Palm Springs Love Ball Wedding: Alicyn + Jason

bride and groom

Alicyn + Jason didn’t have a wedding. No. They had a LOVE BALL. A fun festival type affair, celebrating love and their marriage! They found inspiration in Cirque De Soilel and the Beatles – it was a melding of generations with stilt walkers, food trucks, and a rotating stage for their ceremony! Ali + Jason, along with their wedding planner Hallie of La Bohéme Events, created such a unique, exciting and FUN wedding. Every detail was carefully thought out and reflected the couple’s love and unique personalities! A bit more about the day from Ali:

We really wanted our wedding to be a celebration of love in ALL forms so we decided instead of a traditional wedding we would have a “Love Ball.” We wanted to bring as much heart and as much of ourselves to the wedding as possible. We approached the ceremony like producing a play. We found inspiration in Cirque De Soilel and the Beatles. We definitely didn’t take ourselves too seriously! We focused on bringing a sense of play, fun and magic to the event. Because we wanted a participatory wedding where everyone at the event was in the “wedding party” we didn’t feel the need to have a bridal party. We wanted every guest to feel special. We have such an amazing community of friends and family so we encouraged creative attire and this gave our guests the chance to let their personalities shine.

Big thanks to Ashleigh Taylor Photography for sharing the photos and congrats to Alicyn + Jason!

love ball wedding invitation

billy ball boutonniere


Prior to our wedding, we hosted a pool party at the Cree Estate. This was a great opportunity to introduce friends that hadn’t met yet. We called it the “Sgt. Pepper Pool Party.” The Cree Estate has an AMAZING 17-foot deep pool and we knew we needed to make use of it! Several of our friends spent hours making these elaborate costumes out of felt that looked just like the Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club band. We couldn’t stop laughing when “Lovely Rita” made an appearance and started writing out tickets!

On our wedding day we started with a pre-cocktail hour while our guests munched on popcorn. (Let’s get this party started!) Initially we were going to get a valet to assist in parking cars, but it wasn’t really our style, so instead we had stilt walkers dressed in costume up the road showing our guests where to park. They even interacted with people, asking for “tickets” (our invitations) and telling them to come up with a title for the wedding party (i.e. “Bling Bearor”).

bohemian bride

flower jeweled crown

first look

first look

bride and groom

circle flower ceremony

ceremony program

ceremony


Just before the ceremony began, our friend (dressed in a Sgt. Pepper costume) stood up on a rock announced that the procession would begin… only everyone at the wedding was part of it. He had an amazing speech incorporating lyrics from Beatles songs and really got everyone on board. He even handmade a megaphone using a tuba! Our family and the stilt walkers handed out kazoos, ribbon wands and tambourines and everyone paraded over to a different section of the grounds where the groom and officiant where waiting on a 6 ft. rotating stage surrounded by a spiral of red rose petals. To our surprise the festive group even marched in between the rows of petals.

captain

guests

little ones sign

Our Musical Choices

Processional: Imagine – John Lennon, sung by Accapella group

Recessional: All You Need is Love – the Beatles, sung by Accapella group

First Dance: Time Machine – Alicyn Packard & Jason Friedman

ceremony

ceremony

ceremony

ceremony

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

After the kiss, people spontaneously started throwing the rose petals in the air and they showered down around us as the group cheered. That was probably the most memorable moment.

bride and groom

submarine purse

bride and groom

beatles magazine

flowers for your hair

loveball reception

rainbow tablescape


Our first dance was to a song that Jason and I co-wrote called “Time Machine” that I had recorded a few weeks earlier. It was very meaningful to us and a surprise to our family and friends.

characters

bar


And their video by Sam Friedman Storyteller

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

I didn't expect the emotional roller-coaster of getting married. So many personal and societal expectations are attached to that one, important day of your life. If you feel anxious about your wedding then you are in exactly the right place! Yes, being engaged can be the happiest time of your life, but it's also a huge transition. Make time to journal, meditate and connect with friends and be kind to yourself. You are definitely not alone.

BONUS: Being married is amazing! It's also great to have a professional there that has a sense of how it's "supposed" to go. Our coordinator Hallie Slade saved my sanity just by letting me know everything was going to be okay. And it was!

photography: Ashleigh Taylor Photography // venue name: Historic Cree Estate, Palm Springs, California // event design: Alicyn Packard // florals: Stella Bloom Designs // wedding dress: Maggie Sottero // hair stylist: Aaron Mellinger // makeup artist: Kymber Blake // groom attire: Elevee // paper goods: Prim & Pixie // cake: Over the Rainbow Cupcakes and Desserts // music: DJ Eva

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