A Desert Oasis Nestled in the Tucson Foothills.
300+ guests
Holds ceremonies and receptions
AWARD WINNER (1X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Offering a most unique and romantic setting with first-class facilities. La Mariposa is situated amongst beautiful cottonwood, mesquite, and eucalyptus trees, lush grass, and scenic mountain backdrops. Our highly experienced event team will help you create the wedding of your dreams.
Veteran-owned and Woman-owned Business
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
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Ceremony:
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Bar services:
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Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Settings
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Country Club
Estate
Park
Tented
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Se Habla Español
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.069 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
La Mariposa is praised as a stunning and magical wedding venue that exceeded expectations. The venue's green lawn and beautiful decor, along with the exceptional service from Steve, Francesca, and John, made weddings truly special. Reviewers highlighted the stress-free planning, delicious food, and professional staff. The inclusive pricing, helpful partnerships with recommended vendors, and the flexibility in accommodating unexpected situations like moving receptions indoors due to rain, were also highly appreciated.Review photos
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Amanda S
5.0
1/09/2025
My husband and I had our wedding at La Mariposa on November 1st and all I can say is “wow”. Aside from the venue being absolutely stunning, the lengths that the owners, Steve and Francesca, and the in house DJ, John, went to ensure our event was perfect was incredible. From the stunningly green lawn to the amazing service, food and entertainment, our night couldn’t have gone any better. We will forever cherish our special day and all thanks to the staff and owners. Also, a huge shoutout to the decorator Jorge. I didn’t have to lift a finger that day and the decor was absolutely gorgeous. If you’re looking for a venue that truly has and does it all then look no further than La Mariposa. You won’t be disappointed.
Jonathan I
4.0
7/03/2024
John was such an amazing dj! he went above and beyond to make my Wife and I's day extra special, stepping in and helping keep things organized and treating us like family. Any request we made he was right there to help. The only drawback is that the music was loud at times. Overall everything was very well done and I highly recommend!
Any questions?
Reyna B
5.0
6/05/2024
Our wedding at La Mariposa was a dream come true! The venue is absolutely stunning. Our guests couldn't stop raving about the venue's beauty, and we're incredibly grateful for the unforgettable memories made there. John and Amanda were also wonderful to work with and made the day of stress-free for me (the bride!), which is a huge deal. Photo creds: Evan Robold Photography
Misty S
5.0
4/08/2024
This place is beautiful! Everyone was professional, kind and caring! Steve and John made sure the wedding went smoothly. The venue was perfect! Use their vendors they recommend! Everyone was great to work with! My daughter was very happy with her wedding.
Maya P
5.0
4/04/2024
We had a great time with La Mariposa staff and DJ! They run a tight ship and do all they can to ensure your day is stress-free. Attention to detail was unmatched, and we always felt like they were prepped. Food was also delicious! Would definitely recommend La Mariposa and DJ John for your party needs!!
Rizelle C
5.0
3/28/2024
Process from start to finish was phenomenal. All staff were SO helpful on the day of our wedding, from Steve and Francesca, John, and Amanda, to the floor staff helping during the reception. My young niece even dropped my Vow Book under her table sometime throughout the night, and one of the floor staff found it and returned it to me before I left!
Rates were very reasonable, especially for couples that are paying for their own weddings. Prices include catering & drinks, and the owner has wonderful partnerships with vendors like DJ John, Endless Decor Jorge, and plenty of photographers/videographers, if requested.
My sister will actually be getting married at the same venue later on this year, and I can’t wait to attend because this time, I won’t have to be the center of attention and can REALLY enjoy the delicious food they had to offer!
Vendor response 04/09/2024
Hi Rizelle
Thank you for the kind words. We really enjoyed doing your wedding and look for...
ward to your sisters. Congratulations and best of luck in the future!
Steve and Francesca
Devon H
5.0
3/13/2024
La Mariposa offers a magical fairytale like venue. The scenery was stunning and the staff were all incredibly professional and flexible!
Vendor response 04/09/2024
Hi Devon
Thank you for the review. We are so happy that you had a fabulous time. Thank you...
for trusting La Mariposa with your Special Day!
Steve and Francesca
Amber D
5.0
12/23/2023
This venue went above and beyond for us. They stayed in touch, answered promptly when we had questions, and made sure all of the details were planned. The venue was beautiful, well kept, and spacious! Steve was wonderful the day of, everyone was so impressed with how hands on he was, how helpful and kind he was to all of the guests and us and how gorgeous the venue was. John was like a guardian angel, he made sure the night went as smooth as possible. I don’t know what I would have done without him. He was our DJ and officiant, but did so much more! The whole night was magic, thanks to John, Steve, and all of the staff! Please have your wedding here, or other events you might have. You’ll be in great hands.
