Lodge on the Desert...A Tucson Classic
Elizabeth Nelson
MANAGER
Nestled in Tucson, AZ, Lodge on the Desert is a remarkable wedding venue. This charming establishment, steeped in history, offers hacienda-style lodgings and a range of versatile event spaces to create unforgettable wedding experiences. Strategically situated near the Tucson International Airport, the University of Arizona, and a plethora of shopping centers, cultural hubs, performing arts venues, and golf courses, it promises both convenience and luxury. With over seven decades of operational excellence, this venue is a testament to enduring quality.
Facilities and Capacity
Lodge on the Desert boasts four distinct event spaces, presenting both indoor and uncovered outdoor settings. In total, the venue provides 3,700 square feet of indoor space and an expansive 6,700 square feet of outdoor space, ensuring plenty of options for couples to craft their dream wedding. With 102 well-appointed guest rooms, wheelchair accessibility, and ample parking, the Lodge strives to meet every guest's needs. Its availability for bookings spans throughout the year. However you choose to celebrate your big day, you can host up to 250 guests.
The Lodge on the Desert offers a wide range of wedding services tailored to meet the unique needs and desires of each couple. With a dedicated wedding suite, they ensure that the couple has a comfortable and elegant space to prepare for their big day. The venue also provides comprehensive event rentals, including essential items like linens, barware, glassware, flatware, and even decorative elements such as altars, arches, and centerpieces. Tables and chairs are available, and they offer chair covers to match the wedding theme. Lodge on the Desert presents in-house catering services, offering various serving styles, including buffet, hors d'oeuvres, stations, and plated meals, allowing couples to choose the dining experience that suits their preferences. Additionally, the venue can accommodate cake services to add a sweet touch to the celebration. The team is committed to making the wedding planning process as seamless as possible. They provide setup and cleanup services, ensuring that the venue is beautifully arranged and left in impeccable condition. Lighting and sound provisions are available to create the perfect atmosphere for the event. Notably, the Lodge on the Desert is a pet-friendly venue, meaning that furry family members can be part of the celebration. Book your tour today to explore this beautiful venue for yourself.
Hispanic or Latinx-owned Business
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
$1,000
Ceremony:
$1,000
Bar services:
$40 per person
Catering:
Contact for price
Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is Jan-Apr and Oct-Dec.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Desert
Garden
Historic Venue
Hotel
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Wedding Design
Service Staff
Any questions?
Meet the team
Elizabeth Nelson
Manager
Elizabeth has been working in the hospitality industry for 10 years. She is a passionate and dedicated sales manager with a flair for creating unforgettable wedding experiences. Elizabeth loves making dreams a reality for every couple. Let her transform your special day into an extraordinary celebration filled with love, joy and cherished memories.
Reviews
3.9
out of 5.09 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
- Top reviews
- Newest first
- Oldest first
- Highest rated
- Lowest rated
Sort by
Danielle R
2.0
7/28/2024
Would not recommend this venue to anyone. Had my daughter’s wedding and it was not a good experience. Communication leading up to the event was poor and we always felt like we were chasing them. Day of event, there was little help from a designated person to help run things despite giving them a very specific timeline. I was asking for salads to be brought out, dinner to be served, water to be refilled, the tables weren’t set up correctly, I had to go around to all the tables and light the candles myself and the list goes on. As a mother of the bride I was not able to relax and enjoy the event at all! Very disappointed
Catie C
1.0
5/22/2024
We first met with Gisela in November 2023. She seemed great and we asked her to send a proposal over right away. After two months without hearing from her despite reaching out multiple times, we finally got an automated response that informed us she no longer worked there. We then had to contact the “new” coordinator and set up an appointment with him on February 7th to create a whole new contract. Arthur was able to send us over the new contract which we signed and sent over right away. Communication was extremely scarce and we typically had to reach out first to get a response, it made us very nervous due to our experience with Gisela. By April 11th we had reached out twice and were promised that we would receive the “sertify” to pay our deposit. Arthur never sent it and I had to call the front desk in order to learn that he no longer worked at the Lodge and had never finalized our contract. They didn’t even give us the curtesy of an automated email this time. When I spoke to the “newest” coordinator she was incredibly insincere and offered no solutions after we’d been strung along for 7 months. She also claimed there was no record of us in the system despite there being 7 months of emails and two contracts created by their employees. Whatever drama is happening behind the scenes to create such high turnover rates and only be able to hire inexperienced people, is bleeding into their ability to professionally handle the execution of their events. I still cannot understand how we were never contacted about any of the employee changes. I am so incredibly angry and confused at how terrible this process has been. The apprehension and anxiety we have that they could do this to us again has ultimately led to the decision to not use them as a venue. I caution all couples from ever doing business here as I guarantee they will ruin your big day as they have done to ours. So much valuable time has been wasted on this venue and we are now 10 months from our wedding date without a venue. I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT GET MARRIED HERE.
