Joshua tree wedding | Desert wedding

Ultra chic Joshua Tree wedding at Rimrock Ranch on 100 Layer Cake

What do you get when you take an electric color palette, chic sparkly wedding dress, neon signs and dip-dye details AND put it all in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert? A seriously magical day, as evidenced by this Rimrock Ranch wedding coming to us from Alexandria Monette, that our Jilly got to be a guest at this fall! Jacques is a designer + Lisa is a stylist (who just started a killer new biz, The Candy Coach!), so they brought a bold creative vision to Jaime of Wild Heart Events who pulled everything together impeccably. They even included some incredible handmade details we know you’ll want to DIY yourself. Take a peek!

How they met… We have this story we like to tell… It was something straight out of an old movie. The skies were dark, it was pouring rain, puddles where everywhere. I had my nose in my iPhone and Jacques saw that I was about to get totally soaked by a passing car. Without a second thought, he jumped in front, completely saving me from a giant splash! And that is how… JKJKJK! Okay, so the way we met wasn’t exactly out of an old romantic movie, more like a new romantic comedy about the fun of online dating. Persistence paid off, and after who knows how many emails, even more text messages and a canceled first date, Jacques managed to convince me he was not a serial killer and our relationship began from there. It did not take long for our mutual love of adventure to bring us together. My eagerness to see new place and experience everything, paired with Jacques’ spontaneity and thrill-seeking side, lead us to some exciting times together, which ultimately lead us to Joshua Tree, where we later walked down the aisle.

Lisa’s gorgeous, sparkling gown is the One Day ‘Nala’ gown, from Lovely Bride LA.

Dreamy, no?

Jacques and I are both creative minded people, but it’s safe to say we have opposing perspectives at times. Jacques prefers minimalistic and sophisticated styling. The less is more philosophy rings true to him. I, however, tend to have less specific taste. The opposite in fact. I love everything! Thinking of my happiness, Jacques gave me complete creative control, so I followed my heart and referred to him when I had trouble making a choice. With his help, we reigned in my eclectic inspiration and work with our planner to create something a little boho, a little rustic, a little sophisticated and a lot of fun! My color/style requests were neutral with pops of color, mixed metals and fun, which our team nailed with desert sunset hues, mixed metal table settings and iridescent glassware. Jacques is a car guy through and through, and going for drives is something we often do, so it was very important to us to secure a cool car for the day. As luck would have it, a Rimrock neighbor had a great Ford Bronco that was true to the desert and car we both love.

Best sign ever!

Colorful boho wedding reception in Joshua Tree

Don’t you love the idea of mixing in a pop of color with your ceremony chairs? Who says they all have to be the same?!

Lisa’s bouquet had ranunculus, bleached white Italian ruscus, strawflowers, clematis seed pod, ball dahlias, cotinus leaves, white amaranthus, and blush mokara orchids arranged by Knot Just Flowers.

It was important to both Jacques and I that we get married outdoors, surrounded by nature, in an environment that was special to us. He and I have spent many magical nights in the Joshua Tree area shacked up in all sorts of trailers and teepees, so landing on the High Desert as “the” place just made sense. Rimrock Ranch provided us with the perfect space to make the wonderfully vast and unique area feel like our very own for an evening. It blends the rustic charm of the desert with a modern design aesthetic that spoke to both Jacques and myself, making it the perfect backdrop for our wedding.

Whiskey & Wildflowers was there with their chic mobile bar.

OK, you want to know more about this bohemian, edgy, iridescent, neon style of theirs, right? L + J came to Jaime of Wild Heart Events with a vision of cacti mixed with florals, dip-dye, lens flare, watercolor, neon signs, mismatched furniture, bridesmaids in white, and yep—that vintage Bronco. Jaime helped them pull everything together with sunset tones and handmade details.

The tables were adorned with neon signs, iridescent glassware, along with neon dip-dyed napkins, leather stamped favors, and custom acrylic signage that Jaime created for them. And each table was different in color but followed the same design, creating an eclectic yet totally cohesive vibe throughout.

Such a magical celebration with 110 guests!

The color palette also included lots of peaches, pinks, and greens.

On planning… The little stuff, like planning/executing the rehearsal dinner (which wasn’t all that little), organizing shuttles for guests, planning the after party, ordering cute napkins, deciding on bridal party gifts and creating gift baskets all adds up to great deal of work and time, not to mention an unexpected part of the budget. My advice to other brides would be to do not put off the little stuff, make the decisions and check it off the list. Securing the major vendors was a false sense of accomplishment for myself in grand scheme of the plan. If I had it all over to do, I would have tried to outsource much of what I took on myself, I would have accepted any and all help when was offered and managed my time a little better in the early stages of planning. Most importantly, I recommend spending the days leading up to wedding relaxing, focusing and enjoying the time with loved ones that are coming together for you. The day of the wedding is a whirlwind and if you and your partner are anything like Jacques and I, it is going to be the best blurred day of your life!