Palm Springs wedding
I’m very excited to share these beautiful photos by Joy Marie Photography of Kristen & Adam’s spectacular Palm Springs wedding. Their wedding was incredibly intimate (just over 60 guests) and they were such gracious hosts to their friends & family. When I first met Kristen, we were at the true beginning of the planning process — she & Adam were engaged, but didn’t have a wedding date or location. They weren’t sure of the details or the look, but they knew they wanted a really relaxing weekend for their guests, and they wanted something that was unfussy but special & elegant.
Kristen & Adam found themselves drawn to the Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, an incredibly romantic and relaxed B&B filled with eclectic antiques from Morocco and the Mediterranean. Since the Korakia is such a special place & not at all your typical wedding venue, I let it serve as inspiration for the event design. From the eclectic mix of benches & chairs for the ceremony seating to the incorporation of succulents and Mediterranean fruits into the centerpieces, the wedding was a wonderful cross between elegant and rustic, with layer upon layer of gorgeous design details.
Without further ado…
Two oversized floral arrangements in antique urns flanked the stone entryway to the intimate ceremony. It was a hot desert day, so Moroccan tea glasses and large jars of cucumber-mint water, citrus iced tea, and grapefruit-rosemary lemonade were set out for guests to enjoy before the ceremony.
Kristen and Adam were married in front of a grand antique Moroccan double-door. After the ceremony, the large wooden doors opened and the bride and groom’s family led the way to the cocktail reception, which was held in a romantic courtyard surrounding the Moroccan pool. The decor was kept understated to showcase the natural beauty of the property, which included built-in stone seating around a waterfall. Stone ledges were simply decorated with passion vine and gardenias, and lily pads of gardenias and succulents made an existing antique fountain even more exquisite.
A bountiful station of farmer’s market vegetables and homemade cheeses, by HeirloomLA, was displayed on a rustic wooden table. Servers also passed hors d’oeuvres of mini short-rib grilled cheeses, springtime agnolotti pasta, seasonal fruit gazpacho, and battered tourbot and Kennebek Fries with malt vinegar and creamy cournichon sauce (an elevated version of fish and chips).
Guests dined at 24-foot-long tables draped with soft, natural-toned linens. An eclectic mix of rustic wooden and iron garden chairs lent a casual, but elegant air. Centerpieces by The Velvet Garden were a splash of color and lushness in the otherwise desert surroundings. Deep jewel-tones, such as burgundies, violets, and dark pinks, paired beautifully with the earthiness of the property. The innovative centerpieces incorporated fresh fruit inspired by the Mediterranean, such as blood oranges and grapes, with succulents, exotic leaves, and lush flowers.
The surrounding palm trees were dramatically lit; a firepit surrounded by carved Moroccan chairs added to the romantic ambiance. A lounge filled with vintage furniture, including rugs and pillows so guests could sit comfortably on the ground, was tucked away in a grove of small trees near the dancefloor. Dessert was a feast, with a huge spread of treats set out on a buffet decorated with vintage glass pedestals and bowls, including chocolate banana trifle, a petite triple-berry wedding cake, mini chocolate cakes, homemade ice cream, and a variety of childhood-inspired cookies and treats. As the sun set, bistro lights strung above cast a warm glow on the tables.
The wedding was beautiful in every way imaginable. Kristen & Adam — thank you & your lovely families for letting me be part of such a special time in your lives!
