Unforgettable Weddings in the Verde Valley By Sylvia Somerville
When history lovers Kelly Christopher and Bill Garston decided to get married, the past became a backdrop for their special day. The couple held their April wedding at Fort Verde State Park in Camp Verde, Arizona.The bride wore an ivory Edwardian dress; the groom a sack coat with a vest, black cravat and Wyatt Earp hat. The rest of the wedding party donned historical attire from a decade of their choosing, and many guests at the Victorian garden party that followed also came in period clothing.“It was perfect,” recalls Kelly Christopher-Garston.
The Garstons are one of thousands of couples who have found that the majesty, charm, history and wide open spaces of the Verde Valley provide an ideal setting for exchanging vows.With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the weather couldn’t be better.
The area features a variety of wedding venues—from the majesty of the red rocks in Sedona and picturesque state parks to intimate chapels and churches throughout the region, lovely creekside locations, dramatic mountain tops, romantic wineyards and adventurous settings.Imagine exchanging vows on the historic Verde Canyon Railroad or aboard a trolley, hot-air balloon or jeep!
The options for an unforgettable wedding reception are just as numerous and can accommodate budgets of all sizes.Whether the reception is a simple outdoor picnic in a park ramada or an elegant five-course dinner in the courtyard of a world-class resort, the evening is sure to be unforgettable. Verde Valley offers all the wedding services that a bride and groom might need.
And what could be more romantic than a honeymoon in a high-desert landscape amidst panoramic views, exotic flora and fauna, and clear sunny skies during the day that are filled with galaxies of stars at night? Lodging choices include intimate bed and breakfasts, casitas, hotels, resorts and even spa rooms and campgrounds. Sedona and the many communities in the Verde Valley are truly places to live out a fairytale fantasy! Area resorts are consistently named among “the best romantic getaways in the world” by such magazines as Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.
