Palm Springs Destination Wedding

Words by Sarah Padilla

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Palm Springs. It’s funny how those two little words just make you want to lounge by a pool, martini in hand, while Ol’ Blue Eyes plays in the background.

A quick and easy getaway for Southern Californians and those in neighboring states, Arizona and Nevada, this desert oasis is the ideal wedding location for couples who want to channel their inner Lucy and Desi. But if retro glam isn’t your thing, Palm Springs also offers a surprisingly wide array of wedding venues to meet every style and budget. Read on for seven ways to make Hollywood’s playground your own.

If you want to do it up Hollywood style, Palm Springs does not disappoint with a handful of unique boutique properties with personalities all their own. The quirky Jonathan Adler-designed Parker Palm Springs (star of the Bravo reality series “Welcome to the Parker”) and the ultra-chic Viceroy Palm Springs, which feels like a spread straight from the pages of a vintage fashion magazine, offer unparalleled luxury. In addition, several Palm Springs hotels have recently undergone multi-million dollar renovations, reintroducing the glitz and glamour of yesteryear. The legendary Riveria Resort & Spa, unveiled a $70 million rejuvenation, while the Colony Palms Hotel – a former speakeasy and casino – introduced a new Moroccan-themed spa.

If a Mediterranean getaway is out of the question, consider the Korakia Pensione, a Moroccan-themed boutique property within walking distance of downtown Palm Springs. Individual bungalows surround several outdoor courtyards that ooze romance under the starry desert sky.

Lush desert mountain photo opportunities abound at the private O’Donnell Golf Course and the upstairs dining area at Spencer’s Restaurant. While neither venue offers accommodations, the newly-renovated Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs (a wedding venue in itself) is within walking distance.

 4. Room with a View

The beautiful and historic Spanish-style O’Donnell House rivals Bob Hope’s home for the highest vantage point in the Valley. Sister property The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn is a charmingly restored historical bed and breakfast nestled into the side of the mountain.

True adventure lovers can tie the knot overlooking the entire Coachella Valley, after riding two and a half miles up the cliffs of Chino Canyon to Mount San Jacinto State Park on one of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 360-degree rotating tramcars, the world’s largest. Acrophobes need not apply.

Designed by the architect behind one of Frank Sinatra’s homes, the Palm Springs Art Museum offers a sleek indoor venue – perfect for the sweltering desert summer. Architecture buffs might consider one of hundreds of vacation rental homes, many of which were constructed in the mid-century modern style that is iconic of Palm Springs.    

The new Ace Hotel & Swim Club caters to the hipster set, with a unique mid-modern take on indoor-outdoor living. Canvas-covered walls and windows that open to communal fireplaces promise a laid-back vibe – marshmallows not included.