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Weddings

About

Rio Salado Audubon Center is a banquet hall, museum, and park wedding venue located in Phoenix, Arizona. The talented team of event professionals at this venue specializes in creating extraordinary weddings without adding any stress. The team can create a timeless and unforgettable wedding just for you.

Facilities and Capacity
Rio Salado Audubon Center offers indoor and outdoor settings with scenic views of the desert and city. Couples can host up to 150 guests at the venue. The Dorrance Skyline Room is a beautiful event space with glass doors that open up to an outdoor terrace with picturesque views and a shaded ramada. The Arthur C. and Elaine V. Johnson Center for Bird Conservation sits over the center’s wetlands and pond. This space offers a panoramic view that showcases the serene desert habitat and cityscape.

Services Offered
Rio Salado Audubon Center services wedding ceremonies, receptions, and other special events. Couples have the option to use in-house services or outside vendors. A variety of different event items are also available, including audio equipment, centerpieces, chairs, decor, lighting, and tables. Wedding services offered include the following:

  • Event planner
  • Event rentals
  • Lighting/sound
  • Setup

Cuisine
Rio Salado Audubon Center gives couples the opportunity to choose from plated, buffet, and family-style dinners. In addition to dinner services, hors d’oeuvres will be passed around during the cocktail reception. As for the bar, couples can choose to have an open bar with bartenders. Wedding catering and bar services offered include the following:

  • Servers
  • Stations
  • Tastings
  • Champagne toast
  • House beer, liquor, wine
  • Premium liquor
  • Signature drink
  • Specialty beer, wine


Other Services
This venue is available to host any of your wedding-related events, including your ceremony, reception, elopement, bridal shower, engagement party, and rehearsal dinner. In addition, they are also available to host holiday parties, staff retreats, corporate events, meetings, luncheons, and more.

Location
Rio Salado Audubon Center is conveniently located just two miles south of Downtown Phoenix. The combination of the beautiful Arizona desert landscape and the eye-catching lines of modern architecture creates a beautiful backdrop of a desert oasis.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
Clean Up
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Museum
Park

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Outside Vendors

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Decor
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Valet
Wheelchair Access

Reviews of Rio Salado Audubon Center

A
Angela Sent on 03/21/2018
5 out of 5 rating
The venue was beautiful and exactly what we were looking for. The natural landscape and blooming flowers made our day that much better. The Audubon was easy to work with and we would highly recommend getting married there!
J
Jennifer Sent on 06/18/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Olaya Events & Audubon Arizona

A LOT of patience, knowledge and fun is how I would describe Maddy and Mary Kate with Olaya Events. Having to reschedule our reception due Covid, meant having to almost plan twice and answer all of my questions again! I really appreciated their support. Maddy R-O-C-K-S!
The Audubon Arizona is a different and beautiful venue that encompasses the best of Arizona nature, wildlife (no snakes were seen! just birds) and has interesting architectural design. Location out of the ordinary.
R
Rachael Sent on 02/25/2018
5 out of 5 rating
The Audubon is the absolute perfect venue for couples looking for a modern and unique wedding with a desert vibe! We attended the open house after the Arizona Bridal Show and my husband and I fell in love with the venue! The location is open during the week but I would highly recommend attending an open house to see how the center can transform into a wedding venue! Ensemble Catering is the catering company with the Audubon and the food was exquisite! Our guests told us that it was the best meal they’ve ever had at a wedding!

Madison was our wedding coordinator and we had the best experience working with her. Madison was communicative at every step of the planning process and was there during our wedding to make sure everything was exactly the way I imagined! I don’t think I could have asked for a better venue or coordinator to work with!
N
Nalani Sent on 04/04/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Attention to Detail, Amazing Customer

The whole Olaya team made our wedding day simply amazing. They took all the stress out of the wedding planning through their attention to detail. I remember arriving at the venue the day of the wedding and it was set up better than I had ever imagined! They ask they important questions throughout the process, and throughout the night. They made sure we always had what we needed! We got to truly celebrate our love and our families coming together, which is all we ever wanted. Thank you to Gianna, Leigh, and the whole Audubon team for making our wedding day simply incredible!
K
Katie Sent on 11/20/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Audubon Center is a Perfect Wedding Venue

The Rio Salado Audubon Center is a beautiful venue for a wedding. We were able to get married with immediate family in a beautiful desert garden, and then enjoy a reception in the early evening with about 120 guests. With the help of Ensemble Catering and our Coordinator, we were able to turn the space into a cozy, warm and inviting atmosphere that was unique to us. The ability to go through one person to rent items, such as strings of outdoor lights and a fire pit, was so helpful! The space is unique and private as it seems secluded in South Phoenix, yet only minutes from Downtown Phoenix. There are great spaces for the kids to play and roam around, as well. We wouldn't have changed a thing.
H
Hannah Sent on 05/05/2018
4.9 out of 5 rating
This venue is gorgeous, and the team was so accommodating, helpful and really took into account everything I needed. I'd highly recommend this location and the Ensemble team to any bride looking for a gorgeous desert wedding.
T
Toni Sent on 02/06/2018
4.8 out of 5 rating
Audubon is a beautiful location, and I am so glad I found it! Everyone was nice, friendly and professional. I would definitely recommend!
H
Hannah Sent on 01/29/2017
4.4 out of 5 rating
The Rio Salado Audubon is a great choice for a bride looking for something a little different for her wedding venue. We loved the combo of beautiful, natural, desert outdoors and the open, modern, fun vibe in the indoor space. We had about 95 guests and the venue size was perfect for that many people. All of our guests love the space. The staff was good about responding to emails, letting us visit, and being flexible with all our arrangements. We also felt good about our wedding helping to support a non-profit organization that supports conservation!
C
Casey Sent on 02/09/2018
3.8 out of 5 rating
Good venue, and the event coordinator was extremely helpful. Would have preferred to provide our own alcohol selection and it would have been nice to not have to pay extra to bring in an outside caterer, but overall we had a pleasant experience.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

9
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Venue at the Grove Venue at the Grove Banquet Halls

Audubon Arizona is our sister property and one of the most unique venues in Downtown Phoenix. This venue offers a desert oasis set to the backdrop of Arizona's beautiful desert landscaped mixed with the stunning lines of modern architecture. We love managing events at Audubon Arizona, it has the perfect touch of the Arizona Desert with a dash of love and unforgettable moments.

Map

Rio Salado Audubon Center frequently asked questions

Rio Salado Audubon Center includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Clean Up
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Rio Salado Audubon Center includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Rio Salado Audubon Center includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Wine
The space offered by Rio Salado Audubon Center for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Museum
  • Park
Rio Salado Audubon Center offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Rio Salado Audubon Center offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Rio Salado Audubon Center offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Outside Vendors
Rio Salado Audubon Center offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Decor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Rio Salado Audubon Center is recommended by 95% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.8 in quality of service, 4.8 in flexibility, 4.8 in professionalism, 4.7 in average response time and 4.7 in value.
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