A pink wedding dress, a mid-century modern house, vibrant florals and a stunning setting- this was the recipe for Sophie + Michael’s elopement in Joshua Tree National Park. What can we say other than WOW! S says herself that she loves all things different and unique and this day is total goals for anyone looking to design a day that stands out! We’ll let S tell you for herself about why they decided to elope!
I by no means am a traditional girl – and we both knew we didn’t want to do a so-called “traditional” wedding. Plus, it felt very special to have a “JUST US” experience. It was completely intimate and there’s something romantic knowing that we are the only people who heard our vows (along with our officiant and photographer!). It was truly about US. Although we love entertaining and hosting with friends, our wedding was intentionally intimate – and I felt like a larger, more traditional wedding would be more stressful and not allow us to experience an intimate setting. Plus, there was no stress or anxiety whatsoever!
Mary Costa Photography captured all the magic! Let’s take a look!
Pretty in Pink Color Palette
Palm Springs is known for its Mid-century Modern architecture, so S + M knew they needed a color palette to match the setting. How fun are these hues of pink, yellow, and orange?!
This pink engagement ring is DREAMY!!
The Pink Wedding Dress
The pink dress to end all pink dresses!! We cannot get over the fluffy perfection of S’s gown! Believe it or not, this was Plan B! She shared more with us below:
I had paid someone I found online to create a custom blue dress for me. I LOVE pink but wanted to mix it up with a blue dress for our big day. Two weeks before the wedding, I asked to see a photo of the dress before it was mailed out…and it was a DISASTER! The wrong color, the wrong shape, everything was just wrong. I was freaking out, to say the least.
I scrambled to wedding shops around Atlanta with my mom and sample sales and found nothing. Then, I was messaging my Instagram friend Shiran (@thepalmbalm) because I was staying at her amazing AirBNB in Palm Springs. She asked me what I was wearing and I told her about my debacle. She showed me this pink tulle dress and told me she’d have it at the Airbnb when I arrived. CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW AMAZING THIS IS?! She literally saved my wedding. And believe it or not, the dress is from eBay!
Shindig Chic nailed the Mid-century Modern aesthetic with fun pink and yellow blooms with interesting textures. S’s bouquet featured peonies, ranunculus, garden roses and painted palm leaves.
A Mid-century Modern Setting
How perfect is this backdrop?! S + M share how they scored pictures in front of this amazing setting!
Ah! This is such a great story. Our most memorable moment was taking photos at the famous Lear house in Palm Springs. The day before, I was doing a fun Palm Springs door tour – taking photos of all the colorful doors around Palm Springs. I was at the most beautiful mid-century home with a yellow door, when the owners came out to say hi! Turns out that one of them grew up in Atlanta, where Michael and I both live and where we were both born and raised too. We told them about our elopement and they brought out a bottle of champagne and said we could return the next day for photos. I surprised them with my pink dress and they were such gems! Robert and Peter, we love you!
Rainbow ring?? Yes please!!!
Joshua Tree Elopement
Mary Costa shared an important note if you’re wanting to plan your own Joshua Tree Elopement!
Eloping in Joshua Tree National Park requires a permit, but it was very easy to acquire and well worth the small fee. We were stopped by a ranger who was very appreciative that we planned ahead!
Since Sophie’s dress was an amazing ebay find, we rounded up a few similar pink dresses if you love her style!
Stopppp! These two are too cute!!
Sharing their intimate vows!
Sunset, a newlywed kiss, and a pink wedding veil = photo perfection!
Who doesn’t love coral charm peonies?? We just did an awesome DIY where you can make your own paper peony flowers! Check it out if you’re feelin’ crafty!
Driving with the Top Down
What’s a Mid-century Modern elopement without a rad vintage Thunderbird?!
Wanting to steal S’s pink gown style? Check out our favorite Pink Wedding dresses!
If it feels right, DO IT! Know that not everyone will agree, but it’s what you want that matters. Planning an elopement is so fun – it’s less stressful and really makes a wedding what it is supposed to be…a celebration of the union between two people in love! Pick a destination first, and everything else will come together. And know what “moments” are important to you. For us, it was photography, location, florals, and a vintage car.
Even the sky decided to join in on the pink fun!! Stunning, right?! Sophie + Michael congratulations on your beautiful elopement! The GWS team in wishing you a lifetime of happiness!
photography: Mary Costa Photography // venue name: Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree, California, USA // florals: Shindig Chic