Emily and Joshua + Tanque Verde Ranch Wedding + Tucson Wedding Photographer

Whenever I think of Tanque Verde Ranch, I think of horses, big trees and grass, wide open spaces and huge starry skies at night.  Emily and Josh went even more outside the box and chose to have their wedding reception at Cottonwoods at Tanque Verde Ranch.  I had never really spent any time at Cottonwoods – it was a place where campfire cookouts were held.  How did I ever miss this!?  Cottonwoods was a picture perfect wedding spot nestled in a mesquite forest.  MaryEllen McBee and the staff at Tanque Verde ranch along with Andy Depew of Satyr Entertainment transformed it into a site of elegance with a rustic touch that Emily was looking for.  Twinkling lights, candles in mason jars hanging from the trees, a covered wagon bar, roaring campfires with s’mores…it was a perfectly magical evening.  Andy Depew added uplighting to the trees, cake and dance floor that added so much ambiance to this awesome party.  Note to brides – if you are considering an outdoor nighttime venue, uplighting, uplighting, uplighting. It really does make all the difference!  And then, there was the after party….the early birds headed out, which meant about 2 people left.   The packed dance floor of the 175 or so people who were left headed back up to the main ranch where the music got loud and party kept going…

Ceremony and Reception at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch in Tucson; Dress by Catherine Deane at BHLDN; Flowers by Posh Petals; Hair and Makeup by Heather Van Houten at heathermakeup.com; Music and Lighting by Andy Depew at Satyr Entertainment