Monroe Street Abbey Wedding Guide From a Photographer Who’s More Than a Little Obsessed
Updated: Sep 27
Monroe Street Abbey had me the second I found it on Instagram. I remember looking at it and immediately thinking, “I could get married here.” Then I got to photograph Alyssa and Ivan there, and it was over for me. I freaking LOVE this venue.
I spent the whole session finding new corners I wanted to photograph, freaking out over the old brick and arches, and realizing there was somehow even more to the building than what I’d seen online. So naturally, I started yapping my fiancé’s ear off about it until I finally dragged him to one of Monroe Street Abbey’s open houses too. Once he saw it in person, he got it. I was ecstatic, and suddenly planning our own 2028 wedding felt about 1,000x more exciting.
There are plenty of gorgeous wedding venues in Phoenix, but Monroe Street Abbey doesn’t feel like your typical Arizona venue. Arizona gives us desert, mountains, cactus, and some unreal sunsets, but this place feels like you stepped somewhere completely different. Between the arches, old brick, stained glass, and all the little imperfect details, it already has so much personality before you bring in a single flower.
P.S. If Google dropped you here before we’ve met, I’m Gisselle, an Arizona wedding photographer + videographer. I’m looking at this place with both bride brain and photographer brain turned all the way on, so let me show you around!
IN THIS BLOG:
Why Monroe Street Abbey Feels So Different From Other Downtown Phoenix Wedding Venues
If you’ve been looking at Phoenix wedding venues for a while and everything is starting to feel like some version of a ballroom, resort space, ceremony lawn, or giant blank room waiting for you to give it a personality, I GET IT.
That’s part of why Monroe Street Abbey stood out to me so quickly.
The more I walked around, the more I realized how much there was to look at. Old brick, massive arches, columns, broken stained glass, greenery, fire-altered details... every turn gave me something completely different.
While I was shooting here, it felt like I was back in Barcelona walking through one of their old churches. There’s something about the arches, stained glass, and architecture that gives it this European feel that you just don’t come across very often at an Arizona wedding venue.
It feels old because it IS old. Nothing about Monroe Street Abbey feels overly polished or manufactured, and that’s exactly what I love about it. I’ve never been someone who wants to do the “norm,” so give me a venue that feels completely different from what everyone else is doing.
Also, if you’re sitting here thinking, “Okay, wait, now I REALLY want to get married here,” same! You can take a look at my wedding photography + videography if you want to see what having me there could look like.
The History Behind Monroe Street Abbey
History class is in session! Monroe Street Abbey was originally First Baptist Church, built in 1929. It served as a church for decades before a devastating fire in 1984 that completely changed the building. What you see now is the result of years of preservation and restoration, and I love that they didn’t erase every sign of what happened.
You can still see broken stained glass, fire-altered surfaces, surviving architectural details, and even ash on some of the walls. Am I weird that the ash made me SO excited?!
I’m a history buff, so this is exactly the kind of thing that gets me. I love history for what it actually is, including the imperfect parts. I don’t want an old building polished so much that you can’t tell what it’s been through. I want to see what happened here. The fire damage, the ash, the pieces that survived, all of it.
So if you’re also the person who gets weirdly excited walking through an old building and immediately wants to know everything about it, you’ll understand exactly why I’m obsessed with this place.
The Wedding Spaces at Monroe Street Abbey
One of my favorite things about Monroe Street Abbey is that you’re not working with one pretty room and calling it a day. There are multiple spaces you can use throughout the building, and the setup can change depending on what makes the most sense for your wedding.
You can book the Garden Court on its own, the Garden Court + Loft, the Gallery + Loft, or all three spaces together. Each combination has its own rental fee, so I’d think about how you actually want the day to flow before deciding which one makes the most sense.
That flexibility is one of the things I really like about this venue. You can build the day around the spaces you actually need instead of automatically renting everything.
The Garden Court
The Garden Court is obviously the star of the show, and I get why. You’re standing inside the remains of the original church with huge arches, weathered brick, greenery, broken windows, and open sky all around you.
My photographer brain was having a FIELD DAY in here. I could use the architecture as a frame, shoot through different openings, layer the foreground and background, then turn around and find another pocket of light I wanted to use. There was always something else catching my eye.
The Gallery + Loft
The Gallery and Loft give you even more options for different parts of the wedding day. The Gallery can accommodate up to 150 guests for a plated dinner or 250 reception-style, while the Loft can accommodate up to 50 plated or 150 reception-style. Just keep in mind that buffet service can affect those maximum capacities.
You could use these spaces for your reception, cocktail hour, portraits, lounges, or whatever makes the most sense for how you want the day to flow. The Gallery + Loft can also be booked together, which gives you a lot more flexibility without automatically needing every space at the venue.
Don’t Ignore the Smaller Spaces
Take this as me telling you to learn from my mistake because I got so distracted by the Garden Court and architecture that I didn’t explore the smaller spaces nearly enough the first time.
