Perfectly Pink: An Intimate Destination Wedding In Palm Springs

We are straight-up tickled pink about this Palm Springs micro wedding, and we know you’re gonna be, too.

Karley + Alex had already been together for nearly a decade when they decided to tie the knot, and a love story that long calls for a meaningful (and colorful!) celebration. So the Canadian couple decided to hop on a plane to California, inspired by happy vacation memories of the Golden State from visits early in their relationship

“On our nine-year anniversary, November 13, 2024, we said ‘I do’ in Palm Springs, California, the very state where our wanderlust first blossomed,” bride Karley says. “Alex’s love of nature, mid-century modern design, and art deco charm was perfectly complemented by my love for palm trees, kitschy fun, and a palette bursting with pinks and pastels. Together, we curated a celebration as vibrant as our love💗.”

The Walk Down The Aisle helped Karley + Alex put together an intimate + exciting day that included getting ready at the iconically powder pink Trixie Motel (hospitality brainchild of the brilliant drag queen Trixie Mattel) and a small ceremony at Casa de Monte Vista with just their parents present.

The palm trees. The pink vintage Thunderbird. The DRESS. The whole thing was pretty pink perfection, and the Mary Costa was behind the lens documenting the dreamy Palm Springs romance of it all.

If you are as head over heels for Karley’s sparkly diamond band ring as we are, take a look through our guide to the best oval engagement rings!

There is so much to love about Trixie Motel. And this chic editorial elopement shoot is another example of the pretty pastel pink magic you can make there.

Getting Ready

We cannot imagine a more meant-to-be wedding shoe choice for Karley’s look than the pink platform “Beautifical” heels. The fact that they were from the ALDO x Wicked collection was a meaningful musical nod to Karley’s fave Broadway show.

“Teuta Matoshi has been my dream designer for as long as I can remember—over seven years of swooning over her glittery, whimsical creations,” says Karley how the idea for her shimmering pink wedding day look was first born. “I always knew I needed one of her dresses for my wedding. White was never in the cards for me; I wanted something so me—extravagant, pink, sparkly, and unapologetically extra.”

“One day, while casually scrolling, I stumbled across the dress,” Karley says of the Royal Blooms Radiance Gown from Teuta Matoshi. “I gasped out loud! I was on a train at the time, and in my excitement, I completely missed my stop LOL. I called my mom right then and there to gush about finding the one. It felt so serendipitous—like the dress was waiting for me to discover it.”

Also, how fab is that pink floral mother of the bride dress! Love that mom + daughter both got to rock something rosy!

“Since it was an online order, I had custom measurements done and crossed my fingers it would fit perfectly—and it did! I even requested a detachable train to add that little extra touch of practicality to the drama. (Hot tip: if you’re eyeing a Teuta Matoshi dress—wait for Black Friday deals!)”

“Once the dress arrived, everything fell into place. From the pink-hued Trixie Motel to my sparkly shoes, it was like stepping into my dream world. And because I wanted my family to share in the excitement we missed by not shopping in-store, I brought the dress to a local bridal shop to try on veils with them. Seeing their faces light up made the moment even more special.”

The First Look

Drum roll, please! 🥁💕

Karley calls Alex’s two tone wedding suit “pure perfection.”

“He found it at Lululemon, which felt so him—classic, stylish and comfy. It was a reminder that when it comes to weddings, being true to yourself always wins.”

“Pink has always been my happy colour,” Karley reflects, “so it felt like destiny to wear it on such a joyful day. Alex wasn’t surprised at all when he saw me in it—he said he couldn’t imagine me in anything else!”

“This dress wasn’t just a gown—it was a feeling, and it made all my pink, glittery wedding dreams come true.”

Explore our favorite pink + blush wedding dresses if Karley’s sweet + feminine bridal aesthetic has you feeling inspired.

“Palm Springs offered us the pastel paradise we always dreamed of,” the couple remembers, “a perfect blend of palm trees, promises, and pink.”

Everybody, meet Monroe: the adorable pink vintage Thunderbird that Karley + Alex rented for the day.

