This Rat Pack-Inspired Palm Springs Wedding Was Nonstop Swanky Nostalgia

Grab a dirty martini, throw on your finest retro cocktail attire, and have some 1960’s vinyl spinning on the turntable: it’s time to fall in love with Gina + Charlie’s marvelously Mid Century wedding in Palm Springs!

When planning their California “I do’s” at Desert Island Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Gina + Charlie wanted to capture the especially glamorous quality that desert resort cities like Las Vegas and Palm Springs had in the 50’s and 60’s. So of course they looked to The Rat Pack — the famous Vegas lounge act that featured crooners Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and more. 

Leaning into that swanky, retro aesthetic was a way to connect to important parts of their own past, too. “Palm Springs was a destination that truly married our most cherished family memories — whether it’s Gina’s Italian American family singing along to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, or Charlie and his parents, who live in Nevada, cruising down a desert highway,” the couple says. “It also reminded us of all the people we wished could have been there to celebrate, including our grandmothers, who both loved the casino and a good game of cards.”

So the couple teamed up with event designers + planners from Details, Darling and created a wedding day vibe filled with vintage-inspired nods to smokey Mid Century nightlife. Custom matchbooks, nostalgically retro paper goods, playful cocktails, vintage cars: the detail-packed celebration took every opportunity to make guests feel immersed in a time period that meant so much to the couple’s grandparents.

And — how romantic is this?! — it all took place on Valentine’s Day weekend!

Zach + Dune got so many amazing pictures of the day. Let’s take a look!

The Night Before

We love the 60’s shift dress inspired silhouette of Gina’s short and sparkle-adorned rehearsal dinner dress!!

Wondering how to look as good as Gina + Charlie’s guests did for a pre-wedding celebration on your calendar? Check out our rehearsal dinner guest attire style guide!

The Wedding Day

We really can’t get enough of what Wildhouse did with the day’s paper goods. The retro fonts and patterns, the sweet nods to Valentine’s Day. So playful + nostalgic!

The Flower Boy Co. put the MOD in mid mod with their sculptural + super modern floral arrangements. Gina’s GORGEOUS bridal bouquet is a perfect example — those cascading pink pieces!

Our Favorite Memory
When we arrived early for our first look, our band had just started rehearsing. As soon as we heard the music, we both lit up — realizing, “This is actually happening! And yes, this is going to be a party.” Music from the Rat Pack era — and the nightlife culture that came with it — was central to our inspiration for the entire weekend. Later, peeking from behind the curtain before our entrance and watching our guests, of all ages, react to the band’s first song exactly the way we did… it was pure magic. Creating that feeling for the people we love most was unforgettable.

The Ceremony

“There’s something about Palm Springs that transports us to a place where we could easily spend the rest of our lives: by the pool at sunset, with a martini in hand, surrounded by friends and family having an effortlessly glamorous time,” say Gina + Charlie.

If you’re getting married on Valentine’s Day weekend, why not go with a rich + romantic pink and red color scheme and add pink heart garland to your ceremony florals! 💕

The bride + groom both went the home town route when choosing their wedding day attire. “Gina, originally from Cleveland, found her NEWHITE gown and overskirt at Harper + Ivory, a local bridal shop there,” says the couple.

Our Musical Choices
Processional
"Till Then" - The Mills Brothers || "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" - Darlene Love
Recessional
"Groovin’" - The Rascals
First Dance
"Something’s Got A Hold On Me" - Etta James

“Charlie, originally from Chicago and a Northwestern grad, worked with Chicago-based Josh Kercher on a custom tuxedo with a white dinner jacket.”

The Reception

“There are so few moments in your life when you’ll be surrounded by everyone you love most,” Gina + Charlie say.

“While weddings are obviously meant to celebrate a couple’s love, we also saw it as a chance to honor our guests and everything they’ve done to support us on our journey.”

If you’re digging the way this wedding seamlessly blended retro Valentine’s vibes with Palm Springs nostalgic glam, you need to see this vintage Valentine inspired wedding in Palm Springs, too.

“Every detail of our wedding day held a special meaning for us and our families,” the couple shares. “Charlie walked down the aisle to his grandparents’ favorite song. Our vows included a traditional Lithuanian bread ceremony to honor his family heritage. Gina’s grandfather was an avid photographer, so we asked close friends — who are also professional photographers — to step into his role as our unofficial “paparazzi” as guests entered the venue. Our tableside salad service featured croutons made from ciabatta bread shipped from Gina’s family bakery in Ohio.”

“The list goes on, but every choice was rooted in love and connection.”

The couple paid playful homage to the chain smoking Rat Pack with packs of candy cigarettes and some super cute custom matches as guest favors.

The celebration’s delicious dinner (detailed in this AMAZING menu) was created by MIHO.

Signature Party Rentals decked out the reception tables with swanky Mid-Century-banquet-worthy decor details like gold rimmed glassware and gold edged china and added some casino-inspired flair with some scattered dice and playing cards!

Linens from Luxe Linen added so much shimmer + sparkle. And custom poker chips as place cards completed each place setting’s high-rolling aesthetic.

Our Advice
Lean into a piece of your story that’s deeply meaningful to you, and let your inspiration and theme flow from there.

We loved working with our wedding planner, Kenzie, and our amazing team of vendors, who were just as passionate as we were about bringing our crazy ideas to life.

Don’t be afraid to step outside the box and create details that are uniquely you.

Gina swapped out the full train overskirt she wore during the ceremony for an A-line silhouette with a custom-made belt and evening gloves for the reception.

“Our cake topper belonged to Gina’s grandparents,” the couple shares, “who were married on the very same day as us.”

OF COURSE this beautiful time machine of a wedding had a heart-shaped cherry-topped vintage wedding cake!

Congrats, Gina + Charlie! Your Rat Pack inspired Palm Springs wedding was the cats pajamas, baby 🍸❤️! What a brilliantly designed + meaningfully nostalgic celebration! GWS wishes you nothing but the best!