After a long and complicated covid engagement era, Angelena and Michael pivoted from their original LA wedding to a more intimate weekend in the desert with their nearest & dearest! The pair wanted a getaway with friends and family where they could eat delicious food, visit under the stars and spend quality time together. A + M eloped in Ojai (previously seen on GWS!) the year prior but still wanted to have a celebration to introduce all of their favorite people to each other after years apart, and the results were stunning!
The venue – Nowhere in Twentynine Palms, California – was just that.. in the middle of nowhere! Most of the wedding party could stay on site and everyone got a very remote experience, complete with some VERY heavy winds on the day – but the magical sunset that happened as everyone sat down for dinner was a good consolation prize. Dinner in a skate bowl in the middle of the desert was just the kind of offbeat vibe the couple were into! The venue also had a trampoline, fire pits, hiking trails, a pool, and day beds for lounging…what more could anyone need?!
A + M mention that they are very lucky to have such talented and amazing friends & it was definitely a group effort to throw this shindig together! Literally everyone had their hand involved in this magical day! The incredible Mary Costa was doing the most as both a bridesmaid AND photographer with Katie Pritchard there to help her capture it all! Mary’s husband sang the happy couple down the aisle.. another bridesmaid was the officiant.. another (Samantha Dapper) served as the wedding planner.. and well, the bride herself was the florist (Shindig Chic!) Much more DIY than the bride suggests for anyone else but when your loved ones are the best in the biz.. that’s just how it had to be! You aren’t going to want to miss this one, folks!
A Weekend of Fun…in the California Sun!
So beautiful!! More on this gorgeous bouquet to come! 💐
Let’s Hear it For the Girls!
The bride loves a mismatched bridal party…as do we!! The more mixed textures, layers, and colors.. the better! Angelena loosely gave each of her gals a color that was very them & just let them pick something fun they liked. Resulting in everyone being comfy, happy, and stylish of course!!
When it came to dress shopping, the bride had always adored Needle & Thread and it was the first place she looked. “When I saw the dress, it was love at first sight! Their designs are almost exclusively pastel but this one collection was curated at the exact right time for me. I loved the sort of mix of Parisian & Mexican feel that the dark detailing had, practically perfect in every way for me! It was comfortable, desert friendly & no fuss.” Pretty much sounds like the dream dress if you ask us!
The bridesmaid shares some wisdom when it came to her bridesmaid’s bouquets: “Even though I’ve made hundreds of bridesmaids bouquets, I didn’t really want the traditional bouquet look. It was peak sweet pea season & they are one of my favorite textures, so I gave them each a simple bundle to hold that accented their wonderful dresses.”
Well isn’t THIS tiny pup adorable?! And so stylish as he steps in for the best man!
Dogs in weddings are truly one of our favorite things in the world!
Michael’s best man lives in Hong Kong and couldn’t make it due to travel restrictions. But he recorded his speech from a rooftop there so the couple could share it. Thankfully, the couple’s dog Dan Dan (their #1 best friend!) stepped up to the plate and filled in as Michael’s best man on the day, helping him get ready & even walking him down the aisle! He barked all throughout the ceremony but it was certainly memorable. 😉
Ceremony Amongst the Desertscape
The bride shares that although flowers are truly her life & she loves creating for others, she actually wanted to just keep it more simple for herself. I mean you can’t compete with that desert backdrop! Angelene bought all of her favorite luxe spring blooms and let them shine all on their own in eclectic ceramics while she paired them with specialty modern candles. Gorgeous!
Get you a partner that looks at you the way Dan Dan looks at Michael! Too precious!
Processional: 'In the Aeroplane Over the Sea' by Neutral Milk Hotel
Recessional: 'Baby, I'm Yours' by Arctic Monkeys
First Dance:
Such a great-looking bunch! And we are such fans of this bold and bright color palette! This couple knew exactly what they wanted and they DELIVERED!
Memories to Last a Lifetime
As we mentioned before, bride Angelena is the founder and head creative of Shindig Chic … and if anyone knows how to build a bouquet, it’s her! Her bouquet recipe included: sweet pea, ranunculus, butterfly ranunculus, fritillaria, lisianthus, gerbera, banksia & wax flower.
To Infinity & Beyond!
What a setup!!
“Neither of us drink alcohol really anymore, so although we still had a sangria bar, we also offered a gummy edible bar with mild offerings for guests to enjoy. Since it’s our preferred method of relaxation, we wanted to share that experience with our guests.”
The couple agrees that food was THE most important thing to them on this big day! They found an absolutely incredible chef, Sarah of High Desert Food Fight, who was able to create unforgettable meals for the two full days the couple had at their venue. Sarah also created the most stunning charcuterie creation by the pool that was a feast for the eyes & taste buds.
We may have left out one tiny (and really cool!!) detail… Groom Michael is a rocket engineer and they wanted a little nod to that, so the ‘to infinity and beyond’ neon sign was a perfect touch that the pair now has to hang in their home! 🚀
“Since I am part of the wedding world, sometimes it feels like I’ve seen it all..! I wanted to DIY some kind of accent that was new to me. So I got some terracotta clay & crafted up our custom table numbers, 3D letters for signs & our place cards. It was a simple but fun detail that added a playful layer. I pressed each name into the custom cut tiles (with cookie stamps!) to make it a fun keepsake for each guest.” The bride shares!
Possibly one of the most visually aesthetic tablescapes we’ve ever seen! AND in a skate bowl?! What can top that?!
The couple knew not to forget the sweets! They provided late-night s’mores rations, olive oil cake, and the best cobblers in LA for any munchies!!
All in all…the perfect day! Thank you for sharing your day with us, Angelena & Michael! You and your wedding party’s talents have amazed us beyond belief!
photography: Mary Costa Photography // venue name: Nowhere, Twentynine Palms, CA, USA // event design: Shindig Chic // planning: Samantha Dapper // florals: Shindig Chic // wedding dress: Needle & Thread // hairpiece: Dog Bow Tie // bride's ring: Belloring // bridesmaid dresses: Baltic Born, Jenny Yoo, Lulus and ASOS // hair stylist: Ceci Quezada // makeup artist: Ceci Quezada // groom attire: Studio Suits and ASOS - Shirt // groom's shoes: Taft // handmade details: Shindig Chic // catering: High Desert Food Fight // cake: Little Flower // desserts: Cobbler Mania // tabletop rentals: Signature Party // furniture rentals: Signature Party // specialty rentals: Oak and Poppy // photography: Katie Pritchard
What a stunning and vibrant wedding!! Love it!!