Laurie D
5.0
11/03/2023
We could not have asked for a better night for my daughter's wedding. Steve and Francesca were so professional but also down to earth, helping us plan this most special day. As soon as my daughter and her fiancee saw the gazebo outside they knew this was THE place. The food was divine, the service was above and beyond, and it was just absolutely perfect. Also special thanks to Endless Decor, Millennium Music by John Lochert and Shawna Cadwell Photography!
Michael W
5.0
5/23/2023
La Mariposa was our daughter’s only choice for her wedding venue and when we saw it we immediately understood why. It is spectacularly beautiful.
Steve and Francesca, received us with warm hospitality and offered thoughtful guidance as we moved through the wedding planning process. They were patient and made excellent suggestions, which contributed to an absolutely perfect wedding day. For that, I and my family will always be grateful.
Great food, great DJ and music, Great fun!
Also, it was a destination wedding and Steve got us very good reduced room rates for our out-of–town guests at the nearby Hilton East in Tucson; a very nice hotel.
Linda J
5.0
3/25/2023
La Mariposa made my dream wedding come true! 12/10 highly recommend!
Alexa R
5.0
3/10/2023
WOW! La Mariposa was the absolute perfect place for us to get married. Every single detail of our wedding was handled perfectly by Francesca and John. Francesca helped to ensure our day started beautifully and John the DJ kept us on schedule which was extremely important to me. The music, the food, the dessert, everything was so perfectly catered to us and I am so grateful. We couldn’t have picked a more beautiful location for our day and the photos will prove it! Thank you so much for everything!
Kailey G
5.0
10/11/2022
This venue is the best hands down. They make it extremely stress free, it’s very affordable and the food is to die for. John the DJ is probably the best coolest guy ever. Steve & Francesca made sure all details were covered and we had everything we needed. The venue is gorgeous with so many options. There is a little fire pit we used to make s’mores The chef is so good. Everybody was extremely nice and accommodating. If I had to do it again I’d still do it here over and over.
Alexandria R
5.0
6/13/2022
John and Kacie are very professional, helpful, and enthusiastic. They helped ensure our reception was what we envisioned. John especially went above in beyond in keeping the event organized and interacting with guests throughout the night. The owner, Steve, was also there making sure we were pleased with everything. On top of that all, the property is gorgeous!
Vic K
5.0
2/12/2022
This venue is straight up PROFESSIONAL, ACCOMMODATING, and BUDGET FRIENDLY. The location has a very private feel as it is tucked away from the rest of the city. Plenty of paved parking for the guests. The outdoor ceremony was in front of the gazebo with mountain views, majestic trees, and a serene pond. Nothing short of BREATHTAKING! It started to rain right after the ceremony and the reception was moved completely indoors. Talk about flexibility. The Mexican food was spectacular! DJ John nailed it with the music and as the MC. The staff was friendly and on top of things throughout the night. Appropriate COVID protocols were in place. The rain disappeared after dinner and we were able to also celebrate outside! Clean-up was easy and efficient. Unfortunately at the end of the night I discovered that a part of a tree had landed on my car after the storm but John was attentive and Steve was responsive with getting the damages repaired. Honestly, don’t book your wedding until you’ve checked out this place. Otherwise, you’ll never know what you missed out on!
Allison D
2.0
2/06/2022
Got married at La Mariposa 12/31/21. The outside of the venue is gorgeous, food was good and they provided a complimentary champagne toast. If I had to do it over again I would go somewhere else.
The things that did not go well:
-Would of over paid by $1,000 if I was not paying attention. Venue apologized for mistake and took off $200 charge that appeared to be added after original agreement.
-We changed our wedding date due to COVID. Their house DJ, John, was not able to do final date and refused to refund any of the $400 deposit we paid up front. The contract does say no refunds, however, we rescheduled due to the pandemic not just because we changed our minds.
-They forgot appetizers that we ordered. Agreed that we would put that money towards our bar tab and conveniently our bar tab ended up being exactly that amount. I have a hard time believing that the bar tab was exactly that amount and asked for a print out of the tab and have yet to get it.
-Some guests waited over 45 minutes from the time dinner started to get their food.
-Wait staff accidently broke one of our wedding signs.
-Flow of wedding was not great. Did not end up cutting the cake until late. Many guests had already left leaving us with a ton of leftover cake.
Rose K
5.0
1/02/2022
Flexible and up-front when talking through how they can work with your budget. Friendly staff, great food, and a beautiful space made our wedding and reception as wonderful as it could have been!
Grace O
5.0
7/14/2021
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Best venue EVER!!! John, Steve & Francesca were A DREAM! So accommodating & flexible & they really cared about my needs & wants as a bride!! I have ZERO complaints. It was a PERFECT wedding at a PERFECT venue. Want a wonderfully prefect wedding??? GET MARRIED AT LA MARIPOSA!!!!
Amanda P
5.0
10/29/2020
John the dj and Francesca absolutely made our day so perfect!! This is the only venue we looked at because it was absolutely stunning! The pricing was completely fair and reasonable and our entire planning all the way through the actual ceremony and reception was completely flawless.
