Sands Hotel Wedding Photos & Venue Guide

I get asked about the Sands Hotel & Spa more than almost any other venue in the Palm Springs area, and once you see it through a camera, you’ll understand why. This small Moroccan-and-mid-century boutique hotel sits in Indian Wells, a few minutes from Palm Springs proper. I shot Dylan and Caroline’s wedding there and wanted to put together a real guide: what it costs, what the spaces actually look like, and what past couples had to say, alongside some of my favorite images from their day.

The Sands Hotel: Palm Springs Area’s Boldest Wedding Backdrop

The Sands Hotel and Spa isn’t your typical wedding venue. Interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who’s done homes for a long list of celebrity clients, designed the place, and it shows. The Moroccan-meets-desert look is everywhere: rose-colored walls, arched doorways, black-and-white tiles, a pool that glows at night. Conde Nast Traveler called it a jewel of the Coachella Valley. Standing there with a camera, I get why.

The private garden is surrounded by citrus trees and Moroccan lanterns and gives you an intimate, shaded space for portraits. After the ceremony, the Pink Cabana turns into the party: cocktails under striped umbrellas, shared-plate Mediterranean food, and a cake moment by the pool. For guests staying over, the deluxe king rooms have velvet headboards and terrazzo baths, and the spa is a good excuse for a pre-wedding massage.

Sands Hotel Wedding Cost

Couples planning a Sands Hotel wedding typically spend around $55,000 once you factor in photography, coordination, decor, and other vendors, and that’s on top of the full 46-room buyout every wedding here requires. You and your guests get the entire property to yourselves, up to 180 people. Here’s what I’d point out on a tour:

Why The Sands Is A Dream Wedding Venue

If you want something that feels exotic and full of personality without tipping into theme-park territory, the Sands nails that balance: mid-century elegance mixed with bold, romantic details, from the rose-colored walls to the dramatic arched doors. Here’s what makes the drive out to Indian Wells worth it.

The Olive Grove

Ancient olive trees and a rose-colored backdrop surround the ceremony space, which seats up to 180. Golden hour here is one of my favorite times to shoot, period.

The Pink Cabana

Modeled after the area’s historic tennis clubs from the ’50s and ’60s, this restaurant serves seasonal Mediterranean-inspired food with a solid drink list. The reception here feels like a completely different party than the ceremony, in the best way.

Poolside Dining

Picture black-and-white striped cabanas, Moroccan daybeds, and dinner under the stars for up to 180 guests. Honestly, this spot alone earns the venue its desert-glam reputation.

What Couples Actually Say

Across reviews on WeddingWire and Tripadvisor, one name comes up again and again: Olivia, the Sands’ events coordinator. Couples consistently mention how much she knows about the property down to the smallest details, like when the ceremony site gets shade at different times of year, and how she handles unconventional requests without ever making them feel like a hassle. The food from the Pink Cabana gets the same kind of praise, especially the family-style Mediterranean dinner served poolside. The full-hotel buyout is the part reviewers seem to love most: guests describe the weekend feeling like a reunion, since everyone is staying on the same property together instead of scattering to different hotels.

Sands Palm Springs Area Wedding Vendors

A day like this doesn’t happen without a great team behind it. Credit where it’s due: Michelle Garibay Events, Arrangement Design, Pacific Entertainment, Something Lettered, and of course the Sands Hotel & Spa team.

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