As a destination wedding photographer who’s been traveling the world, capturing weddings for close to a decade, I’ve seen plenty of celebrations! 

And one thing that never fails to land a wedding on a list of my all-time favorites? Allowing your excitement and personality to shine through! 

That’s what made this Colony Palms Hotel wedding in Palm Springs, California so spectacular! 

Keep reading to see how this laid back, fun wedding came to life!

Getting Ready at the Colony Palms Hotel

To start the day off, the bride and groom stayed in separate rooms to get ready at the Colony Palms Hotel. It was a gorgeous property that had a beautiful vintage vibe to it. And it photographed so well, especially with the aesthetic the bride and groom planned for the rest of the day! 

The bride and her bridesmaids all got ready in a large suite, and of course, the bride’s pup made an appearance!

The Exquisite Bridal Gown 

This sweet bride did a fabulous job saying “yes!” to a gown that perfectly complemented the rest of the aesthetic for the wedding. 

It was a gorgeous, form-fitting gown with a modest, although low-cut plunging neckline. But the beadwork was what stole the show with this gown! The vertical lines of beading created an incredibly flattering dress that brought a vintage, 1920s vibe with it.

An Emotional First Look Between the Bride and Groom

After the bride and groom were both dressed and ready for their celebration, they kicked it off with an emotional first look.

I always love weaving a first look into the wedding day timeline. It comes with so many benefits! For one thing, it gets any jittery emotions out of the way. It also creates unbelievably special moments for the bride and groom’s wedding photography gallery! 

And that’s exactly what happened at this Colony Palms Hotel wedding. They shared a sentimental first look under a softly-lit, private alcove. And they’ll have these photos to cherish forever!

Laid Back, Fun Wedding Party Portraits in the Most Natural Palm Springs Location (With the Coolest Car!) 

One of the other reasons I love when my brides and grooms opt for a first look? It opens up so much more room for portraits throughout the day! 

We were so lucky to have that for this Colony Palms Hotel wedding! So we hit the road up to a wide open desert filled with larger-than-life windmills that made for a unique background. And what better way to do it than to arrive in style with a classic Cadillac? 

All of us, me and my team and the wedding party, had such a blast taking portraits! Everyone was so laid back and fun-loving and that made it possible for us to capture some of the coolest wedding party portraits.

Non-traditional Bridesmaids Gowns

I always love to see my couples break the rules! And this bride did that with her bridesmaids’ dresses. Rather than having them wear trendy or even classic colors, she had them all wear white! 

And she didn’t stop there! She fully embraced the new style of having bridesmaids’ dresses in different lengths, patterns, and styles. 

To say those dresses looked fantastic against the desert sand backdrop and the crisp blue skies would be a huge understatement!

The Intimate Outdoor Colony Palms Hotel Wedding Ceremony

After our early afternoon portrait session in the desert, we made our way back for the intimate, outdoor Colony Palms Hotel wedding ceremony. 

The first thing I zoned in on was the beautiful, lush floral arch at the altar with a view of the mountains and palm trees in the background. It was such a juxtaposition, but it made for postcard-like photos. And I instantly felt like that “postcard-like” feeling perfectly matched the vintage inspiration behind this wedding. 

And as the processional began, I found myself loving the fact that we had a first look earlier in the day. It completely soaked up all of the jittery nerves that usually come with the ceremony. Instead, the bride and groom had such a fun-loving wedding ceremony full of their incredible personalities!

Just Married Sunset Portraits in Postcard-Worthy Palm Springs

Is it just me? There’s something so “vintage” about Palm Springs. It always seems like it’s begging to be photographed. 

Add a bride in a vintage-inspired wedding gown and a groom in a black and white tuxedo? That’s photography gold!

Followed by a Laid Back, Yet Upscale Poolside Reception

After their sunset portraits in downtown Palm Springs, we made our way back to the Colony Palms Hotel wedding reception. 

I loved that they chose a casual location, like the poolside, and made it upscale with white table linens and a simple floral garland as the centerpieces, accented with candles. The string lighting created a more ambient atmosphere, too. 

But, even with the luxury feel of the reception, they still brought their laid back style to the entire reception with their choice of an incredible Yacht Rock band for entertainment. And of course, they spent their time dancing the night away!

Needless to say, this vintage-inspired and laid back Colony Palms Hotel wedding was one for the books! 

And you know what? I have a feeling yours will be, too! If you’re planning a destination wedding, then get in touch with me and my team. We’d love to chat with you to hear more about your dream wedding!

Get in touch with me to talk about your destination wedding!

Wedding Day Vendors: 

Photography: Lilly Red
Planning: Artisan Events
Venue: Colony Palms Hotel
Floral Design: Artisan Events