Intimate Palm Springs Fall Wedding
What weddings do I adore the most? The ones that really, truly represent the couple, and this California celebration is just that. Twine Events mixed modern elements with vintage and antique details - just like the Bride's special sparkler - staying true to the authentic style of the couple themselves. Michael Moss captured every bit and these pics are the kind that leave you all warm and fuzzy inside.
From The Bride... Max proposed in the spot that we met. It was just the two us and a moment I will cherish forever. In the midst of tears and laughter, he slipped on my left hand a beautiful ring that had both antique and modern elements - an impeccable unity of our styles. It was the same mixture that we wanted our wedding to embody. But most of all, we wanted our wedding to have a feeling of intimacy as we shared this very special and private moment in our lives with our family and closest friends.
After searching up and down California, we found the perfect venue in Casa de Monte Vista in Palm Springs. Casa de Monte Vista is located at the base of the mountain in a quieter estate area of Palm Springs. From the moment we walked through the grounds, we fell in love with the place. It was built in the 1930s in a Mediterranean/ Spanish style with a beautiful lawn backdropped by the mountains. It had a quintessential antique ambience in the midst of a very modern Palm Springs. Although two hours from our home in Venice, California, Palm Springs was a great option for us because we had many out of town guests flying in for the big day. We wanted a location that our guests may not necessarily go on their own, where they could get around easily, and which had plenty to do. Palm Springs was that and so much more.
In planning the wedding, we were very fortunate to come across Erica Espana's Twine Events website. I fell in love with the simple elegance of her events. Thankfully, she's located in our area and was available for our wedding day to act as "month of" wedding planner. Erica took our vision and made it more graceful than I could have ever imagined. Her team made our day worry-free and seamless.
A few months prior to the wedding, a close friend recommended his brother-in-law as a potential wedding photographer. I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first, especially because the photographer was based in North Carolina and we were in California. However, the second Max and I went to Michael Moss's website, we knew we'd found our photographer. We were able to get his last open day for the year. My friend had let me know that, in his opinion, some of Michael's best shots were in wide open spaces. With that little tip, we made sure to include a trip to the base of the mountains in desert of Palm Springs as our first look location and for bridal party pictures. The timing of it made the day a bit more packed than it would have been without, but the result was well worth it. Michael took amazing photos and captured our day and our family and friends so very beautifully.
On November 1, 2014, [William] Max and I were married by a good friend of ours who knew us well and had been there the night that Max and I met. Our "Deputy Commissioner" introduced us in a light-hearted and affectionate way as he led us through the ceremony. We wrote and read our own vows. Max had all of our guests in tears as he recited his. We tried to release butterflies - they were uncooperative, which elicited many gaffes as the groomsmen tried to warm them up on the cooler day so that they'd fly away. We had spent the least amount of time planning the ceremony, and yet, it was by far the most unexpectedly amazing part of our day.
Afterward the ceremony, Max and I spent a few precious moments alone while our guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, listening to Max's Rat-Pack inspired list of songs, snacking on appetizers and charcuterie, and enjoying champagne, cocktails and wine.
Our photographer wanted to catch the last light and quickly ushered us outside the venue for a few more pictures. When we were done, we realized that we had been locked out! Thankfully one of my uncles was by the door, heard our knocks, and let us in. We made it back just in time.
The wedding party was introduced at the very end of the cocktail reception. Doing it earlier than the reception worked out very well because Max and I were able to lead our guests to dinner and form a receiving line to say hello and thank each person for coming as they entered the backyard and found their seats under warm lights. We had decided on long tables and family style meals with wine on the table - all of which helped make it more like a fun and intimate family dinner. We listened to the DJ spin discs based on Max's list of Doo-Wop and R&B infused beats.
Many of our guests were coming from out of town - from Asia to Europe and many places in between. We decided to do a "California" themed reception. We served California wines and prosecco. We hired E.A.T. Marketplace to cater the wedding, who served organic and farm to table food from the area. Our florals incorporated the amazing citrus from the Palm Springs area. We used a small California tangerine at each table setting as a name card. And our gift bags were California Love themed totes with California food specialities.
After lovely speeches by Max's father, his best man, and my sister, my maid of honor, we danced as late as Palm Springs let us.
After searching up and down California, we found the perfect venue in Casa de Monte Vista in Palm Springs. Casa de Monte Vista is located at the base of the mountain in a quieter estate area of Palm Springs. From the moment we walked through the grounds, we fell in love with the place. It was built in the 1930s in a Mediterranean/ Spanish style with a beautiful lawn backdropped by the mountains. It had a quintessential antique ambience in the midst of a very modern Palm Springs. Although two hours from our home in Venice, California, Palm Springs was a great option for us because we had many out of town guests flying in for the big day. We wanted a location that our guests may not necessarily go on their own, where they could get around easily, and which had plenty to do. Palm Springs was that and so much more.
In planning the wedding, we were very fortunate to come across Erica Espana's Twine Events website. I fell in love with the simple elegance of her events. Thankfully, she's located in our area and was available for our wedding day to act as "month of" wedding planner. Erica took our vision and made it more graceful than I could have ever imagined. Her team made our day worry-free and seamless.
A few months prior to the wedding, a close friend recommended his brother-in-law as a potential wedding photographer. I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first, especially because the photographer was based in North Carolina and we were in California. However, the second Max and I went to Michael Moss's website, we knew we'd found our photographer. We were able to get his last open day for the year. My friend had let me know that, in his opinion, some of Michael's best shots were in wide open spaces. With that little tip, we made sure to include a trip to the base of the mountains in desert of Palm Springs as our first look location and for bridal party pictures. The timing of it made the day a bit more packed than it would have been without, but the result was well worth it. Michael took amazing photos and captured our day and our family and friends so very beautifully.
On November 1, 2014, [William] Max and I were married by a good friend of ours who knew us well and had been there the night that Max and I met. Our "Deputy Commissioner" introduced us in a light-hearted and affectionate way as he led us through the ceremony. We wrote and read our own vows. Max had all of our guests in tears as he recited his. We tried to release butterflies - they were uncooperative, which elicited many gaffes as the groomsmen tried to warm them up on the cooler day so that they'd fly away. We had spent the least amount of time planning the ceremony, and yet, it was by far the most unexpectedly amazing part of our day.
Afterward the ceremony, Max and I spent a few precious moments alone while our guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, listening to Max's Rat-Pack inspired list of songs, snacking on appetizers and charcuterie, and enjoying champagne, cocktails and wine.
Our photographer wanted to catch the last light and quickly ushered us outside the venue for a few more pictures. When we were done, we realized that we had been locked out! Thankfully one of my uncles was by the door, heard our knocks, and let us in. We made it back just in time.
The wedding party was introduced at the very end of the cocktail reception. Doing it earlier than the reception worked out very well because Max and I were able to lead our guests to dinner and form a receiving line to say hello and thank each person for coming as they entered the backyard and found their seats under warm lights. We had decided on long tables and family style meals with wine on the table - all of which helped make it more like a fun and intimate family dinner. We listened to the DJ spin discs based on Max's list of Doo-Wop and R&B infused beats.
Many of our guests were coming from out of town - from Asia to Europe and many places in between. We decided to do a "California" themed reception. We served California wines and prosecco. We hired E.A.T. Marketplace to cater the wedding, who served organic and farm to table food from the area. Our florals incorporated the amazing citrus from the Palm Springs area. We used a small California tangerine at each table setting as a name card. And our gift bags were California Love themed totes with California food specialities.
After lovely speeches by Max's father, his best man, and my sister, my maid of honor, we danced as late as Palm Springs let us.