If there could ever be too much of a good thing, the Coachella Valley’s jaw-dropping array of wedding venues might take that prize with no apologies. Couples who give in to the valley’s scenic magnetism quickly realize they have far more choices in terms of size, price, and ambiance than they could have imagined.
From luxury golf resorts and romantic boutique hotels to historic inns and the simple beauty of Mother Nature, Palm Springs and its surrounding desert cities seem to have been created especially for weddings. Romance is a given, glamour is a must, and each venue a canvas on which to languidly paint your signature style.
There is no other place quite like this magical destination. Here, life slows down. Brides, grooms, and guests instantly begin to measure a day moment by moment, making memories along the way. Hard to believe, but even wedding planning loses its stress factor in this unhurried valley that lives to lounge, laugh, and love. Come shop a few of these favorite venues — we think you’ll see what we mean.
LUSH GOLF RESORTS
Best For:
Those who like to golf, play tennis, dine, spa, lounge around the pool, and visit together all in one place without ever getting in a car. These sprawling resorts offer a wide range of wedding settings (and price points) to suit your guest list and budget and often include smart packages, discounts on blocks of rooms, and multiple restaurants for every taste.
Vibe:
Plush fairways with majestic views, terraces, lakes, waterfalls, chandeliered ballrooms with sweeping dance floors, on-site wedding planners, pampered guests, polished luxury, and sky’s-the-limit grandeur when it comes to pleasing the bride.
Top Picks:
Classic Club, Desert Willow Golf Resort, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, La Quinta Resort & Club, Miramonte Resort & Spa, Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort & Spa, and Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa.
CHIC HOTELS
Best For:
Hipster brides and grooms who set their own trends — those fiercely attractive, well-matched power duos who simply can’t help but operate a few degrees cooler than cool. Celebrities themselves hole up at these boutique retreats, where they can be as private or as outgoing as they want to be. On property, explore at least one restaurant and one cocktail lounge, plus a full-service spa — a potent combination that offers your party plenty of reasons to unpack and enjoy a wedding staycation.
Vibe:
Edgy, unique, social, and stylish — often with a splash of retro glitz. From the pool table at the Riviera to pool DJs at Ace and The Saguaro, these scene-making hotels ooze character and strive to deliver atmosphere, eye candy, and uncommon amenities.
Top picks:
Ace Hotel & Swim Club; Hard Rock Hotel; Parker Palm Springs; Riviera Palm Springs Resort & Spa; Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage; The Saguaro; and Viceroy Palm Springs.
MIDCENTURY COOL
Best For:
Architecture and design buffs as well as those who feel they might just have landed in the wrong era. While February’s Modernism Week is a 10-day bash beyond compare throughout Palm Springs, any time is the right time to ease back into a more livable time and place. Host your own swingin’ affair in a historically significant midcentury modern home rental, or check in to one of the iconic hotels built during the heyday of butterfly rooflines and indoor-outdoor living till dawn.
Vibe:
Mad Men smooth, Rat Pack cheeky, and Elvis swagger meet poolside cocktails, low-slung furnishings, and an irresistible retro-perfected soundtrack to bring it all together. You’ll feel a little bit famous just stepping inside.
Top Picks:
Arthur Elrod’s Escape (estate), Del Marcos Hotel, Desert Riviera; Frederick Loewe Estate, The Fontenell (estate), The Horizon Hotel, Orbit In, Palm Springs Rendezvous; Twin Palms Frank Sinatra Estate, and the William Cody Estate in Southridge.
ROMANTIC CHARM
Best For:
Starry-eyed pairs who want a taste of Old Palm Springs. Plan an intimate celebration to remember in one of the city’s historic hideaways — one that has wooed and wowed desert lovebirds through decade after decade of enchanting weddings and happy anniversaries. Add your personal touch to an ambiance (some dating back to the 1920s and ’30s ) that’s ready-made for romance.
Vibe:
Quiet pathways for wandering off and getting lost together, fountains, flowers, courtyards, balconies, and maybe even breakfast in bed. Elegant, peaceful, and often otherworldly.
Top Picks:
Casa Cody, Colony Palms Hotel, Korakia Pensione, Ingleside Inn, Le Vallauris Restaurant, O’Donnell House, Spencer’s Restaurant, Villa Royale Inn, and Andreas Hotel & Spa.
YOUR OWN PRIVATE ESTATE
Best For:
Settling in and staying awhile, away from the hubbub and crowds. Ultimate exclusivity lies over those tall hedges and behind those double-height doors, inside an esteemed environment beyond your wildest dreams. Whether for a weekend-long wedding celebration, hanging out with friends for several days before your vows, or for lingering on with the whole pad to yourselves once your guests have vacated, a private home is the ticket to days and nights among your “besties” in a compound to call your own.
Vibe:
Transportive and tranquil for a bespoke wedding experience tailored to your time frame and expectations. Choose a historic property where Spanish architecture, a tennis court, and meandering gardens mesh with such modern conveniences as a catering kitchen, saltwater swimming pool, and plenty of cool AC. Other choices on the rental menu include avant-garde modern enclaves, celebrity homes, noted architectural gems, and quaint desert cottages built for two.
Top Picks:
Bougainvillea Estate, Casa de Monte Vista, Cree Estate, Cielo Estate, Colony 29, Thirteen Palms, and Villa Carmelita.
To browse additional private rentals, visit www.beaumondevillas.com, www.oasisrentals.com, palmspringsgetaways.com, www.oranjpalm.com, and www.vacationpalmsprings.com.
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED
Best For:
Surprising friends and family with an out-of-the-box event. If you’ve considered eloping just to avoid the trappings of a traditional wedding, take heart. Greater Palm Springs comes to your rescue with some pretty exciting remedies for the common ceremony and reception day. Take over a museum by night, unplug and get off the grid in the cabins of the high desert, or whisk your guests right on up the mountainside in the world’s largest rotating tram car just to hear you and your beloved say those two little words. That’s what friends are for, right?
Vibe:
Eclectic, nontraditional, possibly artsy, and always original. Whether you marry in a field up Highway 74 or in a contemporary art gallery, venues that host fewer weddings are often game to help you realize your personal vision — without having to leave your nearest and dearest behind to do it.
Top Picks:
Living Free Animal Sanctuary, Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Pioneertown, and (for gaycentric condo suites) Random Haus Palm Springs.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Best For:
Nature-loving couples who wouldn’t dream of saying “I do” inside four walls — especially when such dramatic landscape calls out from every direction. Immerse yourselves in the splendor of one of the most spectacularly picturesque places in the country, complete with consistently outstanding weather. Couples from around the globe choose the Coachella Valley each year. While desert breezes and mountain vistas indulge the senses, your vows will catch the wind and forever become part of the endless beauty. How’s that for romantic? Afterward, continue the party to your favorite tunes from a live band on a dance floor under the stars.
Vibe:
Rustic, real, eternal, and engaged with the vast, rugged panoramas. Even city dwellers savor the idea of escaping their urban settings to exchange vows in a place where the sky has no end. For those seeking the flavor of a “destination wedding” without leaving the States, this one’s hard to beat.
Top Picks:
Corona Yacht Club, Empire Polo Club, The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden, Indian Canyons, Jackalope Ranch restaurant, Joshua Tree National Park, Moorten Botanical Garden, Smoke Tree Ranch, and Tahquitz Canyon.