Vendor response 10/29/2020
Thank you Amanda for trusting La Mariposa with your Special Day! Congratulations and best ...
wishes for the future!
Steve Brennan GM
Katlyn D
5.0
4/14/2019
I can't expalin enough how beautiful and organized La Mariposa is for a wedding!! The stafd listened to what we wanted and they made the dream come true.
The staff are great! The food was amazing! The lighting, the DJ, and overall scene was gorgeous! It was the best place to get married.
Thank You La Mariposa for an amazing experience and thank you for being part of our new chapter.
Jamie B
5.0
4/07/2019
We could not have imagined a more wonderful venue than La Mariposa! The moment I walked in I knew it was something special, but I never could have imagined how beautiful it would be that night. Our wedding was completely outdoors and couldn't have gone better or been more beautiful. The staff is amazing; Cynthia, Steve and John went out of their way time and time again to ensure everything went smoothly. Love love love!
Vendor response 04/07/2019
Thank you so much for the wonderful comments. It was such a pleasure working with you and...
your mom. Your wedding was spectacular and you were such a beautiful bride! And Samson was so handsome too!!! You are a wonderful couple with wonderful friends. I wish both of you the best and come say hi whenever you are back in town. Have a great trip!
Matthew C
5.0
4/03/2019
My brother had his wedding here a couple weeks ago and we all had a great time. The venue itself is easy to get to from town but also secluded enough that everything felt very private. The grounds and landscaping look great and the view of the mountains surrounding were amazing as the sun was setting. The staff was friendly and helpful all day. I think everyone really enjoyed the horse drawn carriage bringing my brother's wife to the ceremony. I don't think anyone was expecting that, but it was pretty cool. Overall, we had a great time and I highly recommend!
Vendor response 04/04/2019
Thank you Matthew! It was a wonderful wedding and what a beautiful couple!
I am so glad t...
hey chose La Mariposa.
Cynthia
Catherine J
5.0
2/26/2019
They are amazing. I remember reading through reviews on La Mariposa before our wedding and wondering to myself “can they really be as great as they seem, as great as these reviews?” And the answer is yes. They are so kind and easy going, they do not add any stress and are frankly really happy to just help however they can and support you. Our rehearsal could probably have used more of a pushy attitude from Cindy but that’s frankly because all the people were being a little unfocused and that was our bad! I don’t have enough kind words. All our guests said they had a wonderful time and it was just a wonderful experience. The bridal prep area is soooo large too and we had so much space to get ready. Their pricing is great compared to other options in Tucson as well.
Madelaine G
5.0
2/14/2019
Getting married at La Mariposa was a DREAM come true! It not only is a beautiful venue, but the coordinators are wonderful people that ensured our day was magical. The day of the wedding I didn't have to coordinate a detail, Cynthia and Steve were wedding superstars and made sure the day went smoothly. Their service is included in venue pricing, which makes this venue far superior to others in Tucson. Also, the food is nothing short of exceptional! We opted for the mexican buffet and it was a huge hit and many guests went for seconds! I highly recommend La Mariposa to anyone wanting to get married! I wish I could do it all again! Absolutely wonderful. Also Jorge was recommended as the venue decorator, and he was clearly PHENOMENAL! All our Love, Madelaine and Derek (married 02/09/2019)
Vendor response 02/20/2019
Thank you Madelaine! It was such a pleasure working with you and Derek. You are an absol...
utely adorable couple. Again, thank you for letting us help you celebrate your special day. I wish you both the best!
Lauren R
5.0
12/05/2018
My husband and I looked at multiple venues in Tucson and immediately fell in love with La Mariposa!! We wanted an open outdoor venue to accommodate our wedding of 170 guests. We came across the beautiful grounds of La Mariposa that had views of the mountains and tall lush trees surrounding the property. We met John, the DJ, and the owner, Steve, and were given a warm welcome. John went above and beyond to discuss options for the reception and we knew by talking with him that we could have the wedding of our dreams here (AND WE DID). Everything was perfect! We worked with Cynthia and Steve and both were very patient and accommodating to our needs! John truly helped with the whole flow of the night and kept us on track (I am so thankful for that). We didn’t have to even worry about picking and choosing songs for the reception- he had an awesome playlist and kept everyone dancing all night long! Our wedding day was everything I could have ever dreamed of and more! We received SO many compliments that the venue was absolutely breathtaking and the food was AMAZING! ABSOLUTELY recommend this venue!!! Thank you to all of the staff at La Mariposa for making our day so special!
Ashleigh W
5.0
10/17/2018
Cynthia and the other staff at La Mariposa made my wedding day a dream come true! They were so helpful and so kind and made everything I envisioned come to life. John the DJ was so kind and so accommodating with a request I had for a special secret dance for my mom and dad. Our wedding day was everything I could have ever dreamed of and more, the venue was absolutely breathtaking and the food is AMAZING. We had and still have our guests compliment us to this day on how absolutely beautiful everything was and how yummy the food was. 10/10 recommend and they are very reasonably priced.
