When preparing for the biggest day of your lives, you and your betrothed want to make it special and ensure it reflects your personalities. Picking the perfect location for your wedding may be the biggest decision on your checklist! Whether you’re the outdoorsy types wishing for a sunset wedding on a sand dune or planning for an elegant day, here are some places to consider in Southern New Mexico and Far West Texas.
Las Cruces
Blue Moon
13060 N. Valley Dr., Las Cruces
bluemoonnm.com/book-an-event
575-649-3747
Established in 1920, Blue Moon Bar has been part of having a good time in the Mesilla Valley for more than 100 years. But did you know they also host special events and weddings? They do! You can rent the outside patio for a small reception or the whole establishment for a larger gathering. In-house catering is available from the grill, and you won’t have to worry about the drinks either — the Blue Moon bartenders have it covered. Already picked the perfect venue but want the spirit of Blue Moon there? Blue Moon’s bar and bartenders are mobile! If your wedding is outside Las Cruces city limits, you can rent the hospitality of Blue Moon for your wedding.
Grapevine Plaza
3900 W. Picacho Ave., Las Cruces
grapevineplaza.net
575-888-0247 (se habla español)
Grapevine Plaza, located on the west side of Las Cruces, is more than just a venue. With an onsite brewpub and restaurant, your guests will be able to enjoy local beer, wine, and spirits along with truly scrumptious food. Indoor and outdoor ceremonies are available to fit your wedding vision flawlessly. You can even opt for a dance floor under the stars! This is an exceptional place to celebrate your wedding and create memories to last a lifetime.
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
4100 Dripping Springs Rd., Las Cruces
nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/planning-your-visit/facilities-rental/
575-644-0778 or 575-649-1520.
If you are looking for a ranch-style wedding site, celebrate your special day at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. The museum’s spacious courtyard with its grand view of the Organ Mountains is a popular wedding reception area. The museum also has many indoor spaces available. Catering is provided exclusively by Dickerson’s Catering, which offers a variety of themed buffets from which to choose. Make sure to plan for a photo session by the stables as the sun sets and turns the Organ Mountains pink.
Red Hawk Golf Club
7502 Red Hawk Golf Rd., Las Cruces
redhawkgc.com
575-373-8100 Ext. 5914
[email protected]
Red Hawk Golf Club is ready to be the destination for your special day. Elegance is their motto. What makes this venue so special are the stunning views of the Organ Mountains and luscious green golf course complete with a pond that make for the most beautiful photos. Say “I do” out on the greens with the mountains as your backdrop . . . then celebrate with food, dancing, and more in the custom-decorated clubhouse. No matter the theme or unique request, the team at Red Hawk is dedicated to making your wildest wedding wishes come true.
Rio Grande Winery
5321 N. Highway 28, Las Cruces
riograndewinery.com
575-201-3744
Consider having your wedding in America’s oldest wine region at a beautiful vineyard south of Las Cruces. Upon entering, you drive past the attractive 28-acre vineyard to the main winery from which you enter the rustic tasting room. Out the back doors of the tasting room you’ll find a stage, dance floor, fountain, and a covered patio where you are graced with an unobstructed view of the Organ Mountains. This location will transform into the perfect romantic space for your wedding. Dance with your guests, enjoy authentic New Mexican wine, and usher in a new chapter of your life at Rio Grande Winery.
Southern New Mexico
Enchanted Vine
492 Fort Stanton Rd., Alto
enchantedvinebarn.com
575-336-7012
Enchanted Vine is a forest-wedding fantasy come true! Tie the knot among tall pines and then enjoy a delicious dinner with your guests in their rustic yet elegant barn — or vice versa! Indoor and outdoor options are available. The bride can spend the night before the wedding in the bridal suite, complete with a full kitchen, full bath, and a king-size bedroom loft. Enchanted Vine provides beer and wine bar service that includes their own wine from Noisy Water Winery, basic decorations, lighting, limo service, and so much more. As soon as you see one photo of this venue, you will be hooked.