Any questions?
Lauren S
5.0
11/19/2023
**This is for hotel block, not reception venue**
We had our wedding hotel block at Lodge on the Desert and it was a total dream! Gisela was one of the nicest people I have ever worked with and was caring, responsive and so kind as we were planning our wedding weekend for our several out of town guests. My now-husband and I stayed in the Casita Suite during our wedding weekend and it was nothing short of magical! All of the rooms at Lodge on the Desert were gorgeous and spacious and we loved getting to run into our wedding guests at the free breakfast (delicious!) and by the pool. We even ended up having our first look at Lodge on the Desert before going to our wedding venue and our pictures turned out so beautifully. This hotel is gorgeous and the staff are friendly and helpful. Thank you again Gisela and all!!
Britta N
5.0
5/03/2022
We hired the Lodge on the Desert for our desert destination wedding 2 weeks ago and they absolutely nailed it. It's THE perfect venue for an adobe-style, historic, desert courtyard wedding. Wedding of our dreams!
The Wedding Venue: The venue itself is worth staying at - it's a historic adobe lodge with so many nooks & crannies filled with beautiful cacti. Our guests loved hanging at the pool and ordering their DELICIOUS margaritas before the wedding.
It's in the middle of Tucson - but a short drives away from the Saguaro National Parks and fun restaurants, especially the restaurant Locale which is a few blocks away. We encouraged guests to explore the rest of Tucson by creating a weekend of activities for them to join (ie hike, brewery, etc).
The lodge gives the bride & groom the most beautiful room at the lodge - it has a HUGE patio with a gorgeous view of the mountains. It was large enough for the entire wedding party to hangout and eat lunch before pictures. That way, everyone could hangout in air conditioning while we all take pictures in the cacti garden down below. The cacti garden below is beautiful!
The Staff: Karen, the wedding event manager, was amazing to work with. I had many many questions to ask her while planning the event from a distance, and she always answered very quickly! We scheduled a tour/tasting 4 months before the wedding, which was incredibly helpful to decide on the final menu, etc. They were incredibly supportive - I had no worries leading up to our wedding day. She even helped with the rehearsal the night before the wedding, which was very helpful.
The Wedding Space: It's a beautiful grass courtyard with sparkly lights hanging (we also opted for the lights on the courtyard tree to dance underneath - incredibly magical!). The wedding was entirely outdoors. We got married with the Catalina mountains in the distance. The staff was incredibly accommodating to make sure the tables were set-up how we'd like + went above and beyond to pick out the perfect table linens. We hired a mariachi band during the cocktail hour, which added a lot to the "fiesta" theme.
The Food: We chose the Mexican taco buffet and all the guests raved about the food - the Tres Leches Cake and churros are to die for. We served pitchers of margaritas and chips/guacamole during the cocktail hour.
Overall, I would rate the lodge 10/10 to anyone that is looking to plan a wedding. The venue is beautiful, the staff is amazing...and you will be able to enjoy every moment of your wedding because everything is absolutely perfect.
