| Phoenix and its surrounding areas of Scottsdale and | | | | gallery and education space, the Heard Museum has |
| Carefree abound in award-winning resorts and spas in | | | | one of the finest collections of Native American art |
| which to hold your wedding. But I'm not going to talk | | | | and cultural exhibits. And, the exhibits aren't the only |
| about any of them. Instead, this article focuses on | | | | things worth seeing at the Heard; there's also the |
| thinking "outside the resort" for your Phoenix | | | | interesting architecture and grounds, which include |
| destination wedding. Think wildflowers, culture and | | | | arched walkways, brick patios and lovely courtyards, |
| zebras. | | | | which serve as picturesque backdrops for your |
| Desert Botanical Gardens | | | | wedding photos. The Museum is available Sunday - |
| The Desert Botanical Gardens (1201 N. Galvin | | | | Thursday, 6 to 10 PM, and Friday and Saturdays, 6 to |
| Parkway) is a lovely desert botanical garden located in | | | | 11 PM. The Wedding Facility Use Fee ranges from |
| red-rock Papago Park in North Central Phoenix. If | | | | $2,500 to $4,000. Call 602-252-8840 for more |
| you've never been to Papago Park, it's like a little mini | | | | information. |
| Sedona in the middle of Phoenix. (Okay, at least, that's | | | | The Phoenix Zoo |
| what it reminds me of) And the Desert Botanical | | | | That's right, the zoo. We are thinking outside the resort, |
| Gardens is the perfect venue to experience the flavor | | | | remember? The Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N. |
| and appeal of the desert. It might be obvious, but I'll | | | | Galvin Parkway, close to the Desert Botanical |
| state it anyway, you may want to skip this venue in | | | | Gardens, and offers numerous lovely settings for |
| the summer months. The spring months would be | | | | weddings from 5 to 10,000 guests. You can choose |
| perfect, however, as the desert blooms come to life. | | | | from a variety of settings, including a Columbian |
| You can choose to have your ceremony in one of the | | | | rainforest, Tropical Ramada, gardens, and The Stone |
| courtyards or terraces, or in the Wildflower Pavilion. | | | | House Pavilion, with a 90-foot wall-to-wall window, |
| There is also a ballroom, Dorrance Hall, which can | | | | from which you can view the Papago Mountains at |
| accommodate several hundred guests. Call | | | | sunset. And, yes, you can also provide your guests |
| 480-481-8109 for more information. | | | | with a sunset tour of the zoo on the Safari Train. Call |
| The Heard Museum | | | | 602-273-1341 for pricing and more information. |
| Located at 2301 N. Central Ave., the Heard Museum | | | | Resorts and spas are great, and the Phoenix area |
| has been a Phoenix institution for more than 75 years. | | | | definitely has a lot of them. But, for something different, |
| Encompassing more than 130,000 square feet of | | | | add these wedding venues to your short list. |