Van Dickson Ranch - Skull Valley, Arizona

Jenna Albert

There is so much good to say about Van Dickson, that I will start with the one (and only) bad part of our experience. I would NOT recommend the venue's preferred bartender or DJ. The bartender was difficult to get a hold of during the interviewing process, so we did not hire her. We did hire their DJ, Gary, and regretted it immensely. He was extremely unprofessional and rude, especially toward women (namely the bride, bridesmaids, and grandmother). All of our guests who I have spoken to about the wedding have brought up something negative or inappropriate that the DJ did or said. So it's sad that that is how our wedding will be remembered. The venue is not responsible for the actions of the DJ, but since they do still recommend him, I don't want other couples to fall into the same trap of having their wedding experience ruined just because he is the "easier" option.

Now for the good, where do I start? Van Dickson Ranch is truly the most magical place you can get married this side of Anaheim. The outdoor ceremony area is so magical that it's like a fairytale. Photos really do not do it justice! The reception tent is airy and large. They allowed me to decorate the ceiling with my own floral, but honestly it was not necessary. At night, the lights that the venue provides are so beautiful just by themselves.

If you're driving into Skull Valley for the first time, you'll probably think, "am I getting catfished?" because it is kind of in the middle of- well- the Valley. However, it makes for a really fun and unique reveal when you drive into the green oasis that is Van Dickson Ranch! There is plenty of parking. The road in is dirt, but it's well kept that even our old 2WD sedan made it through. There is a narrow train underpass that you have to pass through (this was our biggest concern before we booked with them), but all of our guests wider trucks and SUVs fit just fine. And again, it made for a really cool "secret garden" type of reveal for our guests as they passed through it!

Carolyn and all of the ranch hands treat you like family. Everyone was so helpful all day long. Carolyn was always super responsive to our many, many questions throughout our planning process.

When we booked, I did not believe the many reviews that raved about the food. Wedding venues are notorious for bad food, but let me tell you something. The other reviews are right! Their BBQ is so delicious and I'm seriously craving their family corn slaw recipe to this day! All of our guests LOVED the food.

Overall, we are so thankful that we chose Van Dickson Ranch to have our wedding. If only we could rewind time and have it all over again!

Photos by Karlee Danielle.

Christina Sanders

5 stars is not enough to express how wonderful this venue is. The scenery is spectacular. The natural arches and beautiful backdrops are the perfect addition to any picture taken. Carolyn and Paul are amazing people who treat you like you are the most important person and bend over backwards to make sure your wedding is the best. From the property to the staff and especially Paul and Carolyn, this venue is hands down the best that you could hope for. We looked at numerous venues for our daughter's wedding and this by far has everything you need. The food is amazing, the staff was just like you would imagine on a working ranch. Their cowboy etiquette and friendly demeanor made the whole experience authentic. The entire staff made this day the best ever. Lindsay, the wedding coordinator, could not have been better. Her friendly and inviting personality made the wedding run smoothly and we didn't need for anything. She took care of everything and the flow of the whole day was perfect.

When we first arrived to look at the venue, we were met by Carolyn, her dog companions, and the homestead celebrity, Rebecca the crow. We felt welcome from the second we got out of the car. Carolyn took the time to allow our grandchildren to feed the horses which was a huge hit to them. The laid back visit included a walk through of the facility, a vivid picture of what the ceremony was going to look like and a very thorough dialogue on what to expect. Carolyn even took the time to inform us of the wonderful history of the ranch. We felt as though we were the most important aspect of Carolyn's day and she did not make us feel rushed. She even allowed us to take family photos in the natural arch where our daughter was going to walk down the aisle and become a wife. My husband could not make the first visit to the ranch and Carolyn and Paul were gracious enough to go through the entire tour again. They are the most gracious hosts and we would recommend them for your wedding venue above anyone. The memories we made, the beauty of the surroundings, the treatment by the ranch hands, the food, the overall experience and the wonderful ranch owners was by far above and beyond what we could ever imagine.

