Gold Canyon Golf Resort Wedding | Phoenix, AZ

Weddings

Mar 26

A wedding day at the base of the Superstition Mountains

I don’t call it the best wedding ceremony view in the Phoenix Valley for nothing! We’ve had the pleasure of documenting several wedding days at Gold Canyon Golf Resort during our brief stint in Arizona, and it’s about time I shared just why we love this wedding venue’s views (and vibes) so much. GCGR is located at the far east end of the Valley, so a bit more rurally than most Phoenix wedding venues. We love the tucked away feel, far away from the concrete and chaos that is the center of the Phoenix Metro. We also love the fact that this is a resort, making for a gathering place for couples and their guests to make an entire weekend out of their wedding celebrations, rather than the one, often rushed day that most local venues offer.

Tayler and Kesin both grew up in Phoenix, and met and started dating in high school. Their wedding day comes almost ten years into their love story, in their home city, surrounded by many of the family and friends who have been a significant part of their lives since day one of their relationship. Tayler and Kesin chose to have their wedding at Gold Canyon Golf Resort because of the desert landscape that surrounds it, quintessential to the place they call home.

The day began on site, relaxed and slow, because Tayler, Kesin, and all their people spent the weekend on property. Tayler and her mom worked together to DIY all the signage and florals (you would swear a professional did this, these two are so talented!), so they alternated getting ready and putting the final touches on the floral arrangements. Tayler and Kesin had a smaller wedding party, so the vibes in their respective getting ready spaces were so peaceful and low-key, just like the couple.

Fighting back tears and so ready to see each other, Tayler and Kesin shared their first look on one of the more scenic tee boxes at Gold Canyon Golf Resort. It was here they exchanged private vows as well. We opted to give them plenty of extra time for this part of their day, so they could be fully present with one another as they promised each other forever.

Because Tayler and Kesin saw each other before their ceremony, we were able to capture all formal wedding party and family portraits prior to their wedding ceremony! This time was also filled with a bunch of impromptu first looks, which were so full of emotion and love. No family member or bride or groom felt a need to perform for these, because we made a point to observe them, rather than make them a line item on the timeline or much of a big deal from a photography perspective. You will love the way the photos turned out— so raw and real and full of presence.

After Tayler and Kesin and their people had some well deserved extra time to rest and reset, guests began to arrive to the ceremony space, in the dramatic shadow of the Superstition Mountains. You will not find a better wedding ceremony view in Phoenix! Tayler and Kesin chose to incorporate family vows into their ceremony— something super unique I’d never seen before, but think more couples should consider incorporating! It was a beautiful way of involving their family, who, as we drew closer to the wedding day, Tayler and Kesin placed a special emphasis on the importance of. Extended family promised to come around Tayler and Kesin from their wedding day forward to support them and mentor them, keeping their marriage as strong as can be.

As golden hour set in, we joined Tayler and Kesin and their guests for happy hour, before we snuck off with the newlyweds for what I like to call the grand tour of Gold Canyon. Sunset portraits at GCGR take a different meaning than at most wedding venues— Charlene, the venue’s incredible manager, takes us around in a golf cart to all the locations on the sprawling property that are looking particularly photogenic at the moment. This gives couples the opportunity to have wedding photographs in a number of different landscapes, from a hillside dotted with saguaro, to a tee box with views of Flatiron.

And after sunset, we partied. Speeches detailed Tayler and Kesin’s love story, and how the couple had changed the lives of their closest people. Dessert was gelato, perfect for the desert and untraditional in the best way possible! These two danced all night, before jetting off to the South Pacific for their honeymoon!

We’re Katie and Joseph, a husband and wife team, and documentary wedding photographers.

We are big fans of documenting wedding days in an unposed, raw, genuine, and honest way that allows our couples to maximize their experience on their day while also receiving a gallery full of stunning images that communicate how it felt to be there.

Though we’re based in California, we’ll travel anywhere, like Arizona, for a good love story (and dance party). We invite you to follow the links below to learn more about us and our services, and to get in contact with us!