Tucson Temple Wedding

As a Tucson Photographer, I have had the opportunity to photograph many couples on their wedding day at the Tucson Arizona Temple. Planning a wedding can quickly become overwhelming and a how-to-guide is always helpful. This blog post is to help couples and their families as they plan their wedding at the Tucson Temple. I have a lot of experience as a Tucson Arizona Temple Wedding Photographer, and I am happy to help in any way that I can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out through my contact form HERE.

Why Get Married At The Tucson Temple 

Many couples that belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints choose to have a temple wedding. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the most important part of the wedding day is the sacred marriage ceremony where couples are sealed to each other. I have photographed many Tucson Arizona Temple Weddings, and I am excited to share some helpful information as you plan yours. 

Where is the Tucson Temple Located 

The Tucson Arizona Temple is located at the base of the Catalina Foothills on the Northern side of the city. The temple is beautiful with its white exterior and unique blue central dome. The temple was designed in the art deco style, with Sonoran desert influences. The Tucson temple is the sixth temple built in the state of Arizona. The temple grounds are landscaped with cacti, ocotillo plants, prickly pear cacti, and potted flowering plants.    

How to get married at the Tucson Temple

Getting married at The Tucson Temple is wonderful. There are many beautiful photography locations for couples to choose from. If you have never planned a wedding at the Tucson Temple before, I have listed out some important considerations and tips to make your temple wedding a smooth and stress-free experience.

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Get Married At The Tucson Temple

Similar to most weddings, the best time to get married in Tucson is either the Spring, Fall, or Winter. The Summers are very hot in Tucson, with temperatures over 100 degrees. Since the marriage ceremony is very sacred and photographers are not allowed into the temple, all photos will be taken outside the temple. This is an important consideration when choosing the time of year to get married. The last thing you want is to feel overheated in your wedding attire. Or have elderly grandparents or young children feeling the effects of the hot sun.

When Is The Best Time Of Day To Get Married

From a photography standpoint, the best time of day to get married is either in the morning or the later afternoon. This is when the sun is not as high in the sky, and the shadows on your faces tend to be softer. This all adds to creating beautiful wedding photos. If choosing to get married later in the afternoon, I recommed working with your photographer to create a timeline that will accomodate enough time for wedding party, family, and bride and groom portraits before the sun sets. I have had some couples need to reschedule their sealing time because they were exiting the temple right at sunset, leaving little time for photos.

How To Make an Appointment To Get Married

In order to get married at the Tucson temple, couples must be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  In order to schedule their wedding date, couples can call the temple at (1) 520-395-3900 and ask to speak with a temple worker who will schedule their wedding date with them. This step is very easy.

What To Bring The Day Of The Wedding To The Temple

On the wedding day, you will need to bring your wedding dress, suit, temple clothes, marriage license, bouquet, flowers for the wedding party and family members, and any other items the Temple may instruct you to bring.

You may also want to bring a cooler with waters for family and friends. This is especially important later into the Spring and for Summer weddings. I also recommend bringing umbrellas in the Summer. The Temple doesn’t have a lot of shaded areas, so the umbrellas do provide some shade from the sun. For brides who love their heels I also recommend bring a pair of flats in case your feet get tired from walking around. I have actually given my shoes to a bride who just couldn’t stand any longer in her heels. 

Best Locations For Wedding Photos

As I mentioned before, there are many beautiful photography spots around the Temple. One of my favorites is by the fountains, near where couples exit the temple after the marriage ceremony. Usually this area becomes shaded as the day progresses and can give some nice, even light for photos. 

I also love photographing couples in front of the Temple. Getting married at the Temple is very special and sacred experience. For many brides and grooms, they have been eagerly waiting to get sealed to their partner for many years. I always make it a priority to capture a photo of the couple by the front doors of the Temple and by the Temple sign with the Temple in the backdground. 

It is tradition for families to have a large photo with everyone who came to the Temple. For large groups, the best location to do this is on the stairs. It is always fun to capture everyone who came to support the bride and groom on their big day. 

Where To Eat After The Wedding

After the Temple, couples may be looking for a place to eat with family and friends. If the bride and groom are not having a luncheon at someone’s home, there are several restaurants very close to the Temple. La Encantada Shopping Center is a 5 minute drive from the Temple, as is Casas Adobe Plaza. Both of these locations have several restaurants to choose from.

How Many Hours Do I Need A Photographer For My Temple Wedding

There are several factors that determine how many hours you will need a photographer for. Below I have listed some of those factors that will require extra photography hours. On average for a temple wedding you will need 2-8 hours of coverage. I know that is quite a range, but as you will see, there are many factors to consider. Working with your photographer to build a wedding package that meets everything you are looking for is key.

Large Family

If you have a large family you will need to plan extra time for family portraits. As much as I plan and organize my family shot list, the larger the grouping, I have found in my experience it always takes longer. Family members wander off and it takes time to gather them back, so plan some extra time. 

First Look

If you plan to have a first look, you will need extra time to do so. Many couples choose to have their first look the week before their wedding, or in the morning before they enter the temple for their sealing. On average plan on an extra 30 minutes to an hour.

Wedding Photos at the Temple

For most of my couples, I recommend 2 to 2.5 hours to capture them exiting the temple, family photo groupings, bridesmaids photos, groomsmens photos, full wedding party photos, and bride and groom photos. In my experience this is how much time you will want to plan for your photos at the Temple.

Reception

If you are holding a reception in the evening, you will need to plan for more photography coverage. On average, most couples want 2-4 hours of reception coverage. This gives enough time to capture candids along with wedding events.

Tucson Arizona Temple Wedding Photographer

If you still need a wedding photographer to capture your Tucson Arizona Temple Wedding, I am here for you! I have a lot of experience photographing weddings at the Temple and would love to work with you. Please reach out by clicking HERE! I can’t wait to meet you!