and rehearsal dinners to the main event, Tempe offers ideal settings to celebrate with family and friends.
Key considerations include venue, season, and guest count. Explore these premier Tempe wedding venues for your celebrations.
Downtown Tempe Venues:
Old Main at ASU is a historic gem with indoor/outdoor spaces like the picturesque Old Main Lawn and elegant Carson Ballroom, perfect for rehearsals, ceremonies, or receptions.
Tempe Center for the Arts features stunning spaces overlooking Tempe Town Lake and Papago Park.
Tempe Mission Palms, a full-service downtown hotel, offers beautiful interiors and a gorgeous outdoor courtyard for ceremonies and receptions.
The Showcase Room at Culinary Dropout at the Yard Tempe accommodates up to 248 guests in a rustic-chic industrial setting.
Tempe Area Venues:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Phoenix Tempe boasts Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture and lush grounds.
Embassy Suites Phoenix-Tempe provides full-service venues and catering at exceptional value.
Phoenix Marriott Resort Tempe at The Buttes delivers mountaintop panoramic views, waterfalls, and desert sunsets.
Rustler’s Rooste offers a mountaintop setting with 180-degree views, patios, and Western flair.
Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe features unique dining and versatile event spaces.
The Watershed Lakehouse Bar & Grill in Tempe’s Lakes neighborhood provides lakeside views from every seat, with private/semi-private spaces for weddings and showers.
Papago Park Venues:
For stunning views and burnt-orange sunsets, Papago Park—a desert preserve in metropolitan Phoenix with attractions, hiking, and trails—offers a dramatic red-rock backdrop.
AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park delivers an authentic Arizona vibe with a spacious outdoor patio or picturesque lobby featuring a grand staircase and panoramic vistas.
Desert Botanical Garden sets weddings amid rare desert plants and mountains, from the 4,600-square-foot Dorrance Center to the intimate Steele Herb Garden.
Eisendrath House is a restored historic adobe home with native plants, cacti, and iconic peach/teal tones—pure Arizona charm for special events.
Phoenix Zoo ensures a memorable event with exotic tropical or Sonoran Desert settings for formal ceremonies, receptions, or intimate gatherings.
Hotel Accommodations:
Secure a courtesy room block for out-of-town guests near your venue. Guests book individually, but it ensures availability and simplifies post-wedding brunches.
Near Downtown Tempe venues:
- AC Hotel Phoenix/Tempe Downtown
- Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Tempe
- Graduate Tempe
- Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Tempe ASU Area
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix Tempe University
- Homewood Suites Phoenix Tempe ASU Area
- Hyatt Place Tempe/Phoenix Airport
- Moxy Phoenix Tempe
- Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown/University
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Phoenix/Tempe Airport
- Super 8 by Wyndham Tempe/ASU/Airport
Near Tempe venues outside Downtown:
- Candlewood Suites Tempe
- Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix-Tempe
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Phoenix Tempe/Airport
- Hampton Inn & Suites Tempe – Phoenix Airport
- Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Tempe/Mesa/Phoenix Area
- Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix-Tempe University Research Park
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tempe
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix-Tempe University Research Park
- Marriott SpringHill Suites Tempe at Arizona Mills Mall
- Marriott TownePlace Suites Tempe at Arizona Mills Mall
- Residence Inn Tempe
Near Papago Park venues:
- Aloft Tempe
- Best Western Inn of Tempe
- Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Tempe
- Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Tempe ASU Area
- Homewood Suites Phoenix Tempe ASU Area
- Hyatt Place Tempe/Phoenix Airport
- Red Lion Inn & Suites Phoenix/Tempe-ASU
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Phoenix/Tempe Airport
Pre-Wedding Events: Engagement Parties, Bridal Showers & Rehearsal Dinners
Weddings aren't the only celebrations Tempe excels at. Top venues and restaurants make it perfect for pre-wedding events.
- House of Tricks
- Culinary Dropout at the Yard Tempe
- Rustler’s Rooste
- Pedal Haus Brewery
- Caffe Boa
- Top of the Rock
- Aunt Chilada’s
- Gertrude’s
- Lou’s Bar & Grill
- Four Peaks Brewing Company
- Postino Annex
- Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill
- Bar Louie
- Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
Pre-Wedding Events: Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
Tempe shines for bachelor/bachelorette parties, from spa days to Mill Avenue nightlife near Tempe Town Lake—or quick rides to Phoenix/Scottsdale. Choose hotels matching your vibe: downtown proximity, amenities, or unique style.
For more wedding planning insights in Tempe, call 480-894-8158 or visit our Pinterest page for inspiration.
