Boyce Thompson Arboretum 37615 E Arboretum Way • Superior • AZ 85173
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Why You'll Love This Place
A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review
- Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden, this 135-acre arboretum is rich with authenticity and bursting with beauty—all told, nearly 20,000 desert plants can be found here, sourced from around the globe. Located about an hour from Phoenix in the historic mining town of Superior, it's a beloved landmark and a nonprofit, meaning your (refreshingly reasonable) fees go directly towards helping support its ongoing missions.
- Six distinct locations accommodate elopements, ceremonies, and receptions, so you have plenty of options to fit your unique guest count and style. The sweet Smith Greenhouses are a favorite for elopements surrounded by abundant cacti, succulents, and historic stonework; when combined with the adjacent Patio, it's a wonderful place for receptions that flow seamlessly between indoors and out.
- Mature eucalyptus trees in the Woodland Garden provide a sun-dappled setting for ceremonies with up to 100 people, while the Perennial Garden is ideal for slightly smaller groups, with abundant blooms from spring through fall and a central brick focal point your photographer will love. Just a short walk away, the Picnic Areas are perfect for an inviting, laid-back dinner and dancing under the stars.
DEALS: What discounts, special offers, or packages are available here?
Elopements start at $1,000 for 2 hours, and may be held at Baja Desert Point or Smith Greenhouses.
Maximum 10 people, including couple, vendors, and wedding party. Additional time is $300/hour.
PRICES: What's this going to cost?
Rental Fee
- $2,000–6,500/event
The rental fee includes:
- 5-hour reserved rental time, plus 2 hours for setup & teardown
- On-site venue coordination
- Venue walkthrough and rehearsal
- Guest admission to the Arboretum on the wedding day
- Welcome and directional signage
- Golf cart transportation for photos after the ceremony
- One year of Arboretum membership for the wedding couple
Venues may be rented individually (ranging $2,000–4,000), or in pairs, with one venue for the ceremony and one for the reception:
Perennial Garden + Picnic Areas | $4,500
Perennial Garden + Smith Greenhouses | $5,500
Woodland Garden + Picnic Areas | $5,000
Woodland Garden + Smith Greenhouses | $6,000
Demonstration Garden Buyout | $6,500
Includes the Woodland & Perennial Gardens, Oasis, and Wallace Rose Garden.Additional spaces include the dressing room ($300 for all-day use) and Smith Lecture Room (used for staging, $1,000).
GUEST COUNT: How many people can we have here? What’s the max capacity?
| Indoors | Outdoors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Seated | 40 | 100 |
| Cocktails, etc. | Standing | 40 | 150 |
| Reception | Seated | 40 | 150 |
| Meetings | Total meeting capacity for this venue is 39. | ||
Venue Info & FAQs
OPTIONS: What kinds of events can we have here?
- Outdoor Ceremony
- Ceremony
- Wedding Receptions
- Outdoor Reception
- LGBTQ+ Friendly
- Elopement Packages
- Small Wedding
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Special Events / Parties
POLICIES: What are the food, alcohol, music, and other rules here?
Price
$ • $$
Catering
Preferred list
BYO
Alcohol
BYO
Preferred List
Amplified Music
Indoors
Outdoors
Some restrictions
Wheelchair Access
Wheelchair accessible
Availability
Year-round, daily. Hours vary in summer.
STYLE: What’s the style and overall vibe of this venue?
Buildings & other settings available:
- Garden
- Historic / Landmark Building
- Mountain
- Non-Profit
VIEWS: What kind of views does this place have?
Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!
- Forest / Woods
- Garden
- Mountains
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
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