Royal Palms Resort & Spa is truly a gem of a venue in the heart of Phoenix, full of endless opportunities to host a luxurious Arizona wedding that you’ll never forget. With a variety of gorgeous ceremony and reception spots, stunning Mediterranean-inspired design, and a team of dedicated wedding professionals there to support you every step of the way, hosting your wedding at Royal Palms Resort & Spa will be a total desert dream come true!
About Royal Palms Resort & Spa
The Property
When I tell you that Royal Palms Resort & Spa is everything you’re searching for in a Arizona desert wedding venue, I mean everything. Nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain, Royal Palms Resort is technically in Phoenix but is very close to Scottsdale, making it easily-accessible for any couples in the greater Phoenix area—Glendale, Mesa, Tempe, etc. If you or any of your guests will be flying in for your celebration (desert destination wedding, anyone?), Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is just 7 miles away from the venue.
Surrounded by nine lush garden acres, this venue spans over 20,000 square feet of breathtaking desert landscapes full of palm trees, rocky terrain, and featuring stellar mountain views. The resort actually started out as a romantic couple’s getaway back in the 1920’s, and has since been completely transformed into a world-class retreat for anyone craving a luxe escape into the desert. With on-site spa services, restaurants, bars, pools, cafes, and all sorts of unique events that really help you embrace the local desert spirit, who wouldn’t want to spend a day (or a few) enjoying all that this magical desert oasis has to offer?
Attractions Near Royal Palms Resort & Spa
Thanks to its amazing location in Arizona’s iconic Sonoran Desert, there is SO much to do near Royal Palms—whether you’re looking for ways to spend your honeymoon after tying the knot at the resort, or you’re planning a full-fledged destination experience with your loved ones & want to add a few activities to the group’s itinerary. No matter what your jam is (adventure, chill, thrill, or a blend of all three), there’s something for everyone around Phoenix and Scottsdale!
Here are a few fun ways you could spend your time in the area before & after getting married at Royal Palms Resort & Spa:
- Hiking & walking on scenic trails
- ATV rides through the desert
- Exploring Camelback Mountain
- Visiting the Desert Botanical Garden
- Walking around the Phoenix Zoo
- Going for an epic hot air balloon ride
- Golfing with sweeping desert views
Royal Palms Resort & Spa Wedding FAQ’s
Before we do a deep dive into everything this stunner of a venue has to offer, I wanted to answer a few essential questions you might be wondering about.
When can you get married at Royal Palms Resort & Spa?
Royal Palms Resort has a lovely variety of multiple venues, ranging from spacious, manicured lawns to elegant, refined ballrooms. They take weddings year round but I recommend the months of March, April, October, and November. You’ll have your choice of three ceremony sites, and then will pick from a curated selection of dinner reception, cocktail hour, and dancing venues that pair well with each one. More on this a little bit later in this guide!
How many guests can you have for weddings at Royal Palms Resort & Spa?
The biggest ceremony site at Royal Palms, the Vernadero Lawn, can accommodate up to 180 people maximum. Dogs are welcome at certain parts of the venue, too, so don’t leave your pups off the guest list!
How much does it cost to get married at Royal Palms Resort & Spa?
The cost of your wedding at Royal Palms is going to completely depend on what you’d like to add on to the base ceremony package, which costs $7,000. From there, you have a choice of reception packages that include a cocktail reception and a custom dinner menu, as well as a massive assortment of additional offerings ranging from tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, to bar packages, to late-night snacks to fill those midnight cravings. Food is something that Royal Palms absolutely excels at, so be sure to read through their infinite menu options carefully—fair warning, though, you may have a hard time choosing from all the delish options.
Why Get Married at Royal Palms Resort & Spa?
I doubt you’ll need any convincing once you see more photos of this breathtaking venue, but just in case—let’s go through all the reasons why Royal Palms Resort & Spa is easily one of the best wedding venues in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
Unique Mediterranean ambience
The style of the property is really quite unique and beautiful, the main Spanish Colonial Revival villa designed with a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired ambience that’ll have your jaw on the floor. The warm, welcoming atmosphere, antique accents, and cozy lounges provide such a laid-back yet upscale setting—it’s truly the perfect mix of relaxed, chill desert vibes and elevated, high-end amenities. Lush gardens surround the resort amidst sweeping desert landscapes, every inch of the venue displaying thoughtful, intentional decor that keeps the romantic feel of the couple’s retreat it used to be nearly 100 years ago.
Secluded spot in the heart of the Scottsdale/Phoenix area
Royal Palms Resort & Spa somehow feels really secluded despite being in the heart of Phoenix—it honestly feels more like you’re in a private little desert paradise than in the middle of Arizona’s capital city. They’ve done a fabulous job of maintaining the private atmosphere of a secluded desert escape while still offering easy access to nearby attractions, and being a super close distance to the airport. Though you’d never know, what with the spacious grounds and gorgeous views of Camelback Mountain that steal the show from all angles!
