Romantic resort reserved, check. Ring purchased, check. Now all you need to pop the question during a vacation to Scottsdale is the perfect setting. If you’re planning on getting down on one knee, these are the most romantic places to propose in Scottsdale.
Desert Botanical Garden
Many people think the desert landscape’s stunning beauty is one of Mother Nature’s best views. If you’re looking for a beautiful backdrop that typifies Scottsdale, proposing at the Desert Botanical Garden can’t be beat. With paths that wind through 55 acres bursting with desert plants, cacti, trees and flowers it’s easy to find a secluded spot to ask the big question.
While the Desert Botanical Garden is lovely anytime, time your proposal visit with a sunset dinner at Gertrude's at the Garden to celebrate the “Yes!” Gertrude's features a lovely patio and a rotating menu of stellar farm-to-table cuisine.
Joya Spa
If your love is a spa enthusiast like me, proposing in Joya Spa’s Grand Palace Suite will be the most memorable spa day of their life. The spa, located at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, wows with its palatial Moroccan décor that is on full display in this opulent spa suite. As chic as a Moroccan riad, it boasts a fireplace, tub for two, massage tables, access to the terrace pool and a sumptuous bed that is rumored to have cost $22,000. You can book the suite for either a half or full day and each reservation comes with a classic 80-minute couples massage and lunch on the adjoining terrace.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed some of the most timeless buildings of the 20th century. His Arizona home, Taliesin West, is an ideal place to start designing your life together. Nestled against the McDowell Mountains this UNESCO World Heritage site offers a stunning location for your Scottsdale proposal. The best place to get down on one knee is The Prow and Sunset Terrace. This outdoor vista has views of Taliesin West, iconic Camelback Mountain and the Scottsdale cityscape. In fact, Frank Lloyd Wright himself compared the terrace to “standing on the rim of the world.” Make sure to let the onsite team know you plan to propose when you book your tour so they can help arrange the right time for some privacy for you to pop the big question.
The "LOVE" Sculpture
Spell out your love for your sweetie by planning your Scottsdale proposal next to the iconic "LOVE" sculpture. At 3,800 pounds, this work of art by Robert Indiana is all about big love. Indiana was a major figure in the pop art movement and this piece is one of his most famous. It’s been the image for the Museum of Modern Art’s Christmas card and one of the most successful U.S. postage stamps in history. The sculpture is waiting on the Scottsdale Civic Center, just east of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, for you to sign, seal and deliver your big question.
Café Monarch
You can’t go wrong proposing in the restaurant named the most romantic in the country. Café Monarch blends gourmet dining with an ambiance that brings the l’amour of Paris to Scottsdale. For me, this is hands down the special occasion restaurant in the city.
Let the team know you’re planning to propose when you make your reservation. This will ensure you have a prime table and the staff can be aware of when during the evening you plan to ask the question. They will arrange for anything special that you need and time the meal accordingly.
The four- and eight-course prix fixe menus change often, but the quality of the meal never wavers. A memorable dinner is about far more than the food and with its ambiance and stellar service, Café Monarch would standout even without a proposal.
No matter what special spot you choose, your Scottsdale proposal will make this trip one of the most memorable vacations the two of you ever take!
Dena Roché is a luxury travel journalist and speaker who has lived in the Scottsdale area for nearly 20 years. You might run into her at the spa, on the trail or sipping a glass of Arizona wine around town.