Marissabelle Photography
Nestled between Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain, El Chorro is one of the premiere wedding destinations in the Phoenix / Scottsdale market. El Chorro was originally built in 1934 as a school (so cool!), and later developed into the restaurant and venue that exists today. Here's 4 things you need to know about getting married here:
1. El Chorro has a 4 main ceremony and reception spaces, each with slightly different styles and feels.
Event Lawn
The largest space, The El Chorro Event Lawn perfectly frames the iconic Camelback mountain, and is a 8,500 square foot lawn surrounded by manicured desert landscaping. The Event Lawn can be flipped to use for both your ceremony and reception, or used in conjunction with one of the other spaces. Best for larger weddings or a more desert feel.
Casa Paloma
Casa Paloma is a charming reception hall and courtyard situated next to the Event Lawn. A beautiful white building with stunning original windows and garden-esque fireplaces both inside and outside on the patio, Casa Paloma is cozy and romantic. If thoughtful details and a cohesive aesthetic are important to you, this is a great option that won't feel like a traditional ballroom.
Marissabelle Photography
Classroom Bar & Bocce Lawn
If you thought you couldn't get a garden style wedding here in Arizona, time to think again! El Chorro's Classroom Bar & Bocce Lawn have been carefully restored, and offer stunning vine covered garden walls, perfectly situated garden trees, and of course, views of Camelback Mountain.
Herb Garden
Last but not least, the Herb Garden is our favorite intimate setting at El Chorro. Cozy garden walls covered in vines surround a lawn perfectly sized for a smaller wedding. This space can be used for ceremony and/or reception. The courtyard's focal point, a spectacular wooden gate, provides a timeless ceremony backdrop, and can be adorned with garden style florals.
2. There's no hotel, so you can't stay on site, but there are plenty of high-end options right across the street
3. El Chorro is known for it's upscale cuisine and service
El Chorro prioritizes seasonal and local cuisine, ensuring a memorable meal for your guests. Pricing ranges from $110 to $185 in 2024, and they publish their menus so you can start to get a feel for the choices. Check out some of the reviews on Wedding Wire, where the food is a top rated aspect of the venue!
4. El Chorro makes an effort to be sustainable, and their restaurant is LEED certified.
They also use a solar energy water heating system, and solar panels to reduce the restaurant's energy consumption by over 50%. According to their website, more than 75% of the materials used in their most recent renovation were salvaged from the original restaurant, including the original plants. We love that these choices make them more sustainable, and help preserve the history of this venue and special part of town.
If making your wedding as sustainable as possible is important to you, you can read more on their website about their design choices.
Why we Love El Chorro
As florists, we love working at El Chorro because the venue provides a stunning blank slate. Even before any flowers are added, the venue is beautiful and is filled with a garden of manicured desert foliage. While venues like this may be more expensive up front, you'll often save more in the long run, because you don't need to spend as much on flowers and decor, since the venue is so perfect in the first place. Want some more ideas of how to incorporate florals into El Chorro? Let's get in touch!
All photos taken by Marissa Belle Photography.
El Chorro is located at 5550 E Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253