Kiera T
5.0
4/26/2018
They treated us like family! They were very attentive (and made sure we actually ate, which is hard to do when you are the bride and groom). Everything was beyond perfect! I would could not imagine a better venue or staff for our wedding!
Megan F
3.0
4/06/2018
The venue is beautiful. I had my wedding ceremony outside under the gazebo and reception inside. The scenery made for incredible wedding photos. John, their DJ/master of ceremonies, was wonderful and took care of me and my husband throughout the night and during the planning process. The reason why I am giving La Mariposa only 3 stars is because the owners were repeatedly forgetting our information. First, we paid our deposit, and they never checked back in with us to make the next payment. When I called to make another payment, they thought we didn't want to get married anymore, and had tossed our file. Each time we went there for planning, we had to keep helping them remember our meal choices and decorations. On the day of our wedding, they did not have our cake!!! We went with their baker, and despite the meetings in person with her, the text messages and phone calls weeks before the event, she had no idea who we were. My husband's grandmother and aunt had to miss our ceremony to go to Safeway and buy us a cake. The venue refunded us in full for the cake, but that was still inexcusable. The wedding itself was wonderful, but there were a lot of "behind-the-scenes" issues. Great venue, but maybe look for outside vendors for cake.
Loren S
5.0
3/29/2018
I would really like to thank La Mariposa Resort for accommodating our wedding day. The owner Steve and his amazing team of employees made the night relaxing, fun, and memorable. In the planning phase, Cynthia and John went above and beyond to assure planning was seamless. They helped my husband and I plan through every wedding detail, create a timeline, pick meals/desserts, etc. They did not control our wedding vision, only encourage and help make it happen.
The day of, Steve and his powerhouse team of employees helped from start to finish. From setting up the ceremony/reception to serving us an excellent dinner for all our guests. I could go on, but I simply don’t have the words. We had guests from Korea, England, Texas, Maine, and many other places and haven’t heard anything but compliments about the evening - all thanks to La Mariposa. For all Tucson brides, this is your venue. I promise!
Molly P
5.0
2/25/2018
My husband and I got married here on Friday 2/23/18. Everyone here especially John, Cynthia, Steve and Franchesca were all so gracious, helpful and amazingly sweet! They catered to our every want and need and made sure that our day was so gorgeous and special! We will always remember our most special day here and we so appreciate the staff for making it possible! ❤️💍👰🏻🤵🏼
Hailey M
5.0
6/02/2017
Everyone that we worked with was beyond amazing! Everyone had good suggestions and they helped us make decisions for the big day! I highly recommend La Mariposa, because they sure did make my wedding day a dream come true. Thank you all!!
Bethany L
5.0
5/09/2017
My husband Tyler and I got married here on April 2, and it could not have been a more perfect venue! Steve, Francesca, and Cynthia were great at coordinating, and so friendly and helpful. We used the recommended DJ (John with Millenium Music Service), baker (Genevieve with Cakes by Genevieve), florist (Mary Bartok with Love It! Florals), and decorator (Jorge with Endless Decor). We recommend all of those vendors as well, their prices were great and they were all so easy to work with and friendly. The quality of everything was amazing, from the food to the friendly service they all provided. We've had countless guests say how much they loved the food, cake, beautiful venue, DJ, and how the smoothly the event ran. We couldn't be more happy with how our day turned out, we recommend La Mariposa to anyone getting married in Tucson!
Katie V
5.0
11/18/2016
There really are no words to describe what an absolute dream our wedding was at La Mariposa Resort. This is hands down the most gorgeous wedding venue in Tucson.
It is private, with huge beautiful old trees that light up beautifully with hundreds of twinkle lights, impeccably manicured grounds, a beautiful lake to the east, lush and green grass, but then to the east is the lake and the vast and gorgeous desert southwestern view of the Rincon mountains. It truly doesn't get any better than that.
La Mariposa has an indoor option for receptions that is beautiful but due to our larger guest list we decided to set up a tent on the grass for the dinner and toasts, then use the gorgeous patio area for the dance floor. It worked out PERFECTLY. We held the ceremony at the beautiful gazebo on the grounds surrounded but the beautiful huge trees. It was truly a dream.
From the initial sit down with the owners Steve and Francesca we knew they would be wonderful to work with. These are two people who genuinely care so much and take pride in personally seeing to details and making sure the entire planning process is seamless.
I found it very special to have the owners of such a gorgeous venue present at all of our meetings throughout the planning process, to be so easy to communicate with, be accessible like they both were, and to be present throughout the entire day of and the night. They were there to make sure everything was perfect and that we had everything we needed. The food was FANTASTIC! The two things we heard all night and for days after was how stunning La Mariposa was and how great the food was!
