Dig It Gardens was never supposed to become a wedding venue. It began as a garden center, a creative gathering place and an unexpected pocket of green in the middle of Phoenix. Then one longtime customer asked a simple question: Could she get married there?
After years of hosting weddings, showers, fundraisers and private celebrations, Dig It Gardens is officially expanding its events business at a time when couples are increasingly moving away from cookie-cutter weddings in favor of celebrations that feel more personal, authentic and centered on the guest experience, according to The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study.
The family-owned property at 3015 N. 16th St. is now welcoming couples, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations looking for a venue with more personality than a ballroom and more freedom than a traditional event package. With more than 30,000 square feet of outdoor space and over 3,000 square feet indoors, Dig It offers a setting that unfolds naturally. Guests move through mature trees, garden paths, plant-filled gathering areas, lounge spaces and tucked-away corners made for conversation, discovery and the occasional perfect photograph.
“We want people to feel like they’re celebrating at a family member’s home rather than at a conventional venue,” says Jessica Jerrell, co-owner of Dig It Gardens. “Almost like you have an aunt or uncle with a beautiful garden center who says, ‘Come celebrate here. Make it your own.’”
The venue story began with Andrea Hardy, one of Dig It’s earliest customers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when Dig It shifted to an appointment-only model, Hardy and her boyfriend visited often, wandered the gardens and grew attached to the atmosphere. Then Hardy asked if she could hold her wedding there.
“We never had a business plan that says, ‘Let’s become a wedding venue,’” says Ryan Jerrell, co-owner of Dig It Gardens. “Andrea asked if she could get married here, we says yes, and that question changed everything.”
After the wedding, Hardy gifted Dig It a chandelier that still hangs in the property’s steel shade structure, where it has watched over weddings, receptions, fundraisers and family celebrations ever since. “We’re incredibly thankful for the community that has supported us and grown with us over the years,” Jessica says. “This next chapter feels special because now people can celebrate some of the biggest moments of their lives here with us.”
Dig It Gardens can host a wide range of gatherings, including:
- Weddings and Receptions: Couples can move from ceremony to cocktail hour, dinner and dancing across flexible indoor and outdoor spaces surrounded by plants, art and mature trees.
- Showers and Personal Celebrations: Bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones can be tailored to each host’s style, vision and guest experience.
- Corporate and Nonprofit Events: The property offers an inviting setting for company gatherings, retreats, fundraisers, donor events, workshops and brand activations designed to bring people together.
- Private Workshops and Creative Experiences: Guests can also host plant workshops, hands-on activities and custom creative gatherings with support from the Dig It team.
At Dig It, the shift toward more personal celebrations shows up in the details. Clients are free to select their own vendors, rethink traditional layouts and build an event around the way they want people to gather. The team offers guidance without forcing each celebration into one mold.
“We’ve created a space where people can really do what they want creatively,” Ryan says. “Every event ends up feeling completely different, and that’s the point.”
General Manager Alex Washburn leads Dig It’s events program, helping clients make the most of the property while handling the practical details that keep each gathering running smoothly.
Plants, pottery and artwork are woven throughout the space, giving hosts a naturally beautiful backdrop without locking them into a particular theme. Even the bathrooms have become a social media favorite, a small sign of how much personality is tucked into every corner.
“There are little moments waiting to happen everywhere,” Washburn says. “People discover different parts of the property throughout the event, and that gives the experience a sense of movement and personality. Our hope is that they leave saying, ‘We’ve never celebrated anywhere quite like this before.’”
For the Dig It team, creating something memorable does not mean making it inaccessible. The venue offers a distinctive alternative to traditional Phoenix event spaces while keeping the process flexible, approachable and grounded in what matters to each client.
“A unique venue should not feel out of reach,” Ryan says. “We want to offer something people cannot find anywhere else in the Valley, but we also want the pricing and planning process to make sense. The goal is for the experience to feel special, not stressful.”
Tours are now booking for weddings and private events in 2026 and 2027. Dig It Gardens is located at 3015 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016. For more information or to schedule a venue tour, visit digphx.com or call 602-812-7476.
