So you’re coming up on one year of marriage to the love of your life, and you want to find a way to honor all the love, fun, hardship, and resilience you shared this year. First off, let’s just acknowledge the fact that finding a way to celebrate this milestone properly can be a little daunting. While every couple is unique in their own way, this is our pitch to consider doing a destination anniversary photo shoot, featuring a real couple’s story.

A few months ago, we received a submission for Maleka and Jason’s Palm Springs destination anniversary photo shoot. Normally, this isn’t something we’d really publish, but upon hearing their story and seeing the adorable photos that came out of the shoot, we had to share it with you all.

Not only partners in life, but also in business, Maleka and Jason work together on her wedding videography brand, The Siren & Co. Films. While Maleka brings stories to life behind the lens, Jason’s talents live in the world of copywriting, making them a beautifully balanced team both in marriage and in the creative space.

As wedding professionals, the couple wanted to honor their first wedding anniversary with something that reflected their personalities. A photo shoot featuring a location they love, a theme they cherish, and their pup did just that.

“People tend to say that the first year of marriage is the hardest,” Maleka says. “What better way to celebrate making it out the other side than to document how much you’ve thrived?”

With that sentiment in their hearts, Maleka and Jason selected Palm Springs for its striking natural backdrop and flirty, vintage vibes. Plus, they call the California desert city their “home away from home.” 

“Even when deciding where to have our wedding, we couldn’t decide between an ocean view or the desert,” Maleka reflects. “So, we split the difference and had our wedding in San Clemente and our anniversary in Palm Springs.”

While the couple says having a theme isn’t necessary for your anniversary photo shoot, it can make things extra fun and add visual interest. For example, Jason is a huge fan of “Star Wars,” so a nod to that had to be included. 

“The quote ‘I love you. I know.’ was the theme,” Maleka says. “It wasn’t quite the right aesthetic for our wedding day, but we definitely wanted to make room for it somehow. Our anniversary seemed like the right time and place.”

Maleka sported a mini white dress with a high neck, a cathedral veil by Untamed Petals, and pearl details in her white D’Orsay heels and accessories. She also recruited Leta Verbena to construct a bouquet of pink-hued florals, and later threw on a sleek, black leather jacket featuring a nod to her own pop-culture interest: “Harry Potter.”

Adorable, right? If Jason and Maleka’s wedding anniversary photos have motivated you to follow suit, here’s one idea from their experience they’d tell you to steal for your own photo shoot. 

“One thing everyone should steal is the cake part,” Maleka says. “Instead of freezing the top of our cake to eat at our one-year anniversary, we had the top part of our cake remade to enjoy. And it was delicious!”

Beyond stealing their brilliant cake hack, if you’re still on the fence about booking a session to celebrate your own milestone, here are a few more reasons why a destination anniversary photo shoot is always a good idea:

You get high-quality, non-wedding photos for your walls.

Let’s face it: as stunning as your wedding portraits are, you might not want every framed photo in your home to feature a tuxedo and a formal gown. It provides beautiful, professional images in a more relaxed, lifestyle-driven aesthetic to mix in with your wedding day shots.

It’s a stress-free chance to include your pets.

Maleka and Jason brought their pup along for their Palm Springs getaway, which highlights a major perk of anniversary sessions. Wedding days are often chaotic and crowded, making it tough to comfortably incorporate animals. An anniversary shoot is a much lower-stress environment to finally get those frame-worthy photos with your energetic pup, your senior cat, or whatever animal friend that completes your family.

There is no timeline pressure.

Your wedding day was likely a beautiful whirlwind of family portraits, bridal party wrangling and strict schedules. An anniversary session, on the other hand, is entirely on your terms. There are no guests to host, no caterers to coordinate with, and no itinerary to follow.

You can explore a completely different vibe or destination.

An anniversary session gives you a blank canvas. Want to wear a short, flirty dress instead of a ballgown? Go for it. Want to book plane tickets to a dream destination that was too far for your wedding guests to travel to? This is your sign to pack your bags!

Vendors: Photography: Mary Costa Photography; Videography: The Siren and Co. Films; Florals: Leta Verbena; Hair & Makeup: Emily Lynn and Co.; Veil: Untamed Petals; Cake: Couture Cakery; Custom Jacket: Signs of Our Lives; Wedding PR: Published + Pretty