The bridal suite was so beautiful, I cannot wait to see how the pictures and video turns out in that room. The boys also had a blast down in the grooms suite.
If you're looking for a peaceful, private, stunningly green but with desert southwestern scenery too, La Mariposa is your venue. If you wanted to be treated exceedingly well and made feel special at every meeting..not just like another bride and another wedding..Steve and Francesca will do so and more. I am truly so thrilled and so happy that we chose La Mariposa for our ceremony and reception venue. Again, it is the most gorgeous venue in all of Tucson.
Kristi S
5.0
11/14/2016
This is the dream wedding venue. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it's affordable! The owners, Steve & Francesca, are so incredibly nice and helpful throughout the entire process. The on-site catering is delicious, their house DJ is SO great, and their cake maker is wonderful! All of these are included with the venue, so you do not need to stress about finding these vendors. Any vendors that aren't included are happily recommended by Steve & Francesca. You cannot go wrong with this vendor, I hope I get to attend a wedding there soon!
Ryan P
5.0
9/21/2016
My husband and I got married at this most enchanted place in the desert. The outdoor lighting and breath-taking scenery, added to a perfect sunset wedding. Steve and Francesca were so accommodating in helping plan this special event. I will be forever grateful. To the beautiful and fun music (D.J. John), yummy margaritas (bartender, Beth), the yummy and oh-so-tasty food (chef ? sorry forgot the name, but you deserve a five star rating), delicious cake/cupcakes (Genevieve), the photography (Betsy & John), the beautiful linens/decorations (Jorge), the gorgeous flowers (Evergreen), and the amazing officiant (Hugo). Everyone had such a wonderful time! I am so grateful for this place and what they did to make us remember this night forever!
andrea s
5.0
8/09/2016
Our wedding turned out fabulous. We loved the outdoor setting for ceremony and pictures. The grass is green & loved the lights on the gazebo and the hanging lights over the patio. Everyone loved the food. Steve and Francesca were a great team. They made sure all our details were right and that everything went smoothly. They have an on site decorator that you can use, he also did a great job with the centerpieces and ceremony decorations. The decorations were tailored to the simple design that I wanted. One of the table cloth colors was off and Francesca got it fixed prior to any guests arriving. I really appreciate all that did to make our day special. We did not use the house DJ, but there is one available if you choose. We did use the house cake baker and the cake was delicious and looked amazing, just how we had discussed. Though I do wish I had ordered a smaller cake, we had tons leftover. Overall, I don't think the wedding could've gone smoother and I will cherish the memories forever. Definitely worth the money spent.
J M
5.0
8/01/2016
La Mariposa Resort was the first wedding venue we checked out, not long after our engagement December , and we immediately fell in love with the venue, the price and the no-hidden-fees attitude of the owners. But we did our due diligence and checked out maybe five other spots. We came back to La Mariposa for May wedding.
During our six-month engagement, Steve and Francesca, the husband-wife team running the place, kept us moving forward with little stress. We brought both sets of parents to the tasting, and they easily accommodated us. (And the food was incredible. We selected the Mexican buffet and got so many compliments on the food!).
On the day of the wedding, we brought a group in at 10 a.m. to start decorating. We were even able to store some of the decorations there the night before. My mom and I did most of the wedding planning, but the day of the ceremony Francesca took care of so much and then when we transitioned into the reception John Lochert, the site's DJ took over. We loved the service of the staff, who treated us so special we felt like we were the only bride and groom they had ever served. They were attentive without hovering.
And John, our DJ, deserves his own review. Not only did he keep the night moving and keep our guests dancing, but he was able to find on YouTube a selection of instrumental hymns for the ceremony. All night he made sure we were happy with the music, the pacing (bouquet toss, cake cutting, etc.). And before the ceremony began, he even came upstairs to chat with the girls and ease my nerves.
The site is beautiful and service was great. And while it was a wedding and therefore expensive, we never felt like we were being take advantage of. In fact, Steve suggested at one point that we NOT order another appetizer because the meal would be so filling.
They really put our needs first, and we could not be happier with our wedding.
Gina B
5.0
7/21/2016
I attended a wedding at La Mariposa July 2016. What a beautiful venue! The ceremony in the gazebo was just lovely, such a beautiful space. My two children were with us, and it was so nice to have the expansive, grassy area available to them to run around. The inside setup was awesome, the food was tasty. We all had a great time dancing and celebrating. Great acoustics, too!
Marla A
5.0
7/10/2016
My husband and I wanted a very romantic, rustic, vintage yet simple venue. La Mariposa matched that and more, the outside grounds are gorgeous green and with amazing views. The inside, starlight room is gorgeous and elegant. Other then it being physically appealing Steve and Francesca were amazing to work with, very helpful and professional. Their chef was amazing the food was so delicious. It was truly a dream wedding in every aspect. We would get married here again and again!
