This couple didn’t have to travel far to find the allure of a destination wedding. With the beauty of Korakia Pensione, their guests were treated to an exotic escape – minus leaving the good ole U.S.A. – and with the couple’s design talents on full display, the whole celebration made a statement not soon to be forgotten. Isabel Lawrence captured it all and this gorgeous gallery is the perfect Friday afternoon treat.
From the Bride… We originally wanted to plan a destination wedding, in Italy or Bali, or some exotic location, having attended a number of very memorable destination weddings. But when budget and time constraints came into play, we thought maybe a mini destination wedding, closer to home, somewhere where our friends and family could easily attend a weekend event, without breaking the bank or taking a big chunk of time off. Some designer friends recommended Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, a collection of houses built by a Scottish artist in the 1920’s inspired by his travels to Tangier. Neither of us had been to Morocco, but the romance of it immediately appealed to our design sensibilities, and we booked the place immediately, sight unseen. We rented the entire property, comprised of 26 guestrooms, two swimming pools, and a private casita, for the entire weekend, and invited 65 of our closest family and friends.
We are both designers, and wanted to create an atmosphere that fit the place, with a bit of fun and whimsy. We worked directly with local floral designers, local caterers and the property itself, to create a magical night under the desert sky of Palm Springs. All the ladies received pashminas, and all the gentlemen received fezes, and the children, Dr. Who inspired sock monkeys with fezes. The food was Moroccan inspired, and served family style on tables decorated with custom runners provided by our good friends, designers Liz Galbraith and Efraim Paul, who were in attendance. Since we wanted the food to be the focal point on the table, we suspended all the floral arrangements from scaffolds, which also accommodated string lights and desert succulents. We had an amazing time, and our guests seemed to enjoy themselves as well. We hope you enjoy the photos pulled together by our very talented photographers, Isabel and Lawrence.
Photography: Isabel Lawrence Photographers | Floral Design: Arrangements Floral & Party Designs | Wedding Dress: Trish Lee | Cake: Exquisite Desserts | Catering: New Leaf Catering | Groom's Attire: Dolce & Gabbana | Wedding Venue: Korakia Pensione | China & Flatware: Classic Party Rentals | Furniture Rentals: Planks And Patina | Music: Gig Masters - PartyPosh | Tablerunners: Galbraith & Paul