This stunning bridal bouquet is just one of the beautiful arrangements that Prism Floral Design created for Karley + Alex’s intimate day. LOVE the richer pink tones and how they pop against Karley’s powder pink look. And those bursts of yellow? Floral brilliance.

Also, a round of applause for Peony + Blush and their flawless work on Karley’s rosy glam wedding makeup and dreamy half-up half down hairstyle!

A Sunny Ceremony

Casa de Monte Vista provided a quiet garden backdrop for the intimate “I do’s” with palm trees swaying overhead.

Our Musical Choices
Processional
"I’ll Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab For Cutie (cover by Minn Piano) 
Recessional
"You Make My Dreams (Come True)" by Daryl Hall & John Oates
First Dance
"Grow Old With You" Karley’s version (the song the bride wrote!) 

Like the idea of a teeny tiny celebration like Karley + Alex’s? Check out our favorite magical micro wedding venues in the US to start planning!

Some of Karley’s fave parts of the ceremony? The fact that the MOB + MOG served as the “flower ladies” and “our vows, shared with only my parents and his, and the desert breeze as our witness, were deeply emotional and so personal. (Alex even laminated his vows, as he said he thought everyone did that!)”

Time To Celebrate!

Of course a retro-romantic Palm Springs day like this would feature an adorable pink vintage wedding cake! What could be more fitting?

Local SoCal wedding cake icon Over The Rainbow Desserts created this dazzling decadent + nostalgic single tier heart shaped masterpiece.

What could be sweeter and more celebratory than a pink cotton candy champagne toast in these gold polka dotted champagne flutes!

Looking for even more pink wedding dress inspo? This non-traditional NYE wedding, this destination wedding in Mexico, this Malibu micro wedding, and this unique Montana wedding are some of our favorites that feature pink dresses.

How sweet are Karley’s pastel pink bow-adorned wedding nails?!

You can check out our guides to pink french tip nails and Valentine’s Day nails for lots more delicate, rosy, feminine nail ideas. And our coquette aesthetic style guide is another great resource if you’re loving this look! 🎀

So sweet to see the wedding veil that Karley + her fam picked out together at Oh Happy Brides!

Stealing A Sunset Moment Alone

“Renting the pink Thunderbird was such a vibe!” the couple says. “Snapping photos with a pink vintage car that matched our colorful aesthetic made the day so much more fun. It felt like a little touch of old-school glam with a playful twist.”

Our Favorite Memory
From the bride: "As the sun dipped behind the desert mountains, painting the sky in gold and rose hues, Alex and I stole a quiet, magical moment together. Before heading to dinner, we wandered into the heart of the desert with our photographer, Mary. That’s when I surprised Alex with an impromptu first dance—our very first as husband and wife—to a song I wrote just for him.

I’d taken inspiration from Grow Old With You from The Wedding Singer and recorded it earlier this year with the help of a talented friend who’s a music producer. With Mary’s little Bluetooth speaker as our orchestra, we danced under the glowing sky, surrounded by nothing but the stillness of the desert.

It was pure magic—intimate, deeply personal, and so “us.” Just the two of us, just married, wrapped in the love and serenity of that fleeting sunset moment. It felt like the perfect snapshot of what our love is all about: heartfelt, authentic, and unforgettable."

Our Advice
Dream big and dare to make those moments happen—whether it’s a surprise song, a spontaneous first dance, or a unique twist on tradition. If you have a vision, trust it! Getting out of your comfort zone to create something meaningful is so worth it.

It can be hard not to think about everyone else’s expectations, but at the end of the day, this is your wedding. It should reflect your love story—beautiful, messy, and magical in its own way. No one knows what that looks like better than the two of you.

For us, choosing a micro-wedding was the best decision ever. It let us focus on the intimate, heartfelt moments that truly mattered. If that’s what you’re dreaming of, go for it!

Ultimately, your wedding should feel like a celebration of your love, on your terms. Be bold, stay true to yourselves, and let your day shine with all the joy, creativity, and magic you can dream up.

Congrats, Karley + Alex! We love everything about your flawlessly + playfully pink Palm Springs wedding day. All the very best from GWS!