Kate + Brendan’s remote and romantic wedding day was a total desert dream.
Kate is a middle school humanities teacher, and Brendan is a high school art teacher. These two educators found each other online, fell in love, and in August of 2023 found out that they were expecting!
The couple wanted to tie the knot before the baby arrives, so they started planning an intimate + colorful elopement on Brendan’s dad’s sprawling 40 acre Southern California property near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. With only close friends + family on the guest list, Kate + Brendan dreamed up a sunset ceremony followed by a fireside celebration under the stars.
Their bright, boho elopement was something straight out of a romantic western—complete with dusty boots, cow skulls, and a fabulous combination of fresh + dried florals. We can’t wait for you to see the stunning photos that SweetPaperMedia snapped and the way they totally capture the secluded, desert magic of Kate + Brendan’s day!
“Myself and four friends did a road trip to Chico (about three hours from where we live) to the Lulus Outlet store,” says Kate of her total outlet dream of a wedding dress shopping experience. “Unbelievably, they have wedding dresses for $10! I ended up buying three $10 white dresses that day: one I wore at my Engagement Party, one at the Rehearsal Dinner, and one for the Wedding. I had to be careful in choosing because I knew my baby bump would be growing by the time the wedding happened in December!” We are loving the shorter tea-length hem, tiered skirt, and plunge neckline of this lacy look!
Are you thinking about a short wedding dress? We rounded up our 35 favorite short wedding dresses to help you find your dream dress!
The couple on the perks of planning their small, elopement-style intimate wedding: “It was really nice to be on our own schedule. Though there was timing we had to work out with hair and makeup, the photographer, and the florist, in the end we had the property all to ourselves and could spend as much time as we wanted there.”
Kate looked boho desert wedding-ready in her brown suede wedding boots.
Kate’s mom’s turquoise mother of the bride dress paired perfectly with Kate’s wedding jewelry and the day’s desert southwest-inspired color palette.
A Scenic Desert Ceremony
Pink Poppy Designs is the floral mastermind behind this brilliant boho ceremony space. We cannot get enough of the rustic, boho texture and bright pops of pink, teal, and orange. Also! Brendan’s dad built this ceremony stage himself!
We love getting a peek into the detail work that goes into floral design: “As I felt this location was very special, I wanted to bring out some vibrant colors while keeping with Kate’s southwestern style,” says florist Becky of Pink Poppy Designs. “I chose to build columns of dried florals using painted palm branches and accented with dried fans, dried ruscus and dried bunny tails. These were attached to either side of the arch.“
“At the base of the arch on either side I chose to bring in lush pastel teal and natural colored pampas grass. Flanked on either side of the sage, I used lush vibrant florals to bring it all together. Fresh florals that were used here were: Delphinium, roses, Anthurium, Chrysanthemums, Peonies, Hydrangea, Banksia, Protea, Sea Holly, and Eucalyptus”
“I highlighted the cow skull by bringing in some vibrant pinks, rust and brown colored florals accented with teal dried fans behind it,” says Becky. Oh, and the incredible cow skull that served as the centerpiece of ceremony arch? It belongs to the groom’s father!
Loving this flower girl‘s flower crown made of Parvafolia and yellow dried Helichrysum!
Our Musical Choices Processional: “Blue Sky” by the Allman Brothers Band + “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty
Recessional:
First Dance: “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton
Check out our look into how to plan an intimate wedding if you like the idea of only having your nearest and dearest there for your “I do’s” like Kate + Brendan did.
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding From the bride: "Having my mom walk me down the dirt “aisle”—neither of us could keep it together without crying (my dad passed away in 2015, and we were both thinking of him). Brendan’s dad did an Irish blessing and a traditional Celtic Hand-Fasting ceremony. There were some tears there as well. Everything was so personal and exactly how we wanted it to be."
Love the thought of something unique and meaningful like Kate + Brendan’s hand fastening ceremony to signify your union? Start dreaming up your own with our creative + meaningful ceremony ideas!
Kate + Brendan anticipated the evening desert chill by having warm layers at the ready for their guests to wrap up in.
Brendan embraced a Clint Eastwood-inspired groom look with this handmade textile poncho from a vendor in Ecuador.
A Private Moment For Portraits
We cannot get enough of this breathtaking Southern California desert landscape and can totally see how this spot inspired the entire vibe of Kate + Brendan’s day. Look into our collection of the 25 best places to elope for jaw-dropping photos to find your own dream location.
How adorable is Kate + Brendan’s vintage VW getaway van!?
Decide what your priorities are, and where you’re willing to cut back. We wanted to have a great photographer and rent a cool getaway car, and only spent $40 on the cake!!
A Celebration Under the Stars
“After it got dark and we had s’mores, we saw an amazing display of stars, and were showered with a meteor streaking through the sky,” Kate remembers. “Brendan and I both feel incredibly lucky to have shared this special experience with each other, and our families. It will also be fun to show our baby boy the pictures and let him know he was a big part of that day, too!”
Congrats, Kate + Brendan, on your bright boho desert elopement! So exciting that you’re expecting! GWS wishes all THREE of you the very best!
photography: Sweet Paper Media // venue name: Privately Owned Property, Anza-Borrego, California, United States // florals: Pink Poppy Designs // wedding dress: Lulus
I love this photo !! Really amazing !