Amazing Palm Springs Wedding Venues

One of the trendiest and best destination cities for weddings in 2020 is Palm Springs, California. With warm weather all year long and a long list of amenities the desert oasis has to offer, it is easy to see why brides and grooms are choosing to get married in Palm Springs. But once a couple decides on the location for their wedding the next step is picking a venue. This is another cool feature of Palm Springs because the Southern California city offers so many unique options in terms of venues from the modern, posh hotel settings to intimate, boho-inspired outdoor weddings. So if you are planning a Palm Springs destination wedding and have done a google search for “Palm Springs wedding venues private homes“, or “Palm Springs outdoor wedding venues“, then rest assured I have you covered! As a photographer who has shot hundreds of Palm Springs weddings, here is my personal list of the 7 best Palm Springs wedding venues (in no particular order). So sit back, relax, and envision yourself sipping a cold cocktail by the pool on a warm day in Palm Springs as we check out all these kick ass wedding venues together!

1. Casa de Monte Vista

One of the reasons I really love Casa de Monte Vista is because the venue is perfect for both smaller, more cozy weddings, but also couples seeking a private estate for a larger more secluded wedding. Casa de Monte Vista is also a photographer’s dream because the private estate has so many unique nooks that allow you to create a more personalized gallery for each couple. There is also an open street outside of the Palm Springs private home wedding venue that offers ridiculous views of the San Jacinto mountains along with sky-high palm trees. Another great reason to get married at Casa de Monte Vista is because of the property owner Joe who is this super eccentric character who will tell you about all the movie stars and celebrities who have stayed at Casa de Monte Vista as well as hundreds of amazing stories about the Palm Springs area! He’s also just a really great guy who loves the couples who get married at Casa de Monte Vista.

Want to view a real wedding at Casa de Monte Vista? Then click here!

Visit the Casa de Monte Vista website.

2. Moorten’s Botanical Gardens

I have photographed a lot of small weddings and Palm Springs elopements at Moorten’s Botanical Garden and I must say every time I shoot there the wedding venue never disappoints. The family who owns Moorten’s Botanical Garden knows everything there is to know about native plants, and the organic scenery really is perfect for couples seeking that authentic desert vibe. Another great thing about this outdoor Palm Springs wedding venue is that it is affordable, easy to access, and there is a really cool open desert area that is the perfect backdrop for photos only a mile down the road. But easily the most iconic location at Moorten’s Botanical Garden is the greenhouse which has been the setting of many award-winning wedding photographs.

Want to view a real wedding at Moorten’s Botanical Garden? Then click here!

Visit the Moorten’s Botanical Garden website.

3. The Sands Hotel & Spa

The Sands Hotel & Spa is one of the newest Palm Springs wedding venues that are perfect for that colorful, modern couple who love the color pink because pink is definitely the color palette that dominates at this outdoor hotel location. What I really like about this the Sands Hotel & Spa is the ceremony location that offers a really rad pink wall as a backdrop, and of course how the reception is set up around the swimming pool. Seriously, with a good wedding planner coordinating your wedding to success, the Sands Hotel & Spa can be an epic location guaranteed to get your wedding photos featured in Brides, Martha Stewart’s Weddings, or just shared so much on social media that your girlfriends will be so jealous they might cut themselves. However, since the Sands Hotel & Spa is a hotel wedding venue, couples wanting to use the property would need to book all the rooms. That means this Palm Springs wedding venue is best suited for couples wanting a large (150+ guest count) desert wedding!

Want to view a real wedding at The Sands Hotel & Spa? Then click here!

Visit the Sands Hotel & Spa website.

4. Twin Palms Frank Sinatra Estate

Easily one of the most iconic locations in all of Palm Springs, Twin Palms Estate was the residence of legendary musical genius Frank Sinatra. Sinatra loved Palm Springs and one day when flying into the desert oasis for a little rest, relaxation, and recreational drinking, he spotted two large palm trees from outside the window of his airplane. The singer put down his cocktail and said he would build his home right where those large palms were. And with the help of E. Stewart Williams, Sinatra had this mid-century modern house built on that exact location. Today, the property is open for all sorts of events, including weddings. One of the coolest things about this home Palm Springs wedding venue is that it is right smack in a neighborhood has tons of history, and the location has such an intimate vibe. With the decor still providing that care-free 1960’s Mad Men vibe, guests can feel the nostalgia and magic provided from Twin Palms Estate. Personally, the wedding ceremony area is not ideal given that couples will get front-lit, assuming they have their ceremony before the sun falls behind the San Jacinto mountains. But the reception is really freaking awesome, and the history of the home is just such a unique experience that anyone considering a small or medium-sized wedding should check out the Twin Palms Frank Sinatra Estate as their venue.

Want to view a real wedding at Twin Palms Frank Sinatra Estate? Then click here!

Visit the Twin Palms Frank Sinatra website.

5. Ace Hotel & Swim Club

The ideal Palm Springs wedding venue for that hipster couple who wants something simple and cool, Ace Hotel & Swim Club really is the place. All I have are good things to say about the Ace Hotel because it really offers everything. First of all, every year a new mural is painted on a giant wall inside the hotel that makes for great photo opportunities. Second, the poolside vibe is awesome for guests to relax and chill (with or without a cocktail in hand). Third, the King’s Highway restaurant, which cooks up a lot of vegetarian goodness, is attached to Ace Hotel and open 24/7 for when you need that late-night drunken snack. And lastly, there are so many rad spots for photos throughout the hotel that a good photographer can really push the creativity to high levels. Even if you don’t plan on getting married there, Ace Hotel & Swim Club is definitely a cool place to take the wife or husband for a little getaway in the sun. I suggest you go on Tuesday when it is less crowded and Karaoke is available.

Want to view a real wedding at Ace Hotel & Swim Club? Then click here!

Visit the Ace Hotel & Swim Club website.

6. The Avalon

The perfect venue for couples seeking a cozy Palm Springs destination wedding, The Avalon truly has everything. Unlike the Ace Hotel that offers more of a hipster, boho-inspired setting, the Avalon is designed for the modern and luxurious wedding. Some of the more popular images captured at the Avalon Hotel include the ceremony site that has a gorgeous view of the mountains, bungalows with stylish orange doors that are perfect for portraits, and inside the lobby of the hotel where a yellow and white mural is present. Personally, my favorite thing about the Avalon Hotel is the reception area that (when designed right) is really one of the most gorgeous settings to drink, eat, and party amongst friends and family.

Want to view a real wedding at Avalon Hotel & Bungalows Palm Springs? Then click here!

Visit the Avalon Hotel website.

7. Cree Estate

The Cree Estate is freaking awesome. Seriously. From a wedding photographer’s standpoint, the ceremony site is shaded, the venue has tons of little spots for creativity to bloom, and more importantly, everything is super accessible. What I really love about this outdoor Palm Springs wedding venue is that every one of my wedding artist friends who have shot there has all produced images that are totally different from each other but equally awesome. That is what a good wedding venue will do: provide diverse and unique opportunities for creative people to be creative. Cree Estate is also perfect for both small and large weddings. Not to mention, Cree Estate is very affordable when compared to some of the higher-end Palm Springs wedding venues such as The Parker and Korakia Pensione.

Want to view a real wedding at Cree Estate? Then click here!

Visit the Cree Estate website.

About the author:

Ryan Horban is an international wedding photographer based in Palm Springs, California that has documented over 200 weddings in the Coachella Valley. His work has been featured in Brides, Green Wedding Shoes, The Knot, and many other wedding magazines & online publications.