We see so many creative weddings and events with Joshua Tree National Park serving as the backdrop…with the rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes, along with the iconic twisted trees the park is named after, it truly is stunning—and weren’t not surprised by how many others fall in love with it! Megan and Jade came all the way from Australia searching for the cactus-dotted terrain and brought their 30 closest friends and family with them for an intimate wedding at Cactus Moon Retreat.
Megan tells us: Ever since we got engaged we pretty much knew we wanted to have our wedding in Joshua Tree. It’s such a special, magical place. However, seeing as we live in Australia it wasn’t as easy as that. We considered eloping by ourselves but we really wanted our nearest and dearest to be with us on our day. We decided to put the idea out and everyone supported it so we started planning! The hardest part was having to book everything without actually seeing it in person…that’s why we enlisted the help of Jaime + Erika of Wild Heart Events to bring our vision to life. After A LOT of emails and mood-boarding, the styling/design turned out better than we could’ve ever expected. It was so exciting to see it all come together on the day!
Ready to see how it all came together in the snaps by Eden Strader Photography? Let’s head to the desert!
The Details
Western kicks on point + the coolest leather jacket…yep, this feels like Joshua Tree already!
Oak and Amble crafted this textured bouquet in hues of the desert sunset that fit perfectly with the overall bohemian feeling.
The Desert Ceremony
We wanted a cool, fun, relaxed wedding in the desert. We chose to hire an amazing Airbnb to use as our wedding venue—the vibe and aesthetic of the property were exactly what we wanted for our intimate wedding.
If you’re down for an Airbnb wedding, we’ve got you covered with our step-by-step guide to planning an Airbnb wedding of your own!
Processional: If We Were Vampires by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Recessional: Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles
First Dance: Dance All Night by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Can we say everything? We still feel very lucky that our family and friends flew across the world to be at our wedding. It was a dream to have everyone there with us.
The Newlyweds
Megan’s Rue de Seine dress was a perfect complement for the boho celestial design of the big day…and that bridal hat!! In case this is the first hat you’ve seen a bride wearing…well, we’re all about it! See more bridal hats here!
And that, my friends, is why people fall in love with Joshua Tree.
Eden Strader Photography tells us: Following their love of music and the famed story of Gram Parsons, Joshua Tree National Park was an integral part of Megan and Jade’s love story….one of their first vacations together where they fell in love.
The Wedding Party
Lookin’ so SHARP!!
The girls rocked GORGEOUS blush-hued gowns from Asos (unfortunately this style is no longer available but we linked similar gowns here) to complement the desert light…and would you look at those rockin’ leather jackets Bash Calligraphy created below!!
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Love the idea of personalized leather jackets? You can DIY your own—it’s easier than you think!
TOO GOOD!
Hire professionals! Especially a wedding planner if you can. We were able to relax and really enjoy ourselves because we knew everything was under control.
The Celestial Meets Boho Reception
It wouldn’t be a bohemian celebration with peacock chairs + pampas grass, now would it?
Isn’t this seating chart out of this world?! From the tassels to the florals to the moon and stars… Want to see more celestial-inspired ideas?
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Mirrored moons guided guests to their tables that were adorned with gauzy mauve runners, brass moons filled with crystals and embroidered jean patch place cards finished with fringe made by the Wild Heart Events team.
To the moon + stars!! Congratulations, M+J!
Want to see more of the desert enchantment caught on camera? Take a peek at this clip from Jay and Mack Films:
photography: Eden Strader Photography // venue name: Cactus Moon Retreat, Joshua Tree, California, USA // event design: Wild Heart Events // planning: Wild Heart Events // florals: Oak and Amble // wedding dress: Rue de Seine // bridesmaid dresses: Asos // hair stylist: Marilyn Nunez // makeup artist: Lina Mourey // videography: Jay and Mack Films // paper goods: place cards by Spirit Animal Stitching // officiant: Lets Get Married By Marie // jackets: Bash Calligraphy
Omg…this is so inspirational and beautiful in a laid back and understated way.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful content.
Cynthia
http://www.ouimadam.com
I love these! we fly out to Page Arizona for a shoot next month and I am feeling inspired..
First of all, these Joshua Tree wedding photos are absolutely stunning! What a couple! AirBnBs are great spots for venues in the area because you can’t have a reception inside the National Park and often times you need to shuttle in guests which can be a logistical headache if you don’t have a solid planner.