Find Wedding venues for rent in Albuquerque, NM

About Albuquerque

As the most populated city in New Mexico with over 560,000 residents, you can find just about anything you want in Albuquerque. It was founded in 1706 by Governor Francisco Cuervo and named after the 10th Duke of Albuquerque. The city was a major outpost linking Mexico City to New Spain on the El Camino Real.

Albuquerque has a desert climate with an average high of 69 degrees and an average low of 46 degrees, making it ideal for an outdoor wedding venue. The average from May to August is about 98 degrees, however, which means it can get inconvenient during the summer months. In this case, there are numerous indoor wedding venues and reception venues to choose from, from stunning Victorian homes to rustic distilleries.

Whether you want a laidback wedding in an outdoor venue or a more formal marriage ceremony in a banquet hall, you can fulfill your wedding dreams in a gorgeous Albuquerque space.

Wedding Options in Albuquerque

Whether you choose a destination wedding or an intimate wedding ceremony, planning a wedding can be overwhelming with lots of elements to consider. Make sure to hire wedding vendors to take care of as many of these details as you can so you do not have to stress out so much on your big day.

Photographer
You have to have a professional photographer to get the best shots on your wedding day. Even if you have a relative who is a photographer, it's best to let someone else do it so your relatives can enjoy the wedding, too. Besides, a professional will know exactly what shots to get and how to get them at your dream wedding venue.

Catering
Besides photos, you will also need food, and you want to make sure you get the best of the best for your family and friends. Having an Albuquerque wedding venue means you will be able to find some amazing caterers who serve authentic Spanish Mexican food that the city is known for. But you can also find other types of cuisine to choose from.

Hair and Makeup
Nobody wants to have to do their own makeup and hair on their big day. Hire hair and makeup stylists to make sure you get the VIP treatment and look fantastic when you walk down the aisle.

Wedding Dress
If you have not chosen your dress yet, make an appointment at one of the local bridal salons. Meet with a bridal stylist who can help you choose the dress of your dreams. You can also get dresses for the bridesmaids, the flower girl, the mother of the bride, and anyone else who needs a dress for the big day.

Wedding Companies in Albuquerque

From the invitations to the cake, you are going to need to find the right vendors to help you plan the perfect wedding. Whether you are looking for a wedding dress, bouquet, food, or entertainment, you can find all that and more in Albuquerque.

Bridal Elegance by Darlene
With her 35+ years of experience, you can trust Darlene to help you find the dream dress for you. She even won the Best of the City 2020 by Albuquerque The Magazine. Darlene has the very best selections, from Maggie Sottero to Rebecca Ingram gowns. The rest of the bridal party can also get what they need here.

Special Touch Catering
For more than 25 years, Special Touch has been serving spectacular meals for wedding ceremonies, parties, and other special occasions all over Albuquerque. It does not matter if your party has a guest count of 50 or 500, they can do it well. In fact, they were the recipient of the Wedding Rule Editor’s Choice Awards in 2021. Choose from beef, chicken, pork, fish, or vegetarian, and they will take care of the rest for you.

Just Lovely Weddings
Winners of the Best of Weddings by The Knot three years in a row, Just Lovely Weddings is your one-stop-shop for a full-service wedding planner. From coordinating the vendors to setting up the decor at the venue, Just Lovely Weddings will make sure your wedding is exactly what you dreamed it would be.

Pros and Cons of Weddings in Albuquerque

Because no city is perfect, you will need to know the good and not-so-good points about renting an Albuquerque wedding venue. Be sure to consider everything before committing to anything in writing.

Advantages

The weather
Yes, the weather is fantastic for the most part. You will not have to bring any snow boots or a winter coat. But if you plan a summer wedding, remember that it can be close to 100 degrees from May through September.

Cost of living
On average, the cost of just about anything you want in Albuquerque will be less than in other major cities so you can save big bucks buying your dress and other expensive needs there.

Plenty of outdoor venues
Because of the fantastic weather, you can find the best wedding venues everywhere from the beach on the Rio Grande to the valleys and cliffs of the Sandia Mountains.

Disadvantages

Crime rate
Albuquerque has one of the highest crime rates in the country with your chance of being a victim at one in 14. But you will be fine if you stick to the safer neighborhoods like downtown Albuquerque, Sandia Heights, Los Duranes, and Vista Encantada.

High altitude
With an elevation of over 5,300 feet, some people can be uncomfortable in Albuquerque. You should take a few days to adjust before the big day.

Transportation
There is limited public transportation in Albuquerque so you will need to rely on your own vehicle or a car service to get around.

Famous Locations in Albuquerque

ABQ BioPark
Whether you and your wedding party enjoy the beach, the zoo, or the gardens, ABQ BioPark has all of that and more. The beach is a fun place to swim or rent a boat for the day. Alternatively, you can spend the day visiting the animals at the zoo. They have birds, lions, monkeys, elephants, and many more. The botanic garden has over 1.5 miles of stunning flowers and other flora—perfect for those who want to get a bit of nature.

Sandia Mountain Tramway
If you want to see Albuquerque from the top of the Sandia Mountains over 10,300 feet in the air, check out the Sandia Peak Tramway. You can go from the base of the mountain to the top in about 15 minutes in a scenic tram car with air conditioning and comfy seats. It is the longest aerial tram in America, so you definitely don’t want to miss this ride.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Located just north of Old Town Albuquerque, this cultural center is one of the most popular museums in the state of New Mexico. It is owned and run by 19 different Indian Pueblos and has a plethora of artifacts and documentation about the history. They often perform traditional Indian dancing and art demonstrations as well.