Maybe it’s the fact that the desert is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from us here in LA, but the Joshua Tree landscape just gets us every time. Same goes for Angela + Hillary. Their love of the desert + historic Pioneertown inspired a rustic-chic wedding with gemstones, cowboy boots, cacti, and eclectic pops of color.
Photographer Amelia Lyon captured everything and turned out to be the perfect fit for A + H, making them feel super-comfortable and at ease the entire time. Thanks to Amelia for sharing these!
The wedding was close to Pappy and Harriet’s, which both of them love for good music, BBQ, and whiskey. As for the venue, Rimrock Ranch offered a fabulous rustic-modern style, and could host the wedding party all weekend. Hillary says,There were quirky touches everywhere, like keys hanging from the tree, a cowboy plunge pool, vintage trucks, and a view for miles and miles.
Two amaze updos right here!
They loaded up a U-Haul 3 days before the weekend and headed for the desert. Hillary explains:
We planned and sourced all our favorite alcohols and made fresh squeezed juices and simple syrups and even cubed our own ice when we got there for our signature cocktails (Angela is nutty for those perfectly square cubes). We chose special gemstones and had our wedding party attach them to escort cards. We brought pre-cut paper and string for guests to leave us well wishes in our homebrew growler. We created welcome bags for our guests and spent the first day in the desert delivering them to our guests’ vacation homes and hotel rooms. Our wonderful coordinators, Hello Gem, sourced table runners and napkins, came up with a brilliant table design, designed our invitations, signage, hand-painted our menu, and created a huge banner with our wedding logo, not to mention coordinated with all of our vendors to ease our stress and helped the day go smoothly.
This landscape…Whoa.
Desert arrangements complete with flowers, succulents, and cacti…
And an impossibly sweet video, c/o Grimace Films:
Some notes on planning…Two brides ending up being a good thing, since neither of us were bridezillas! Our advice to current engaged couples would be to take breaks from all the planning along the way. Take an entire week off at a time and remember to enjoy each other the whole way through, and remind yourselves why you chose to marry each other.
Congrats A + H!
For more of their wedding style, check out Angela’s Pinterest board.
Photographer: Amelia Lyon / Videographer: Graham Lovelis of Grimace Films / Venue: Rimrock Ranch, Pioneertown, CA / Event Coordinator & Florist: Hello Gem Events / Hair & Makeup: Nicole DeAnne / Invitation Designer: Hello Gem Events / Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop / Catering: Katherine King Catering / Rentals: Signature Rentals & Yeah! Rentals / Band: Lucky Devils Band / Shuttle Service: Cardiff Transportation / Angela’s Dress: Nightcap from Hawthorn at Padaro Beach, Carpinteria, CA / Boots: Frye / Hillary’s Jacket & Blouse: Theory / Pants: Zara / Shoes: Madewell / Gemstone Necklace: Hawthorn / Engagement Ring: Single Stone / Angela’s Engagement Ring & Both Wedding Rings: Sethi Couture
