How to Get Married at The Desert Compass | New Mexico Wedding Venue Guide
How to Get Married at The Desert Compass | New Mexico Wedding Venue Guide
All about eloping at The Desert Compass, the dreamy boutique hotel in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico
PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEOGRAPHY BY MONTANA DIARIES
Table of Contents:
Planning Your Desert Compass Wedding or Elopement
Why Have Your Wedding at The Desert Compass
If you’re looking for a unique and dreamy New Mexico wedding venue, The Desert Compass might just be what you are looking for! Located in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque, this venue offers historic adobe architecture, 6 unique guest suites, and beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception spaces! This Desert Compass venue guide shares everything you need to know to help you plan your dream wedding at this stunning New Mexico wedding venue!
About The Desert Compass
Where is The Desert Compass?
The Desert Compass is located right across the street from Old Town Albuquerque. During your stay, you can explore several of the town's historic sites as many of them are within walking distance, You will also be surrounded by tons of great restaurants, shopping, museums, and entertainment. Truly the perfect location if you’re wanting tons to do and explore on your wedding weekend!
Closest Major City to The Desert Compass
The Desert Compass is located in the heart of Albuquerque which is a major city in New Mexico. So, you will have access to pretty much everything you could need on your trip.
How to Get to The Desert Compass
To get to The Desert Compass from the Albuquerque airport, you exit from the airport onto Locust St and get on the I-25 South. From there, you will stay on the freeway for 2.2 miles and exit onto Sunport Blvd. Turn left onto Sunport Blvd and then the venue will be on your right in about 1 mile.
Closest Major Airports
The closest airport to The Desert Compass is Albuquerque International Airport, located only 15 minutes away by car. The location of the Desert Compass is ideal for making your travel as easy as possible if you are flying in.
Planning Your Desert Compass Wedding or Elopement
Why Have Your Wedding at The Desert Compass
Now that you know exactly where The Desert Compass is, let’s talk about why you should get married here! While there are tons of beautiful wedding venues in New Mexico, The Desert Compass is truly something special. If you aren’t already convinced that this is the venue for you, here are a few reasons why I love it so much!
The Property is in a Great Location
Located across the street from old-town Albuquerque, you and your guests are only steps away from tons of restaurants, museums, and entertainment. And it is only 14 minutes from the airport making travel to and from the venue easy and relaxed
The Venue is also a Boutique Hotel
With 6 unique suites on the property, you and your guests can stay on this amazing property for your wedding celebration. It can sleep up to 24 people which is perfect for a small and intimate wedding celebration. It offers tons of amenities including a hot tub, cowboy pool, fire pit, private patios, sunny gardens, and outdoor games!
Historic Pueblo Style Architecture
The 3 adobe style buildings on the property have beautifully been remodeled to create 6 unique guest suites. The design and decor of all of the suites were created with the help of local women indigenous artists to truly represent the beautiful culture and history of New Mexico.
Offers a Luxurious Honeymoon Suite
The Desert Compass also offers an incredible honeymoon suite. The Coyote Suite is the most private one on the property and features a king bed, a private patio with twinkle lights, and a romantic bathtub!
Private Bridal Suite
The photogenic Bridal suite is the perfect space to enjoy with your friends the night before the wedding and to get ready on the day of. It sleeps up to 6 people and has plenty of stunning backdrops for your getting-ready photos.
Tons of Beautiful Indoor/Outdoor Areas for your Wedding Photos
With every single space at The Desert Compass being uniquely decorated with local artwork, there are so many uniquely beautiful spots for your wedding photos. From orange velvet couches to boho decor, you will be sure to get a big variety of fun and romantic wedding photos.
The Whole Property is Reserved for Your Wedding
When having your wedding at The Desert Compass, it is required that you buy out the entire property. So this means that all 6 suites are for you and your guests making it the most perfect private getaway for your New Mexico wedding! But, if you are just planning on a small elopement with fewer than 10 people, you do not have to rent out all of the suites, only the Coyote Suite.
Ceremony/Reception Site Options
Wedding Ceremony/Reception Site
For any wedding over 10 people, the Desert Compass uses their 2400 sq. ft garden area with twinkle lights for the ceremony and reception space! Surrounded by all of the beautiful adobe buildings and lush garden areas, this is such a gorgeous space that you can truly make your own. The Desert Compass does allow outside vendors to you can truly customize your day to be exactly how you imagine!