Heart of the Desert
7288 US-54, Alamogordo
heartofthedesert.com/the-patio-at-heart-of-the-desert
800-432-0999
Heart of the Desert’s Tuscan-style venue is one of the most romantic places in Southern New Mexico to have your wedding. The pistachio groves that line the property are the perfect backdrop for photos and create a beautiful view from the reception area. Heart of the Desert provides beverage service featuring their own wines and Sierra Blanca Brewing Company craft beer, and they can suggest several highly recommended catering companies that are approved to use their kitchen. Dance under the sparkling New Mexican sky as you and your partner start your life journey together.
The Lodge Resort and Spa Cloudcroft
601 Corona Pl., Cloudcroft
thelodgeresort.com/events-meetings/weddings/
575-682-2566
The possibilities are endless at The Lodge in Cloudcroft. You can make your selection from an array of elegant indoor facilities and beautiful outdoor venues. Surrounded by the stunning Lincoln National Forest, you are truly in the middle of a romantic wonderland. The Lodge is a full-service wedding and reception paradise that features rooms for out-of-town guests, professional custom menus, planning staff, and assistance with floral arrangements, entertainment, and photographers. They are here to help you every step of the way. The staff at The Lodge is excited to host your special day!
White Sands National Park
19955 US Hwy 70 West, Alamogordo
nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/weddings.htm
575-479-6124 ext. 222
Have you dreamed of saying your vows while surrounded by the glistening gypsum at White Sands National Park? Well, dreams do come true. White Sands is available to host your wedding ceremony and/or reception. The only space available to reserve is the semi-private group use area, an isolated location away from other park visitors. You can opt to have your ceremony anywhere on the grounds of the park, but keep in mind that, other than the group area, the picnic shelters and dunes are accessible to the public. There are no rentable indoor facilities. Contact the park ranger for a permit that allows you to bring vendors, catering, a bar, and decorations to the venue, but you are responsible for providing them, setting them up, and removing them at the end of the event. Make your special day one to remember at this one-of-a-kind location.
Texas
Amarillo Botanical Gardens
1400 Streit Dr., Amarillo
amarillobotanicalgardens.org/host-an-event
806-352-6513
At the magical Amarillo Botanical Gardens, your options are plentiful when it comes to locations, with four indoor and five outdoor ceremony and reception options. Bring in your favorite restaurant for catering or ask for the Botanical Gardens’ recommendations. Dance the night away under the beautiful Texas sky in the multi-level Japanese Garden or celebrate among the colorful flowers inside the Tropical Conservatory. Here you will experience nothing short of a night of enchantment and whimsy.
El Paso Zoo
4001 E. Paisano, El Paso
elpasozooevents.com/weddings
915-212-0246
Are you an animal lover or looking for a truly exotic place to tie the knot? Say “I do” at the El Paso Zoo. Yes, the zoo! With indoor and outdoor options throughout the property, you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the zoo after hours. Offering the finest catering and variety of food options, from appetizer stations to buffets to plated meals, an executive chef and catering team are on deck to serve you and make sure everything runs smoothly. Enjoy unique experiences like feeding the giraffes, which makes for amazing photos! Your guests will be talking about your wedding at the El Paso Zoo for years to come.
Grace Gardens
6709 Westside Dr., El Paso
elpasogracegardens.com
915-877-2745
Celebrate your special day at the iconic Grace Gardens in El Paso. If you are from the area, you know this is one of the most breathtaking wedding venues you can find. Located in the quiet Upper Valley, this location provides the perfect private setting. With two ceremony pavilion options and four reception ballrooms from which to choose, no two weddings are ever the same. The options don’t stop there. They also provide in-house catering, decorating, floral, and other vendor services. The grounds are gorgeous and having a sunset photo session is an absolute must. Give Grace Gardens a tour and see for yourself why this stunning location is a local favorite.
The list does not end there, but we only have so much room! Be sure to explore El Paso and Southern New Mexico for even more locations. For example, check with New Mexico State University Conference Services at conference.nmsu.edu/weddings. They can host your engagement party, wedding ceremony, and reception and offer both indoor and outdoor settings. Where else would a proud Aggie tie the knot?
Information is subject to change. Please contact these venues for the latest information.
Written by Olivia Belcher
Courtesy photos
Top photo by Kayla Smith kaylasmithphotography.com/
Originally published in Neighbors magazine
Posted by LasCruces.com