Kassie S
5.0
7/05/2016
I had my wedding here on June 11th and everything was perfect! Steve and Francesca were great! The servers were so wonderful and attentive. It was also very convenient to have vendors available for decor, cakes and music that knew the venue and were so seasoned! The food they served was so delicious and there was plenty of it for the buffet.
The day of the wedding could't have turned out more beautiful and more fun. If you are looking for a hidden gem in the desert (where you can forget you are in a desert) I HIGHLY recommend La Mariposa :) Thanks Steve and Cesca!!
Brandy R
5.0
5/14/2016
We had our wedding reception at La Mariposa! I can't express enough how happy we were with this decision! The venue was absolutely beautiful and provided the perfect elegant and intimate setting for our special day. It was really affordable too! Steve and Francesca were total pros! They put us totally at ease during our most stressful, wedding planning moments. The food was incredible. We did the South of the Border buffet and our guests are still raving about it!!! People always say that something will go wrong on your wedding day...but, not at La Mariposa. Our day was absolute perfection!
Rita M
5.0
5/08/2016
My son recently had his wedding at La Mariposa. The venue is spectacular, especially for an outdoor wedding. You feel like you are in different world. The rates are extremely reasonable compared to other facilities. The owners, Steve and Francesca, are lovely people and incredibly helpful and accommodating. I am still receiving comments from friends and family from many locations that this was one of the nicest and most beautiful weddings they ever attended. I recommend giving consideration to using their recommended vendors on the few things they do not provide under their umbrella of services. The decorator was reasonably priced, and the DJ was wonderful. We used our own photographers. We were beyond pleased with everything associated with La Mariposa.
Tina B
5.0
5/05/2016
Steve and 'Cheska' made magic come alive at La Mariposa Resort for my daughter's wedding ! The location, the setting, the landscape, the trees, the small lake, the grassy expanse of lawn , the sunset mountains in the background, then the evening firelight, candlelight, moonlight created an ambience that was "over-the-top" . The food was SPECTACULAR ! Gourmet ! Kudos to the their famous chef and the superb hospitality. Simply elegant and so much FUN ! Priced very reasonably and every need was attended to. Highly recommend La Mariposa Resort. 5 stars.
SaraJo G
5.0
5/04/2016
The Brennan's are wonderful and their staff is top notch! Grounds are beautiful, food is delicious, service from start to finish superb! Not a better place in Tucson for a reception! Thank you for making our reception perfect in every way!!
Knottie1451909556
5.0
1/04/2016
Absolutely perfect. The grounds are positively stunning, has a beautiful resort feel all while being extremely intimate. It's beautiful during the day and magical at night. Steve and Francesca are great and so helpful. Our guests loved the food. We served the spinach and feta stuffed chicken. I highly recommend you use their preferred vedors, especially Mary at Love it Florals. I can't imagine having our special day anywhere else. I wouldn't change a thing. Please visit La Mariposa, you'll fall in love with it.
Arwen B
5.0
11/18/2015
La Mariposa was such a special venue for my wedding on November 12, 2015. The combination of nature, gazebo, twinkling lights, patio, fire, pond, inviting interior, delicious food and attentive kind service created the perfect place for us to express our love of each other, our family and friends. I feel fortunate to have found a place that emulated peace. Thank you for being a part of the happiest day of my life!
jaimi G
5.0
11/06/2015
Francesca and Steve at La Mariposa were so very wonderful to work with! They were both very attentive, and very easy to communicate with. The food was amazing, and the venue was beautiful, green, and very well taken care of. Francesca made the wedding day as stress free as it could possibly be by walking everyone through what they should be doing and when. She made certain that I had everything that I needed, and even stuck around until after dinner to make sure everything went smoothly. Even after she left, their staff was helpful, attentive, and very professional. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone getting married in the Tucson area. Thank you so much Steve and Francesca!!
Knottie1446088729
5.0
10/28/2015
We went to my wife's cousin's wedding at La Mariposa back in May and it was phenomenal. The ceremony was outside under these gorgeous canopy trees and a charming gazebo, set in the middle of this lush green field. It was like having the ceremony in some private meadow of a fairy tale story. It was a little warm, because it's Tucson in May, but the visual was stunning. The reception was outside as well, but the sun had long gone down and the warmth of the cafe lights and fire pit truly brought the ambiance to life. The food was great, I've got four kids and there wasn't a scrap to be seen among the lot. Dancing was inside under an enormous skylight that once again brought a wonderful balance of elegance and openness to the entire night. The staff were friendly and professional, so no complaints there. We had a wonderful time and have nothing but rave reviews for the place.
Norah B
5.0
10/28/2015
La Mariposa is incredibly beautiful and green! I attended a wedding there last May and it was so lovely that I am having my upcoming wedding there too! If you're looking for an amazing location with food and staff to match La Mariposa is your place.