Elopement Ceremony/Reception Site
For elopements and intimate weddings with fewer than 10 people, The Desert Compass offers the Coyote Suite. This intimate space is absolutely stunning and is surrounded by a 6ft adobe privacy wall! This elopement space features a private grassy yard, rivercane, and an adobe walk backdrop that is the perfect backdrop to decorate for your ceremony and reception space! The Coyote suite includes a private twinkle patio, king bed, full kitchen, living room, dining area, and a large soaking tub for two!
The Best Time of the Year to Get Married at The Desert Compass
When planning your wedding or elopement at The Desert Compass, it’s important to consider the time of year and weather conditions. New Mexico experiences four distinct seasons so it’s important to think about the type of weather you want. Spring and fall offer mild temperatures and colorful foliage, while summer can be hot and dry. Winter can be cold and snowy, but also offers the opportunity for cozy vibes!
My personal favorite is spring and fall because the weather is just the right temperature and of course, the changing colors are always a plus! But, if you want to enjoy the cowboy pool with some warm weather, you can’t go wrong with summer either. Just expect some HOT weather and be prepared!
Where to Stay Near The Desert Compass
One of the best things about The Desert Compass is that it is also a boutique hotel. With 6 suites on the property, the hotel can accommodate up to 25 guests. And when you are having a wedding with more than 10 people, you are required to buy out all of the suites. But, if you have more than 25 people at your wedding, there are plenty of great places to stay near The Desert Compass! Below are some great options:
Airbnb/VRBOs
Hotels, Lodges, & Resorts
The Desert Compass Wedding Package(s)/ Wedding Cost
How Much Does it Cost to Get Married at The Desert Compass?
What’s Included in Your Desert Compass Wedding or Elopement Package:
When booking The Desert Compass as your New Mexico wedding venue, it’s important to note that the time of year will affect the price. The wedding packages start at $1600/night with a 2-night minimum stay and the Elopement packages start at $1500/night with a 2-night stay. The Desert Compass wedding brochure and elopement brochure will go into detail on the pricing breakdown by season, but here is what is included in their wedding and elopement packages
Wedding Packages: Starting at $1600/night
6 suites for 18-25 guests
Honeymoon Suite
Bridal Suite
Indoor lounge space
2400 sq. ft garden area with twinkle lights
On-site parking for 6-8 vehicles
Cowboy pool and hot tub
Outdoor games
Tables and benches for 18-25 people
Outside vendors are allowed
Elopement Packages: Starting at $1500/night
Email and phone communication with the manager to answer your questions, plan your elopement, and coordinate with any vendors
Private garden area with twinkle lights for ceremony
Photogenic indoor/outdoor spaces around the property for wedding photos
Romantic 2-night stay in the private Coyote Suite, plus access to our main property including, gardens, lounge areas, outdoor games, and cowboy pool (May - September)
FAQs About The Desert Compass Weddings
If you’ve still got some questions about The Desert Compass, don’t worry! Let’s go over some FAQs about getting married here!
How long do we have the venue for?
The Desert Compass requires that you stay at least 2 nights. During your stay, you will have 24-hour access to the entire property.
What’s the guest capacity The Desert Compass
For guests staying on the property, the capacity is 25, but for the wedding ceremony and reception, the capacity is 40 people. For elopements, you may have up to 10 people.
Can we hire outside vendors?
Yes, The Desert Compass allows outside vendors. The management team is more than happy to help with communication with the outside vendors as well.
Are DJs or bands allowed?
Because The Desert Compass is designed to be a relaxed and intimate wedding venue, they do not allow DJs or live bands out of respect for the neighbors. Music is allowed but must be turned off by 10 pm.
Desert Compass Wedding Vendors
Planners/Coordinators
New Mexico Wedding/Elopement Rental Companies
New Mexico Elopement Hair/Makeup
New Mexico Wedding Florists
Hiring Your Desert Compass Wedding Photographer + Videographer
Hi, I’m Shayna Lloyd, the creative behind Montana Diaries. I’m a videographer and photographer based in NW Montana and Glacier National Park. Buuuttttt, you better believe I’m stoked to pack up my gear to travel all over the world telling love stories, and of course that includes New Mexico!
Now that you know how amazing of a venue the Desert Compass is, it’s time to find the perfect wedding photographer and videographer to capture your wedding! I have photographed weddings and elopements at the Desert Compass and I am obsessed with it, so I would be so excited to capture yours too! Check out more of my work here and check out my wedding photography packages page as well. I can't wait to capture your dreamy wedding at The Desert Compass!!