Madeline Margevicius

Our wedding was beautiful, and everything went so smoothly because of Carolyn and the staff at the Van Dickson Ranch. All of our guests raved about the food too! This is absolutely one of the most special places you could get married in Arizona. Highly recommend!

Karyn Poole

By far the loveliest wedding venue in Az. Owners and staff are hands-on, experienced, professional, flexible, warm, sweet folks. You will fall in love all over again….. lots of extras to offer, like horse drawn buggy, twinkle lights, even a huge field for helicopter landings! Yes, it’s been done there!

Amber Harris

We had our wedding here last weekend and boy was it the most magical day! From the very start, Carolyn was amazing and super helpful. She is fast to respond to any questions, phone calls, or emails! Her staff are all very helpful and get everything done fast & efficiently. Every one of our guests had nothing but amazing things to say about their property as well. And the food was beyond amazing! Hats off to the chefs. If you’re looking for an amazing, rustic, outdoor venue, look no further! This is 100% the place for you. Thank you Van Dickson!!

Megan Perry

Our wedding was in the middle of October and the venue was beautiful! We wanted to escape Phoenix, so the Van Dickson Ranch was a nice change of pace. It rained off and on all day and was perfectly chilly. The clouds, greenery, and sound of the rain was amazing. They had so many backup plans in place that the weather forecast did not bother us in the slightest. The receptions here are typically under a pavilion, but if the weather is bad during the ceremony the wedding will be under the pavilion. The Ranch also has backup generators, so if the power goes out, you wouldn’t even know. Having a venue so ready to face any challenge we might have was very stress-relieving. There is enough to worry about on your wedding day, so you shouldn’t have to worry about the weather.

The food tasted amazing! The meat was so tender and delicious! When we initially visited, it was the day before a wedding and we were given a look at the food they typically cook. We were so happy not to have to find a caterer, especially with BBQ being my favorite type of food. We should have eaten before our appointment because it smelled way too good to not eat!

Their staff was so polite every time anyone needed anything they were happy to help. You never felt like a bother approaching the staff for help. They were especially helpful when any of the wedding party needed a golf cart ride back to the dressing rooms. They had to drive us back and forth a few times when someone forgot something and even thought to dry off the back seat before people sat in rainwater. Would HIGHLY recommend and a big shout-out to Carolyn for being so sweet and amazing!

Kala Bambard

I cannot say enough how absolutely perfect Van Dickson Ranch was for our wedding day... Carolyn was so sweet and generous throughout the entire process - from start to finish! Great communication and the pricing was very reasonable in comparison to other places we toured. Loved that the food was included - and while there is no options for the menu (set menu) The food was ABSOLUTELY delicious! We got rave reviews from all our guests. Carolyn also provided some great recommendations for other vendors. Would highly recommend to hire the shuttle service as the venue is quite out of the way- it made for such a smooth process to safely get all our guests to and from the wedding. Throughout the day the staff was incredibly helpful and accommodating. They would literally bend over backwards to make the day go smoothly! This was the best day of our lives and I am so happy we chose to spend it here at Van Dickson ranch!

Kaitlin Ellsworth

Oh my goodness. I cannot even put into words how much I LOVED the Van Dickson Ranch. We got married here April 30th, 2021. The whole day was so much more perfect than I could ever imagine. The bridal suite and grooms suite was so nice to have to get ready in. Carolyn herself is such a sweetheart and is there throughout the whole day to help make sure everything goes perfectly. I live in another city so Carolyn was wonderful with communication and making sure everything was set and ready to go for the day. The staff was so wonderful and directing guests, helping me and my husband, and helping set up. The venue is absolutely breathtaking and beautiful. Every guest I had could not stop talking about how gorgeous it was. I didn’t even add decorations to my ceremony because the landscape itself is breathtaking. The reception was wonderfully lit and comfortable. The food was AMAZING. If you are looking at getting married in Arizona, I highly recommend this venue 100%. This was the first venue my husband and I toured and we cancelled all others and book the Van Dickson on the spot because we fell in love with the scenery and the owners.