Multiple gorgeous ceremony & reception sites
When you tie the knot at Royal Palms Resort & Spa, you’ll have your choice of not just one, not two, but three gorgeous ceremony sites—as well as a multitude of spectacular reception spaces. The venue offers different location pairings, with each ceremony site best paired with specific cocktail hour, reception, and dancing spaces, so you can trust that your day will flow seamlessly throughout the property.
From stone-walled courtyards that make you feel like you’re in a lavish Spanish villa to sprawling lawns with plenty of space to mingle, every single venue has been designed carefully with effortlessly beautiful, stress-free celebrations in mind! I’m in love with the vibrant flower gardens and the indoor venues that have been modeled around a Mediterranean style; every location is seriously better than the last! Plus, the property is full of little nooks for photo opportunities or a tranquil moment away from the crowd when you need a little break.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the three ceremony sites offered at Royal Palms Resort, plus the cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing spaces they pair best with:
Vernadero Lawn
Fits 180 guests; pairs with Reflecting Pool for cocktail hour + Estrella Ballroom for dancing
During cocktail hour the lawn can be transformed into a beautiful dinner under the stars and palms for your reception.
Camelback Vista
Fits 160 guests; pairs with Cervantes Lounge for cocktail hour + Cervantes Room for dancing
Alegria Garden
Fits 120 guests; pairs with Orange Grove for dinner + Palmera Ballroom for dancing
World-class cuisine
I could literally spend the rest of this guide raving about the in-house catering at Royal Palms, because man if it’s not some of the best wedding food I’ve ever had, then I don’t know what is. With multiple highly-experienced chefs and an incredible team of servers, bartenders, cooks, and baristas, the wedding menus are absolutely out of this world—including endless options for dinner salads and entrees, delectable hors d’oeuvres, oyster bars, cannoli pipers, barista stations for a little coffee pick me up, gelato carts, late night snacks, cakes, and mini desserts. The list could truly go on forever, and every dish is crafted with thoughtfully-sourced ingredients that’ll leave your guests’ mouths watering for more. Fun fact: the executive chef even used to share an apartment with Gordon Ramsay!
All-inclusive wedding weekends
There’s no need to stop the festivities after just one day, because fortunately, Royal Palms offers SO many phenomenal ways to embrace your time in the desert, and really spend quality time with the people you love + turn your celebration into a full weekend event. With on-site experiences such as yoga, meditation, live music, jacuzzis, pool, and a luxurious spa, there are endless ways to immerse yourself in this gorgeous desert haven—because why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of everything this enchanting property has to offer?!
Royal Palms even offers an amazing selection of wedding experiences that can take place outside of the actual wedding day itself, including a welcome reception, rehearsal dinner buffet, and a brunch buffet that would be perfect for a little farewell/sendoff the day after; you’re truly able to curate an entire experience for the guests that you invite to stay with you. Might as well make the most of your time in the area, right?
Professional team & wedding shadow
Another element that couples LOVE about getting married at Royal Palms Resort is the wedding shadow that’s included in your package. This is a dedicated wedding professional who joins you after your ceremony, and makes sure you’re taken care of throughout the rest of the night: bringing you drinks, clearing dishes, grabbing snacks or offering trays of hors d’ouveres—overall just making your life a whole lot easier so you can focus wholly on celebrating, dancing the night away, and being as present as possible with your partner.
Royal Palms Resort & Spa Wedding Packages
As I mentioned earlier in this guide, Royal Palms Resort wedding ceremony packages currently cost $7,000, with a choice of the three main ceremony sites: Vernadero Lawn, Camelback Vista, and Alegria Garden. This ceremony package includes the following:
- Access to the resort for your engagement session (love)
- Ceremony rehearsal space
- Valet parking for you & all of your guests
- Personal greeters on your wedding day
- Full ceremony sound system
- Garden chairs
- Setup and teardown
And as a couple, you even get a complimentary two-night stay at the resort—guaranteeing the most romantic, rejuvenating stay the night before and night of your big day.
In addition to the base ceremony package, reception packages start at $245 per person, with varied dinner menu selections, cocktail reception options, and endless dessert choices. Royal Palms requires you to book a planner from their preferred list, but you’ll also be assigned a dedicated wedding shadow, who will take care of you starting after your ceremony. You won’t have to worry about any of the logistics day-of, thanks to the incredible team who’s there to make your wedding dreams come to life.
Royal Palms Resort & Spa Wedding Photographer
Can you see why I fell absolutely in love with this venue the moment I stepped foot on the property? I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to photograph couples at such dreamworthy venues like this, especially in the greater Phoenix area that I call home.
If we don’t know each other yet, I’m Meg—a Phoenix wedding photographer who will take any chance she can get to go back to this heavenly desert escape. More than just a photographer, I’m a mama to two littles, a creative at heart, and a storyteller with a desire to capture connection in its truest form. If that feels like what you’re looking for when it comes to your wedding at Royal Palms Resort & Spa (or anywhere else in AZ, for that matter), I’d love to chat about capturing your special day.
If you’re still considering all of your venue options, here are three more in Scottsdale that I adore:
The Scott Resort Wedding
A Stunning Scottsdale Wedding Venue: El Chorro
Modern Wedding at The Paseo Venue