Emma G
5.0
11/15/2021
We started planning our wedding five months out and we were struggling to find a venue. We stumbled upon Lodge on the Desert and we’re so happy we did! Initially we were working with Ashley, but we started working with Karen, the Sales & Events Manager, two months before our wedding day. Karen is communicative and responsive. Since we don’t live in Tucson, all communication was handled via email and Karen sent pictures of the Catalina Room, different chair options, etc. We finalized the food order (hors d’oeuvres and plated dinner) about 1.5 months before our wedding day and then when we arrived in Tucson, we picked the linens in person. The night before our wedding, we were informed that we’d only have 1.5-2 hours for set up, so we did have to ask our florist (Mayfield Florist) to push their delivery time back. Overall, this was a pretty minor hiccup. On our wedding day, Karen worked with my Matron of Honor to make sure the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception set ups were all to our liking. Our primary server, Mindy, was a gem. She made sure everyone who wanted a drink always had one in their hand. :) The food and drinks were all delicious. If you’re thinking about getting married in Tucson, Lodge on the Desert is a wonderful choice. Our family and friends agree too! We highly recommend Lodge on the Desert.
Mari K
5.0
1/25/2021
Lodge on the Desert knocked it out of the park for our November wedding! I would highly recommend booking a wedding here (or any event)! Ashley and Jim and the entire team bent over backward to help us make our wedding weekend special and were with us every step of the way. Even with the threat of rain, they expertly helped us navigate the process smoothly and we remained stress-free. The food was amazing and the bar was a perfect gathering area (try the prickly pear margaritas). We've received multiple compliments from guests about their positive experiences from the seasonal cuisine to charming accommodations. The Lodge provided a unique taste of southwestern beauty for our guests. We loved the hacienda vibe and felt so welcome. Excellent hospitality, great communication, beautiful location, and great value. I could not be more pleased with my experience.
Joanne S
2.0
5/06/2015
This is a beautiful setting for a wedding. However, in December 2014, both the long-time events manager and the chef left. We were left with an inexperienced events coordinator, no helpful banquet set up staff, and mediocre servers. Hope they can get their staff upgraded. Until then, BEWARE.
Lauren C
5.0
4/18/2013
Stay here. Seriously. For the price (way cheaper than comparable accommodations) location, facilities and service I could not recommend it more. The staff are incredibly pleasant and helpful, the rooms and grounds are GORGEOUS, the restaurant is delicious (this is coming from a chef) and the pool and hot tub are open 24 hours! There is a mall (the El Con) a few blocks away. We had our rehearsal dinner in the private dining room and everyone raves about the food. They also have a great happy hour with some really fun and delicious cocktails. The beds are super comfy, there is free wifi throughout the facilities, plus a guest computer in the library. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed their stay and we are already planning on returning next year for our anniversary.
Trish W
5.0
10/27/2010
This hotel is full of character and charm. We had quite a bit of family visiting from out of town and wanted to give them a taste of Tucson.
Everyone LOVED the lodge. We received a great group rate and the rooms were beautiful. It's newly remodeled and centrally located. With an on-site restaurant, it was easy to run into family members at dinner and laugh until all hours of the night.
We hosted our rehearsal dinner here as well. Everything from start to finish was better than we imagined. Guests raved about their dinner and their accommodations.
Dinner could be a little pricey and I sometimes felt like we didn't have the full attention of the event coordinator, but I wouldn't change a thing. Minor details.
Contact
Curious to learn more?
Start the convo
*=Required
$12,350 starting price
Elizabeth Nelson
MANAGER
- Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure.
- Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place.
- Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go.
- For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.
By clicking 'Request Quote', you agree to The Knot creating an account for you, if you don't have one, and to our Terms of Use. See our Privacy Policy to learn what data we collect and how we use it.
Wedding vendors in Tucson
Lodge on the Desert
Lodge on the Desert's photos
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
- Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure.
- Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place.
- Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go.
- For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.