Destination Wedding In Palm Springs!

Big weddings are totally rad, but there is something very different and special about elopements. With elopements, the wedding vows feel so much more powerful, the energy through the day is happier and the moments simply feel completely authentic. I really love photographing elopements, and that is not just because it gives me an excuse to leave the house to go drink some beers on a weekday. Well honestly acceptable midweek day drinking is part of the reason, but just a very small one! That is why I was excited when Ashley emailed me from Australia looking for a wedding photographer to capture her and Patrick’s Palm Springs destination wedding! It was just going to be the bride/groom, wedding officiant and myself (the legal witness for the elopement). The plan for the day was simple: hang out, take photos in the Palm Springs desert, and head back to Ace Hotel to celebrate. Below are some of the photos of Patrick and Ashley’s elopement in Palm Springs!

Words From The Bride

Patrick and I first met in 2007 at Mt. Buller snow fields in the Victoria Ski Alps. Patrick at the time was working as a Chef and I was working as a Ski Hire Assistant for Hotel Pension Grimus. We also worked together at the Whitsunday Islands in Airlie Beach, QLD on a tall sailing ship called Whitsunday Magic and on islands such as Whitehaven Beach & Hamilton Island. We have been together for 10 amazing years and have a dog who happens to be our little fur baby which we both adore to a whole new level! We decided to elope and chose Palm Springs, California after watching a travel television show at home in Australia one lazy Sunday afternoon. We simply fell instantly in love with the architecture and its surroundings. The amazing desert scenery, cactus & vast mountains seemed like such a funky, special place to exchange our marriage vows and officially tie the knot.

Palm Springs Destination Wedding

Patrick and Ashley started the wedding day at Ace Hotel where they got ready before we headed off to the desert area behind the Palm Springs Visitor’s Center for the wedding ceremony. When couples eloping in Palm Springs ask me about desert locations for their wedding ceremony I usually always start with the Palm Springs Visitors Center area. The reason is because it is an easy location to access, has a rad backdrop of the San Jacinto mountains, is near the “Welcome to Palm Springs” sign (a popular tourist photo-op), has a private/secluded feel, and is right off Palm Canyon road which makes it a central location to all of the kick ass hotels/properties in Palm Springs. After the wedding ceremony we headed back to Ace Hotel Swim Club for post-wedding drinks where Patrick and Ashley jumped into the pool for some pretty epic photos for their Palm Springs destination wedding!

THANK YOU again to Patrick and Ashley for flying all the way from Australia to come out to Palm Springs, get married, drink beers with me and jump in the pool! You two really are fantastic, and any time you plan on coming back to the desert just know that this Palm Springs wedding photographer will once again be your private chauffeur so you two can get your drink on! We can toss a cooler in the back and drink champagne all over the city!

Those interested in viewing more elopements and Palm Springs destination photos can check out Brendan and Bec’s Ace Hotel wedding photos or Chris and Beth’s colorful wedding at the Monkey Tree Hotel!