November is one of the best months to have a wedding in Tucson.
The weather is cool at night and pleasantly warm during the day. We also get little rain in the month, which means Mother Nature won’t ruin your outdoor ceremony.
Although this November may be booked, the fall weather has us thinking about some of Tucson’s unique and historic spaces to tie the knot.
The front of the Rubi House is where ceremonies can be held.
The Rubi House
175 E. 12th St., 520-235-5600; therubihouse.com
This two-story “Italianate Victorian” home was constructed in 1903 originally as a single-family home. Today, it’s owned by the folks who run Brother John’s Beer Bourbon & BBQ on North Stone Avenue.
The venue, which can accommodate up to 120 guests, has an in-house kitchen that caters receptions and dinners. The ceremony is set up in front of the house or on the balcony. Cocktails can be served inside while staff flips tables and chairs for reception service.
There is an upstairs bridal suite with balcony access where the bridal party can get ready and enjoy mimosas in the morning. Rubi House officials said they are in the process of constructing a groom’s room in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
Rubi House charges $48 for food per guest; no outside catering is allowed.
This room is used for photos and cocktail hour at Bates Mansion.
Historic Bates Mansion
283 N. Stone Ave., 520-221-5555; thehistoricbates.com
Before it was a wedding venue, the mansion built in the 1880s was home in the 1950s to C.T.R. Bates, a Tucson businessman who eventually opened Mountain Oyster Club on the property.
The mansion is now owned and operated by husband and wife Jerry and Vanessa Holland. They know the mansion is “not your average wedding venue,” with its dark interior, historic paintings and unique vibe.
Ceremonies take place outside near a set of doors and in between two cascading palm trees. Cocktail hour is moved inside to a bar and cocktail room with candles, mirrors and dark walls as the outside is transformed for dinner and the reception.
In addition, the mansion has an atypically large bar that can accommodate as many as three bartenders. The length of the bar top can make it more welcoming for guests who want to stay awhile and have a drink.
The bridal suite, as well, is larger than normal; the room used to have an indoor swimming pool. There’s a large table with mirrors to get ready, as well as a changing room with a bench and tall mirror.
Vanessa Holland said the Bates is a “one-stop shop” for couples, with packages including the all-inclusive offering in-house makeup, hair, photo booths, marquee letters, a champagne wall and more.
Prices start at $4,500 to rent the facility, including tables, chairs, linens and staff. Prices go up from there when you throw in catering and other services.
Bates Mansion can hold up to 250 guests.
The Treasury 1929 is two stories with a basement. The high ceilings, chandeliers and pillars give a historic feel to the venue.
The Treasury 1929
2 E. Congress St., thetreasury1929@gmail.com; thetreasury1929.com
The two-story building that once housed Valley National Bank will offer a groom’s room, bridal suite, in-house kitchen, bar and a private speakeasy when construction is complete.
The space has high ceilings with intricate detailing and chandeliers, plus short walls and pillars create a natural aisle for the bride to walk down.
Tucson restaurateur Daniel Scordato of Vivace is spearheading the culinary end of The Treasury 1929, including designing the in-house kitchen and speakeasy.
Scordato said he wants to keep as much of the original bank infrastructure as possible, including the bank vaults upstairs and downstairs that he has chosen to repurpose for the groom and bridal suites and kitchen area. A room in the basement across from the speakeasy will be used for photo booths.
Manager Ayla Arreguin is confident that their venue “stands out” among other wedding venues.
“It has historical charm. There’s a lot of attention to detail (in the building) so there’s less need for decoration,” Arreguin said.
The venue rents for $4,000-$10,000 and holds up to 200 guests. Packages that include food and cocktails start at $185 per person.
Construction could wrap up by year’s end; the first wedding will take place in February.
242 Park Ave Weddings
242 S. Park Ave., 520-390-1496; 242parkave.com
This indoor and outdoor venue provides the very popular rustic warehouse vibe with tall ceilings, brick walls, a large marquee “Love” sign and wooden accents.
One of the spotlights of Park Avenue is the train caboose that couples often get married in front of. This feature highlights the history of the venue and its area downtown.
In addition, there is a groom room and a large bridal suite with plenty of mirrors and space to get ready.
Manager Che Wilson said, “I think everyone should come take a look at Park and see if it fits their style and if it does they should book because not only from the aesthetic side of things, but also from our staff being super friendly and our pricing being very reasonable.”
The venue operates through wedding packages that start at $4,300, depending on what is included and headcount. The venue holds up to 200 guests.
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