
[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]
Neutral whites and beiges with a touch of sage green incorporated throughout
[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]
Set on the lawn of Indian Wells Golf Resort with the mountains as a backdrop, this wedding embraced a refined yet effortless design. Long wooden banquet tables and curved chairs anchored the reception, while round tables dressed in light neutral patterned linens introduced subtle texture. Crisp white florals and clusters of candles lined the tables, striking the balance between simplicity and romance. Overhead, a canopy of twinkle lights stretched across the lawn, casting a warm glow as the evening transitioned from golden hour into night. Every element of the day was designed to feel personal, playful, and unforgettable—guests were welcomed with a golf-themed seating chart, personalized golf balls, and custom temporary tattoos that tied back to the couple’s personality and love of the game. After an elegant dinner under the stars, the celebration carried into the pavilion, where In-N-Out burgers were served at 10 p.m., and the DJ and live saxophone kept the dance floor alive. Club Kula light sticks, custom trucker hats, and the most fun group of family and friends kept the party going until 1 am.
[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]
Our story starts where it didn’t, at The University of Iowa. For two years, Allie and I were brushing shoulders in Summit, Liner, Tini’s, etc., and miraculously managed to never meet. Against all odds, with having countless mutual friends paired with the fact that we were ballin’ on a budget at the same bars (shoutout Dollar U’s Tuesdays and Thursdays), we were never acquainted. Fast forward to 2018. Via our mutual Cary, IL connections, we ended up at the same Halloween party; naturally, I was dressed as Mermaid Man from Spongebob and she was dressed as Garth from Wayne’s World. She was the best-looking Garth I had ever seen, and after a few exchanged words and more than a few beers,s we both went our separate ways, seemingly never to see each other again. That was until a few weeks later when we bumped into each other at the legendary Trader Todd’s karaoke bar, ar where I sang “All Star” by Smash Mouth, and seemingly crushed it because after that we exchanged numbers and started talking. After talking for less than two days, I informed Allie that I was moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to start a new job for the next 1monthsh; the timing couldn’t have been worse. But like all good Rom-Coms, this story has a happy ending. We continued talking through the move, and on New Year’s Eve, with the push from some friends, we agreed that even though we were going to be long-distance, we wanted this to continue. Any distance was worth it for Allie. While apart,t we learned to time our visits so we never went more than a few weeks at a time without seeing each other. We learned a lot about each other in those 14 months, and when it was all said and done, I moved back to Chicago,o and we were together once again. Years went by, and as the heart grew fonder, so did the certainty of the future of our relationship; and that’s when I decided it was time to pop the question. On a beautiful day in April, I took Allie to Lincoln Park for a walk, as we previously pulled a date stick I had made from the jar to tour the Park. As we got to the bridge and the setting sun glistened on her face, I got on one knee and asked the question I had been waiting for since we first met, “Will You Marry Me?. Luckily, she said yes, and the rest is history.
[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]







[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]










[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]



[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”First Look”]




[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]
Delphinium by Alena Leena Bridal via Alice In Ivory Bridal Boutique in Chicago, IL. After Party Dress: Edie by Chosen by Kyha
[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]
Bridesmaids dresses were Jenny Yoo from Bella Bridesmaids in Chicago. Flower girl dresses were Anthropologie.
[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groomsmen rented from Black Tux.[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]



[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]










[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]



[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]
Dinner was crafted and served by the talented catering team at Indian Wells Golf Resort, whose menu delighted guests with fresh flavors and flawless presentation. The meal felt elevated yet approachable, creating the perfect balance for an al fresco wedding dinner. Every bite was delicious and paired seamlessly with the couple’s curated drink selections.
[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The design was intentionally clean and modern, with crisp white blooms accented by soft greenery and toffee tones. Long wooden tables were styled with low floral arrangements and candles, while round tables featured light neutral patterned linens that added subtle depth and texture. Overhead, a canopy of twinkle lights transformed the lawn into a glowing desert dreamscape.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]
The couple opted for a simple, white two-tier cake that felt just right—minimal, timeless, and perfectly aligned with the day’s design. Displayed among candles and florals, it provided a sweet, understated finale to the evening meal before guests headed inside to dance the night away.
[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Ceremony/Bridal Party Processional songs: Ceremony songs: Love Like This by Ben Rector; Home by Edith Whiskers; I Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis
Bridal Processional: Corners of the Earth by Odesza (remix by Tyler Varnell)
Recessional: For Life by Kygo with Live Sax by Tyler Varnell
First Dance: Til Forever Falls Apart by Finneas and Ashe
After Party Grand Entrance: You & Me (Flume Remix) by Disclosure with Live Sax by Tyler Varnell[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]
Tyler Varnell (DJ, piano & sax): Music was one of our biggest priorities — Garrett and I both have such a deep love for it, and we knew we wanted our wedding to feel like one big celebration. Through the grapevine, we discovered Tyler Varnell, and we were immediately sold. Not only is he an incredible DJ and MC, but he also plays both the saxophone and piano — the ultimate all-in-one entertainer. Tyler was truly the highlight of our night. He performed live piano and sax during the ceremony, making it feel like a personal concert, and then completely transformed the reception into the best party we’ve ever had. By the end of the night, he told us he had never seen a dance floor so packed — and while we do have some amazing friends and family, his energy was the real reason no one left the floor. People are still talking about him to this day. Hiring him was hands down the best decision we made.
[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Golf Elements:
Golf has always been one of our favorite shared hobbies — since the day we met, we’ve loved traveling together to play new courses. It felt only natural to get married at a country club and one of our favorite courses in Palm Springs. We wanted to weave that part of our story into the design in a subtle, elevated way.
We created a custom seating chart, drink menus, and personalized golf balls as guest favors, which turned out even better than we imagined. The touches felt thoughtful and personal without being over-the-top — the perfect reflection of us as a couple.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]
Club Kula: Our venue had an indoor space perfect for an after-hours celebration, so we turned it into “Club Kula” — our own late-night party spot. We served In-N-Out, brought in DJ lighting, string lights, and another dance floor, and handed out custom trucker hats and LED light sticks with the “Club Kula” logo. Temporary Tattoos: I wanted to add something playful and unexpected to our reception, and stumbled upon a bride on TikTok who created a tattoo station for her guests. I instantly loved the idea and decided to make it our own. My friend and I designed a set of custom temporary tattoos that represented our relationship — little icons, sayings, and inside jokes. We set up a “tattoo station” during the reception, and it was an instant hit. By the end of the night, nearly everyone was tatted up, and the photos were hilarious. The Kula Chronicle (attached): Because our wedding was a destination celebration, we wanted to make our guests’ welcome bags feel extra special. I designed a custom newspaper called The Kula Chronicle — complete with our love story, weekend itinerary, fun facts, and photos. It was such a unique touch, and guests absolutely loved it. Seeing everyone post photos of themselves reading it on social media was one of my favorite moments of the weekend.
[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]







[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Reception”]





















[/board_carousel]
Photography: Darby Bobo | Cinematography: Cayley Creative | Design: Go Wildhouse | Event Design: Larue Luxe Events | Event Planning: grace and gold events | Floral Design: Best Day Ever Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Alana Leena | Cake: Over The Rainbow | Invitations: Steracle Press | DJ: tyler varnell | Beauty: Samara Beauty | Rentals: Folklore Vintage Rentals | Rentals: Planks And Patina | Rentals: Bright Event Rentals







































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