There are two green rooms that can be used as getting-ready spaces, and some of those quieter rooms have such good natural light. The second I saw them, my photographer brain immediately started thinking about getting-ready photos, bridal portraits, and all the little moments that happen before the ceremony.
If you’re getting married somewhere with this much variety, use it. There’s way too much happening here to only photograph the spots you already saw on Instagram.
This is also why I wouldn’t automatically assume you only need a few hours of photography just because your ceremony and reception are happening at the same place. If you want the getting-ready part of the day, all these different spaces, portraits, details, and the actual wedding documented without racing around, here’s how I recommend figuring out how many hours of wedding photography you really need.
Alyssa & Ivan at Monroe Street Abbey
This session was an absolute dream for me, especially once I learned Alyssa and Ivan’s story. They were already married, but getting married had looked like signing paperwork at the courthouse and taking some hiking photos together in Sedona the following weekend. They never really had traditional wedding portraits, and they don’t even normally wear wedding rings.
So I decided we were giving them the bridal experience they never got.
I sourced the dress, rings, scarf, invitation, perfume, flat-lay details, and helped build the whole hair and makeup direction. Alyssa had short hair, so I immediately thought of Marilyn Monroe curls but with dark hair. We added the red lip, winged liner, classic florals, and this slightly vintage feeling that fit Monroe Street Abbey SO well without making them look like they were wearing costumes.
When Alyssa told me she really felt like a bride, I was like YES! THAT was the entire point.
Also, they’re professional ballroom dancers. Do you know what that means? Chemistry!!! Their chemistry was INSANE. They were both pretty reserved while we were talking, but once they started moving together, it was completely different. My content creator and I would literally be mid-conversation, see them casually dip or spin, and stop like, “OH MY GOD.” We already knew the photos were going to be too dang good. Just take a look at this reel we made together.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I had Alyssa’s dress strap held together with a freaking clothespin; we repeated spins because the dress wouldn’t cooperate, Ivan was wearing one of his ballroom suits, and neither wedding ring was theirs. But you’d NEVER know from the final photos.
That’s MY job. I’ll fix the dress, adjust the plan, move things around, and handle whatever weird little problem pops up. You get to stay in the moment and look ridiculously good while I figure it out. For days after our shoot, they kept on getting "Congratulations!" messages from family and friends who had seen the photos online and they didn't realize they had had a shoot not a ceremony.
What I’d Tell You Before Booking a Monroe Street Abbey Wedding
See It in Person
When I photographed Alyssa and Ivan, I was SO focused on the Garden Court and all the obvious architecture that I thought I had a pretty good idea of what Monroe Street Abbey had to offer. Then I came back for an open house with my fiancé and realized how much I’d missed.
There were other rooms and smaller spaces with gorgeous natural light that immediately had my brain thinking about getting-ready photos, portraits, and all the different ways you could use them on a wedding day.
I took this quick video while I was there so you can get a better idea of what walking through Monroe Street Abbey would look like. I can show you the big spaces, but actually walking through the venue helps you understand how everything connects, which rooms you’d want to use, and what the whole place feels like when you’re standing inside it.
Book Early
If Monroe Street Abbey is already one of your top choices, I wouldn’t sit on it. Especially if you have a specific season or date in mind, reach out early enough so you can tour it, look through the different packages, and figure out what works for your wedding without feeling rushed into a decision.
Use Their Venue Team
Once you book, their venue team becomes your venue team. Ask the questions, then ask even more!
Monroe Street Abbey’s in-house team provides the full-service venue + food + bar experience, which is a pretty big deal when you’re already keeping track of 400 other wedding decisions. I’d still ask exactly what’s included with the spaces you’re booking and what you’ll need to bring in separately, especially because furniture rentals aren’t included. I also love that the venue rental fees help support the preservation of the building. My history-nerd self thinks that’s extremely cool.
Then there’s the weather plan. “We’ll figure it out if it rains” is not enough information for me. If you’re planning to use the Garden Court, the Gallery has to be reserved to guarantee an indoor weather backup, so that’s something I’d factor into which combination of spaces you book from the beginning.
The more you know before signing, the fewer random surprises you’re dealing with when you’re already knee-deep in wedding planning.
Get Vendor Expectations in Writing
This is a helpful tip for any venue, but I mention it here because I had a little friction with one of the vendors during this shoot. Luckily, we worked it out, but it reminded me how important clear expectations are from the beginning.
Know what you’re getting. Know what they’re responsible for. Get the deliverables and agreements in your contract. If a vendor refuses to put what you agreed on in writing, I would personally consider that a red flag.
That goes for your photographer and videographer too. If you’re still building your team, my guide on how to choose your wedding photographer and videographer in Phoenix will help you know what to look for before you sign anything. And if I’ve made an impression, you can learn more about me and my photography here!
Is Monroe Street Abbey Right for Your Wedding?
Okay, so should YOU actually get married at Monroe Street Abbey?
