I swear, Palm Springs is the capital of style. Where people flock to display their chic-ness. And the couples that tie the knot there? Well they are the kings and queens of the trends. This dashing duo is just such a couple, and their wedding at the Smoke Tree Ranch is stylish and then some. Thankfully every gorgeous moment planned to perfection by The Events Department was all beautifully captured by Fondly Forever Photography, and it’s all waiting for you right here.
And don’t miss the equally fabulous film from Forrey Films …
[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/72399366 600 338]
From the Bride… Our wedding planning started with the wish to get married under a big tree and have the whole wedding outdoors. We also really wanted the wedding to be a weekend getaway – far enough away that our guests had to stay the night, but not too far for it to be an inconvenience. We quickly decided that Palm Springs was our ideal location and then found and fell in love with the amazing Smoke Tree Ranch – our wedding venue.
The venue really set the tone for our wedding. Smoke Tree Ranch is one part Hollywood/Retro Glam, one part Rustic and our wedding was inspired by blending these two distinct styles. We were also really inspired by the marigold yellow accents in the Smoke Tree Ranch pool area and chose to have marigold as a key accent color.
The retro Hollywood Glamour was represented in my bridal dress and styling and in the navy bridesmaid dresses and Travis’ suit that both had a Mad Men-esque feel. We also incorporated a fun marigold and white chevron into the linens which my stepmother had specially made.
The rustic was represented in the grounds of the ranch and in the floras which incorporated billy balls and succulents. My cousin made the heart-shaped twig arch that served as a rustic background for our ceremony based on a rough sketch I provided him.
Aesthetics aside, our main goal for the wedding was FUN! We wanted our guests to relax, unwind and get wild! Many of our choices regarding the wedding ceremony and reception time line were based on ensuring that we kept the party going!
Michael Coppersmith officiated our wedding ceremony and absolutely blew us away. He has a great sense of humor and lightheartedness that really captured who Travis and I are as a couple. Our ceremony site was so beautiful and serene – I have such peaceful and calming memories of the ceremony itself.
The reception was focused on keeping the party going non-stop. We knocked out many of the traditional reception items including first dances, cake cutting, and speeches during the dinner so that there was no interruption once the party got started. The party officially got started when my sister and Maid of Honor ended her speech by introducing the USC marching band. Travis and I both graduated from USC and met in our very last weeks of college. We are big fans as are many of our family members and friends. The band played about 5 songs and then our DJ James Gonzales took over. One of my favorite memories was looking out at the dance floor once the DJ started playing and seeing just a mob of people. Everyone was out of their seats and on the dance floor.
One of my favorite memories was after the ceremony. Travis and I walked down the aisle and were whisked away on the back of a golf cart by The Events Department with our guests looking on. They took us back to our room to allow guests to head over to the cocktail hour by the pool before we started taking family pictures. It felt like such a special, dramatic exit and once we got back to the room we had a quiet moment to take it all in and realize that we were officially husband and wife. It was a quick quiet moment, truly to ourselves, on a day so full of great memories. We loved how the wedding turned out and Fondly Forever’s pictures so perfectly captured it!
From the Groom… Favorite memory: Standing under the tree at the ceremony with Amy, there was a peaceful breeze and I felt totally present in the moment. I also enjoyed the USC band and seeing how much fun our family and friends were having.
Photography: Fondly Forever Photography | Cinematography: Forrey Films | Coordination: The Events Department | Floral Design: Briana Maxson Floral | Dress: Ramona Keveza | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung | Catering: Smoke Tree Ranch | DJ: James Gonzalez | Tux: Hugo Boss | Desserts: Exquisite Desserts | Earrings + Bracelet: Nadri | Groomsmen Suits: A Better Deal Tuxedo | Hair + Makeup: J’Russell Salon | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Veil: Bel Aire Bridal | Wedding Location: Smoke Tree Ranch | Invitations: Designapolis