Art of the Reception

Ideas & Inspiration

Art of the Reception

Bentley Projects
602.340.9200 | bentleygallery.com

Once inside, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped out of a New York City Yellow Cab and into a trendy Meatpacking District art gallery: Exposed brick, vaulted ceilings and cement floors give it an industrial feel, yet the warm daylight streaming in from the high clerestory windows and the exquisite artwork make it welcoming and comfortable. For nighttime receptions, the gallery’s track-lighting illuminates the space and the artwork. 

Bentley Projects is a blank slate for the creative bride looking to personalize every aspect of her wedding. With 22,000 square feet to work with, brides can let their imaginations run wild. Bentley Projects has hosted every kind of event, says Darlene Pasieczny, the venue’s director of private events, from traditional sit-down dinners to contemporary lounge-style cocktail parties. And guests can mingle, munch and sip their way through the gallery, enjoying all of the different works of art.

Heard Museum
602.252.8848 | heard.org

Immerse your guests in rich Southwest Native American culture at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix. With its arched walkways, wrought-iron fences and desert landscaping, the Heard provides an abundance of beautiful outdoor photo opportunities.

Treat guests to a pre-reception outdoor fête in the Central Courtyard where they can enjoy the soothing natural ambience: impressive fountains, a reflecting pool and spotlighted trees. Heard’s Steele Auditorium comfortably seats up to 300 guests for dinner and comes with many extras: a pre-reception area with plenty of windows for natural light, a large-screen projector for a slideshow of your favorite pictures and ceiling spotlights that can be isolated to shine on the head table or the dance floor.

Phoenix Art Museum
602.257.1222 | phxart.org

A large contemporary fountain greets guests as they enter the Greenbaum Lobby, where floor-to-ceiling windows and dozens of spotlights make guests feel as though they’re celebrating underneath a starry sky. For pre-reception parties, the museum has several other lobbies and a large grassy courtyard for brides and grooms to choose from. Each leads guests into Cummings Great Hall, which can hold up to 350 people for a seated dinner, while the newlyweds can make their way into their reception via a grand staircase. Polished limestone creates a wonderful dance floor and vaulted ceilings lend an air of drama to the venue, while the large-scale contemporary art is a stunning addition to any bride’s décor. Renting out the space gives guests an exclusive evening at the museum with full access to all first-floor galleries. 

Tryst Art Gallery
888.638.2671 | inspirador.com

For brides planning a standing reception for 150 guests or fewer, Tryst Art Gallery in historic downtown Chandler makes a beautiful choice. Vintage meets modern in this newly renovated space inside Inspirador, the wedding/events complex. The gallery offers access to “world-class art in an urban chic environment,” according to Tryst creative director Amy Marvin. In its previous incarnation it housed the O.S. Stapley Hardware Co., and still features the original entrance, brick walls and tin ceiling, adding historical touches for the guests to enjoy.

Get more from Arizona Bride! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.