You can love Arizona and still want something completely different from cactus, desert landscapes, or mountain views for your wedding. Maybe your Pinterest board is full of old buildings, European-inspired architecture, dramatic arches, textured walls, and editorial wedding photos instead. In that case, I have a feeling you’re going to freak out a little when you walk in here.
I also think it’s such a good fit for couples who don’t want their wedding to feel like something they’ve already seen 100 times. Monroe Street Abbey already has an opinion. It’s dramatic, imperfect, a little unexpected, and VERY hard to confuse with every other wedding venue on your Pinterest board.
If you’ve always pictured a brand-new ballroom or a completely blank space that can disappear behind your decor, I’d keep touring. Monroe Street Abbey has a VERY strong personality.
For me, that’s the whole appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monroe Street Abbey
Where is Monroe Street Abbey located?
Monroe Street Abbey is at 302 W. Monroe Street in Downtown Phoenix, close to hotels, restaurants, and plenty for your guests to do nearby.
Parking is also surprisingly easy for a Downtown Phoenix wedding venue because there’s a designated parking lot directly behind the building. That makes arrival a whole lot simpler when you have an entire guest list trying to get to the same place at once.
How many guests can Monroe Street Abbey accommodate?
Capacity depends on which spaces you’re using. The Garden Court can currently accommodate up to 200 seated guests or 250 reception-style, while the Gallery can host 150 seated or 250 for a reception. The Loft is smaller at 50 seated or 95 reception-style. I’d confirm your exact setup with the venue team before finalizing your guest list.
Does Monroe Street Abbey have in-house catering?
Yes. Monroe Street Abbey currently works with its in-house hospitality operation, with Atlasta Catering and Cellar 9 handling the venue’s exclusive food + beverage service.
When my fiancé and I went to one of their open houses, we got to try some of the food, which was obviously a VERY important part of my research, and we both loved it. I’d still ask what’s included in your package, what your menu options look like, how the bar works, and what you can customize so you know exactly what you’re getting before you book.
Can you tour Monroe Street Abbey?
YES. Please go tour it!
I told my fiancé there would probably be food at the open house because, well, open houses sometimes have food, and somehow that was what finally sold him on coming with me. Apparently I cracked the code for getting the groom to come tour venues AND enjoy it.
Jokes aside, seeing Monroe Street Abbey in person is so worth it. There are rooms, architectural details, and little pockets of light that you just don’t fully understand from Instagram, and walking through the space makes it much easier to picture how your actual wedding day could flow.
Contact their team to ask about current tours and open houses.
Is Monroe Street Abbey wheelchair accessible?
The venue does have modern additions like elevators and restrooms, but I’m not aware of the detailed accessibility information for every event space. If you or one of your guests has specific mobility needs, I’d ask the venue team to walk you through access to every area you plan to use.
What is the best time of year for a Monroe Street Abbey wedding?
Monroe Street Abbey lists September 16–May 14 as Peak Season, with May 15–September 15 as their “Hidden Gem” season.
I live here, and I love Arizona, but I’m not going to pretend Phoenix in July and Phoenix in February are the same experience. Because the Garden Court is open-air, the cooler months are probably going to feel a lot more comfortable if you want to spend a big part of your wedding outside.
The Hidden Gem season can still absolutely work, but I’d build your timeline around the heat a little more intentionally.
Where should guests stay for a Monroe Street Abbey wedding?
One of the perks of choosing a Downtown Phoenix wedding venue is that you have plenty of hotel options nearby. Room-block pricing and availability can change a LOT depending on your wedding weekend, so I’d compare your options for your actual dates and focus on keeping transportation EASY for everybody.
The Westin Phoenix Downtown, Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, and Hyatt Regency Phoenix are all nearby options worth looking into, and there are boutique hotels around Downtown Phoenix too. I’d compare pricing and availability for your actual dates, then think about how easily everyone can get from the hotel to Monroe Street Abbey.
Give Me an Excuse to Go Back to Monroe Street Abbey for Your Wedding
I’ve been exactly where you find yourself now. You find Monroe Street Abbey online, start saving photos, zooming in on the architecture, imagining what your ceremony could look like there, and wondering if it’s one of those venues that somehow photographs better than it feels in real life.
Trust me, it isn’t.
It’s just as good in person as it looks online. Better, even. There are so many details you don’t really understand until you’re standing there, like the scale of the arches, the texture in the walls, the little pockets of light, and all the spaces that don’t get nearly as much attention on Instagram. If you’re already falling for it through a screen, there’s a very good chance seeing it in person is only going to make that worse. Sorry!
If Monroe Street Abbey ends up being your venue, I’m already thinking about the light, your timeline, which corners we absolutely HAVE to use, and how we can photograph and film the whole thing without turning your wedding into one giant production.
Tell me about your wedding. I would LOVE another excuse to go back.
Vendors
Photographer: Gisselle Loera Media
Venue: Monroe Street Abbey
Dress: Rors Dress Rentals
Hair & Makeup: First Blush Beauty
Florals: Count On Me Events
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