Put on your boots and saddle up for a frolicking ride through the otherworldly event known as Rachel + Ilya’s Pioneertown wedding! Home to some of the most famous Western films in Hollywood history, Pioneertown is a Wild West oasis in the middle of the California desert. And today, it’ll be famously known for something else: a rad, boho-inspired wedding to remember! Rachel told us how they settled on the tiny desert location:
Upon visiting Pioneertown, we fell in love. We wanted to transport our guests to another world for our wedding and knew this was the spot! We incorporated all our favorite things into the day: boho-chic design, Southwestern inspiration, amazing food, great cocktails, killer music on viny—it was important that every aspect of the event reflected our tastes. The day was filled with fun, creativity, excitement, good taste, and silliness, just like our relationship.
We’ve got photos to enjoy from Let’s Frolic Together so let’s do just that…and frolic together to the goods!
The Bride Wore Blue
Rachel wanted a bohemian, form-fitting, non-traditional dress to don for the day and found herself obsessed with Rue de Seine gowns! She assembled her fashion brigade of friends for a visit to Lovely Bride in Pasadena where she tried on many a white dress…only to come back to a dip-dyed indigo fringed gown she’d seen online. She slipped it on and, as Rachel puts it, there was no going back!
The First Look
Ilya: Seeing each other for the first time! For 6 months leading up to the wedding, all I heard about from anyone was this dress and how stunned I was going to be when I saw it. I figured, you know, it’s a dress...how special could it be? But then it was finally the morning of.
I was instructed to wait with my eyes closed. I hadn’t been nervous all day, but all of a sudden my heart fluttered. “After all this buildup, what if I don’t love the dress?” I thought nervously. But my fears were quickly dissolved as I was directed to open my eyes and turn around.
Standing in front of me was the most stunning woman I had ever seen in my life. It was my Rachel, wearing this incredible blue and white dress. On her head was a golden crown and when she turned around, her hair was magnificently braided with a gold crystalline hair vine. It was beautiful, but not overly ostentatious. Unique, tasteful, like nothing I’d ever seen before...just like the girl who adorned it. She looked like a desert queen, and I could not believe I was lucky enough to be the guy about to marry her.
Are they not the sweetest pair?!
SO fun.
Rachel’s Amaroq crown sat atop a to-die-for boho braid by Jill Colwell Pro Makeup + Hair! A look fit for a desert queen.
Ceremony and a Show
Jill at Layered Vintage designed some stunning pieces for the day, including these dried floral installations to frame the macramé ceremony backdrop!
Before the bride + groom moseyed on over, guests were treated to the weekly performance of “Pioneertown Stampede” on Mane Street—a full Wild West show!
Bridal party, perhaps?
Next up, the bride + groom arrived on horseback!
Yay!
Sweet little pup, Bill, was dressed to impress!
Newlyweds in the Old West
Gah, cannot get over her dress!!
Saloon-Style Reception
The Pioneer Sound Stage (where the likes of Gene Autry + John Wayne once stepped foot) served as both the ceremony + reception site.
Guests were given a fun dress code: bohemian or Western attire!
To help break the ice among guests, each table assignment came with a tequila shot!
Most of the tabletop pieces came from Hostess Haven and the desert-inspired settings were topped by a cute agate arrowhead.
Carousel
Carousel
So cool to find a venue with a fun past! Rachel + Ilya played Wild West films that had been shot at the soundstage throughout the evening!
All the fun boho pieces (like those dreamy bride + groom chairs) came from Pow Wow Designs.
And to start the party on a fun note, R + I danced to a choreographed mashup of songs! Would you expect any less from these two? Such a rad day—all our congrats to the happy couple!
photography: Let's Frolic Together // venue name: Pioneer Sound Stage, Pioneertown, California, USA // event design: Corbin Winters of Pow Wow Designs // florals: Layered Vintage // wedding dress: Rue de Seine // wedding dress boutique: Lovely Bride // hairpiece: Amaroq // bride's shoes: Nanette Lepore // hair stylist: Jill Colwell Pro Makeup + Hair // groom attire: River Island from ASOS // paper goods: Rachel Yanovski via Minted // cake: Miho Catering Co. // tabletop rentals: Hostess Haven // music: Supermoon DJ's // officiant: Andriu Yanovski // dress alterations: A Stitch in Time, L.A. Olivia Vaatete // bride’s necklaces: Child of Wild // stylist: Christina Bushner // entertainment: // getting ready venues : Harriet House, Homestead Modern, Pioneertown Motel // bar service: Miho Catering Catering Co. // day-of coordinator: Trish Jones
Gorgeous loveeeee this.
Gorgeous wedding.