Renting a really amazing house and having an intimate ceremony is a great idea for couples looking to elope but also want a unique experience. With so many lovely rentals out there, it’s not hard for couples to find somewhere that matches their style and wedding vision in their ideal destination. The team who envisioned and executed this styled shoot on the ground of an Airbnb in Joshua Tree, CA, created a wedding day display inspired by the ’70s. We spoke with the shoot’s designer and planner Alta of Alta Velasco Events to get the inside scoop on how it came about.

Q: What was the inspiration for the theme/style of the shoot?
A: I was inspired by the Air-BNB itself. When Jamie reached out with photos of the property, I was immediately in love with it. I knew that we would have to really respect the true vintage mid-century appeal of this property. The home was a time-capsule filled with iconic influences from the past & designed so brilliantly, that you couldn’t help but feel as if you had been transported to a completely different era. I felt strongly that the shoot needed to hold that same appeal & compliment the property in an authentic way.

Q: How did the location of the shoot influence it?
A: The desert is so complementary to a mid-century-inspired shoot. What I had in mind was Mid-Century modern meets 70’s kitschy. Acknowledging that minimalism was a major design influence for this era, I felt like we needed to bring a bit of that minimalistic mindset to the shoot. I had to figure out how to Marry the two design concepts and keeping the décor simple & truly vintage while allowing the desert and natural landscape to really shine through was the approach in trying to achieve that.     

Q: Tell us about the ceremony look.
A: Minimalistic with a Nod to the ’70s
I didn’t want to use a solid backdrop with a ton of floral & hide the beauty of this lush desert. I thought up the concept of hanging beaded curtains to allow the Natural back-drop and light to shine through while giving the slightest nod to the ’70s. We contrasted bright and bold attire for our Bride, Groom and Officiant to Keep that Kitschy Look while giving the bride a primarily Plant-based bouquet with bright Floral accents inspired by the mid-century modern era where landscaping and plants were really a central part of the design.  

Q: Tell us about the reception look.
A: Mid-Century Modern meets Kitschy 70’s but Make it a Picnic.
This is where I really wanted to mesh the two different design concepts. Almost everything on the table was vintage: From the 60’s King’s crown thumbprint Glassware to the Retro HOMCO Brass Butterflies & Vintage 70’s Corelle Summerhill Corning ware. These were all very intentionally sourced through various antique dealers to really bring an authentic feel to the tablescape. Mixing the Funky Vintage 60’s Floral Patterns of the Corelle China & Mod Print Napkins I felt really honed in on that kitschy Element while providing a way to tie in the loose stem florals that were intended to feel a little wild & natural atop the table. Heather with Brown & Co Designs brought a finishing touch to that concept with her idea to add a funky font & green tassels to the Place cards which were inspired by the memory of her grandmother’s 70’s shag carpet. She coordinated these with a beautiful & thoughtfully designed invitation suite.

Adding a mid-century modern bar-cart with Brass accents and some simple textural elements like the Crushed Velvet fabric & Faux Sheep’s Fur Pillows brought even more depth and authenticity to the design. Making it a Picnic was a last-minute decision to give the shoot a Fun and trendy spin. 

Q: What was your favorite part of the shoot?
A: My favorite part was just how well we all got along and how much fun we had. It was a lot of work and we worked hard all day long but everyone did their part and we got along great and had a fun time.

Vendors: Photographer: JamieY Photography; Event Design/Planning/Florals: Alta Velasco Events; Second Shooter: The Emerics; Officiant: Hell Bent Hitchings; Calligrapher: Brown and Co Designs; Makeup Artist: Makeup & Hair By Maty