Tohono Chul Elopement: A Tucson Botanical Garden Wedding
Jenny & Isaac
Short, sweet, and full of love, elopement ceremonies are attractive to couples for all sorts of reasons. Some soon-to-be newlyweds choose elopements because they prefer small, intimate celebrations over big to-dos. For Isaac & Jenny, their elopement was all about making official a 15-year relationship built upon love, trust, and shared joy.
A Tohono Chul Gardens Wedding
Isiah and I arrived at Isaac & Jenny’s house in the mid-afternoon, already feeling a bit toasty in the Tucson heat. The two of us love being coworkers—me with camera in hand, and Isiah carefully crafting and delivering the ceremony.
Upon entering the home, we introduced ourselves to both Isaac’s parents and Jenny’s parents, before saying “hi” to the bride and groom. I snapped a few detail shots, before the first look. Jenny chose to do a first look in two phases—first showing her beautiful dress to her family, then to her groom.
Isaac & Jenny cherish their three dogs, so they knew they wanted photos with them. Each pooch had their own wedding attire, which was super cute.
As is sometimes the case, it was a challenge getting all three dogs posed for the photos. Pets can sense your excitement for the big day, and aren’t sure why they suddenly need to be still with a stranger and her camera in their home! But all the same, we did our best to capture these pictures with the four-legged family members.
The eight of us arrived at Tohono Chul Gardens for the wedding. If you haven’t visited this botanical garden before, you’re in for a treat. There are so many desert plants including cacti, flowers, trees, and more. And when there’s that rich plant environment, critters find their way in as well. Now and then, you can see a rabbit scamper by or a hummingbird zoom away.
What was even more lovely is that our couple and their guests had reserved a portion of the botanical gardens all to themselves. Isaac & Jenny are private people, so this privacy really let them enjoy the moment exactly as they deserved to experience it.
Isaac & Jenny faced each other as Isiah began the ceremony with a poetry reading. Our couple decided to forgo vows, which is more common than you might think. We’ve noticed that couples with long histories together, sometimes feel like they don’t need vow readings to express their feelings towards one another. But as the ceremony shifted to the couple’s history, I could see Isaac get teary and red-eyed, which was very touching.
After the iconic line of, “You may now kiss the bride,” Isaac swooped up Jenny into his arms for a kiss and joyous applause.
Even though there was no traditional reception, there was still the couple’s first dance, dances between the bride and father and groom and mother, and—of course—a cake cutting. Yum!
I nabbed the couple away from their guests for wedding portraits in the mountains nearby. The pathway was a bit rugged, so Isaac & Jenny swapped their nice shoes for hiking boots—which is the adventure-wedding vibe we love to see. Isaac elevated the outfit change by donning a blue suit jacket, inspired by Nipsey Hussle’s final music video “Higher”.
As Isaac & Jenny posed for photos—complete with kisses, dips, and lifts—we discussed some of our favorite hikes in the area, our mutual love for animals, and Jenny’s fantastic green thumb. Seriously, she’s a pretty awesome gardener.
After our photo session concluded, Isaac & Jenny invited us to their wedding dinner, which was a super sweet gesture. We gracefully accepted their invitation and had a wonderful time chatting with their families. While I was the only vegetarian at the steakhouse, I absolutely gobbled up my baked potato with all the fixings. And another table bought the couple a bottle of champagne to congratulate Isaac & Jenny on their nuptials.
Planning Your Own Tohono Chul Wedding or Elopement
Tucson, Arizona, has so many incredible locations for your wedding or elopement. From spectacular venues to Saguaro National Park, it’s a wonderful place to say “I do.” But if Tohono Chul Gardens sparks your interest, consider these tips:
Check their availability early, especially if you have guests or require catering.
Book your elopement wedding photographer to help you plan and capture the day.
The venue features all sorts of desert plants and even an art gallery.
Even though the grounds are well-kept, you should still be careful of thorns, bees, and the like.
Plan ahead regarding your lodging, vendors, and officiant. Other examples include flowers, decorations, catering or dining options, or musicians.
Tucson is especially hot in the summer and late fall, but even the spring can be a bit toasty. Winter, early spring, and late autumn are milder.
Want more info? Check out our blog where we cover all the need-to-knows about wedding and elopement planning.
Tucson Botanical Garden Wedding Photography Packages
+ 6-8+ hours of coverage
+ Planning and vendor services
+ Location assistance
+ Online gallery with high-resolution photos
+ Option to download images or purchase prints online
+ Travel fees included, minus permits
+ Optional officiant services.
Meet Your Tucson Botanical Garden Wedding Photographer
I'm Diana Lustig, a California-born adventurer with a camera for a hand and an inborn love for the outdoors. I'm a professional photographer of 15 years and counting. I’ve captured over 50 weddings, 11 of which took place in Tucson. In my free time, you'll find me traveling through the southwest with my husband in our van, Clyde.
How did I get into wedding and elopement photography? In 2019, I hired adventure photographers for my own wedding and they showed me there’s a different, more personal way to get married. It was such a special day, I want to bring it to so many more couples who believe in getting married their own way.