Audra S
5.0
6/20/2015
La Mariposa was a wonderful venue. Francesca and Steve made sure we had everything we wanted for our special day. They were friendly and welcoming. The venue itself has a wonderful inside space with windows allowing in lots of natural light, and the grounds are the perfect setting for any outdoor event. Bistro lighting above the patio, twinkle lights in the trees, and the picturesque lake provide a romantic setting. We could not have been happier with our choice of venue.
Cynthia B
5.0
4/28/2015
Steve was exceptional. La Mariposa makes you feel so special and cared for on your wedding day. Laura waited on us hand and foot with a smile and warm heart. I was truly spoiled.
claire r
5.0
12/21/2014
I got married at La Mariposa in May 2014. Everything was absolutely perfect. I used many of the in house services as well as vendors they recommended. I as so happy with how everything turned out. Steve, Francesca, and Eric were so kind and accommodating and really helped make everything come together. They took all the stress away from me and helped me enjoy our day. The grounds are beautiful, the food was to die for, and the value is amazing for the quality of the service. I highly recommend La Mariposa!
a member
5.0
11/11/2014
Our wedding day was absolutely perfect and turned out beautifully! I couldn't be happier with the staff at La Mariposa and all of the help that was offered leading up to the wedding and the day of!
Amy R
5.0
10/09/2014
We had the most beautiful wedding at La Mariposa on 09.27.14. After looking at a number of Tucson venues back in 2013, we chose La Mariposa for many reasons...the venue is beautiful, the staff is knowledgable and flexible, and the prices are very reasonable and competitive.
We were hoping to have both our ceremony and reception outside, and La Mariposa was more than willing to accomodate us. Francesca and Eric met with us multiple times throughout the year to help us plan and were open and supportive of any and all suggestions/ideas we had.
A week before our wedding, we began to worry about the weather and weren't sure that having both the ceremony and reception outside would be the best idea. Francesca and Eric were extremely helpful and supportive as we decided to move our reception inside and helped to make the transition smooth and flawless.
The day and night of the wedding could not have been more perfect. Francesca and Eric were attentive to us, our families and our guests all night. Our guests had an amazing time, and I heard over and over again how fun and beautiful the wedding was, how delicious the food was and how perfect the venue was. It was and always will be a night to remember! Thank you La Mariposa!!
Jessica M
5.0
10/08/2014
I loved having my wedding here! The grounds are beautiful. Keep in mind that the pond (though an excellent backdrop) does make things a little bit more humid!
The venue has their own kitchen and chef, so dealing with meals was so simple!
They also offer discounts for using vendors they associate with and I was very pleased with all of them!
The coordinator was amazingly helpful, even to the point of bringing me a drink during the pictures :)
Knottie00756572
5.0
9/30/2014
Everything about La Mariposa as our choice for a wedding ceremony and reception exceeded expectations. We had planned to hold both the ceremony and reception outdoors but weather concerns led as to move the reception indoors. With less than 24hrs notice,Francesca and her staff did an amazing job of rearranging all the related details, including setting up an additional bar service during cocktail hour. The service was excellent and the food was wonderful. Overall, we feel La Mariposa was an excellent value.
Brittany D
5.0
9/27/2014
La Mariposa is by far the most beautiful wedding venue in Tucson in my opinion. If you're looking for a bit of an escape from the usual wagon wheel decorated desert venues and are going for more of a serene secret garden feel look no further than here. Not only in the venue absolutely stunning complete with it's mountain views, lovely lake, lush grass and weeping trees the staff is a dream to work with. They are all so accommodating and pleasant that it makes all the planning a breeze. The owners and staff made our day go so smoothly and you can tell that they genuinely care about your day and not just their check. Thank you La Mariposa for making our wedding that much more special!!!
victoria d
5.0
7/20/2014
I got married on July 3rd at the starlight room and they are amazing! La Mariposa is so beautiful, its like an oasis in the desert. They have a pond and grass area if you want your wedding outside. It is shady in spots, so it wasn't to hot. You can still see the mountains which made for beautiful pictures. Everything went so smoothly leading up to the big day and on the wedding day everyone was so helpful. They are not that expensive at all. You have to use their food they make and it is AMAZING. I received so many praises about the food. Their bar is reasonable priced. We had an open bar and the bartender is amazing! We decorated the venue ourselves, and they had the venue opened for us at 9 to decorate. Eric was very helpful! He handled everything the day before and on the wedding day. Rita helped us leading up to the event and she is amazing and very accommodating. She arranged for us to meet the DJ and the Baker on the same day, we were coming up for Sierra Vista which is a good 1 hour and a half away. Rita answered all of the questions, emailed me back within 24 hours and made the process so much easier. They were so awesome and they made getting married easy and stress free. I recommended them to everyone!
Gina S
5.0
3/20/2014
Rita with La Mariposa was so awesome to work with. She was always available for any questions we had and told us exactly what to expect. The grounds are absolutely stunning and our wedding was perfect. Jorge, the decorator, was worth every penny and did such a fabulous job. The music was awesome, John played exactly what we asked for. Our dinner and cask was delicious. The wait staff was so nice and so helpful all night. I would recommend La Mariposa to every bride I know.
Hope R
5.0
10/11/2012
My now husband and I literally spent months visiting venues in Tucson. Upon entering La Mariposa, I instantly knew it was our wedding venue. It was simply beautiful and everything we had been looking for! Rita was such a pleasure to meet and work with right away. She felt like a true friend within minutes. Everyone I encountered was very friendly and helpful throughtout the planning process. La Mariposa allowed for such beautiful embellishments and I watched every vision I had come to life inside and out of this charming venue. My husband and I have the most incredible pictures and memories of the evening of September 1, 2012.
Valarie D
4.0
6/12/2012
Our wedding was beautiful. The ceremony site outside is amazing and photographs stunningly. However, I had a difficult planning process and felt as if Rita, the event coordinator, could have been more helpful. She barely walked me through the steps, and she didn't do a final run-through with our entire order during our last meeting before the wedding. There were mistakes that should have been caught. I wanted a champagne toast, and at the wedding I noticed no one had champage glasses so I asked about it. We were told we did not order a champagne toast which was BOGUS! Also, their decorator is very young and a bit immature. Every time I tried to contact him about our wedding, he would tell me, "I will get back to you. Just bear with me because I am working on other events." That is NOT quality service. He was cheap, but I didn't get everything I wanted because he didn't give me the time of day. He was very last minute with a lot of things too...and I am in medical school, and the week before my wedding I had finals, and that's when he started requesting all this information from me. I was not happy with him. But overall, the wedding was amazing and I do recommend La Mariposa!
Ashley S
5.0
4/16/2012
Very helpful wedding staff and coordinator! We loved that it did not look like Tucson and have lots of desert scenery. Lots of green grass and a lake with ducks. Tucson's hidden treasure!
Kristen M
5.0
3/28/2012
My husband and I immediately fell in love with La Mariposa when we were looking for venues. The grounds are gorgeous (green grass, trees, a pond, lovely gazebo) and the inside reception area is very nice and well decorated as well. We worked with Rita and she was always very patient and accomodating to our needs!
Andrea R
5.0
12/05/2011
After going to several different places in Tucson we decided that we would do our wedding at La Mariposa. It had indoor and outdoor areas so it would be perfect for any weather. There was a beautiful pond and green grass. We worked with Eric who was awesome and accommodating. After doing the math it ended up being the best bang for our buck too. There is a private room upstairs for the bride to get ready in with a personal patio. Our food and cake was catered by La Mariposa and it was all fantastic. Highly recommend them!
a member
4.0
10/07/2011
The service is wonderful and the coordinator is laid-back and calm and will do everything possible to make your day happen just as you want it to!
Diana W
5.0
6/21/2011
This Venue is beautiful and convienent. I got tons of compliments on the food and service. I couldn't be more pleased!
Libby C
4.0
5/04/2011
I was married here on a Sunday in April, and it was just beautiful. The grounds are stunning and the indoor space is lovely as well. They are also affordable - we got a package deal including not just the space, but food, drinks, and even our cake (with a discount for marrying on Sunday instead of Saturday).
My only complaint: we arranged to pick up our flowers the day after the wedding, which we were going to donate to a nursing home. But they had emptied all the water out of the vases right after the wedding, so most of the flowers had wilted and died.
Elizabeth C
4.0
10/21/2010
JC and I signed our contract at La Mariposa about a year before our wedding and we had been working with one of their wedding consultants throughout. So about a month before our wedding, our wedding consultant was let go and I got the phone call from one of the other directors there that we had met with during our food tasting, Eric. That can be a bit stressful to a bride, as you all can imagine! The transition went almost perfect and smoothly - especially considering how close it was to the big day. The only thing that went wrong was we had ordered steak and salmon for dinner and instead we got steak and chicken - a mix up left behind by the original coordinator. While I had my heart set on the salmon, everyone LOVED the chicken and steak and I got several compliments on food choice! Not to mention that just to show his apologies, Eric made sure all the champagne for our big toast was complimentary!
The site itself: GORGEOUS. We hardly had to do any decorating (which helped save some big bucks on flowers!) and there was plenty of space for everyone to relax and mingle!
Ashley M
5.0
5/10/2010
We had out wedding outside beneath the gazebo and out reception indoors. The Starlight Room is simply gorgeous. The lighting is ambient the design is very unique and can be outfitted to match any decor and the floor-to-cieling glass windows allow you to see the beautiful views of the mountains grass trees and small pond on site. Right outside are cocktail tables and a huge fireplace thing with lights strung above. Simply breathtaking.;If you expect more than 150 room will be very tight (if you choose to have an indoor reception). If you have it outdoors there's plenty of grass. Also it's pretty expensive depending on the features and dinner options you choose. You may not hire your own caterer you must use their dinner options.
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