Palm Springs Destination Wedding at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club | Sarah & Will
Palm Springs Destination Wedding at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club
Sarah and Will’s Palm Spring wedding at The Ace Hotel and Swim Club was the PERFECT destination wedding. These two are from Minnesota, and brought all their family and friends to party in a place that’s important to them. Palm Springs was the first big trip they took together and they first place they said “I love you,” - and now it’s extra special because it will forever be their wedding location they got to share with their family and friends! I may be biased, because I had a destination wedding too, but it’s just sooooooo fun. There’s nothing better than bringing all your people together and giving them an excuse to vacation with you, and having everyone stay in the same place feels like grown up summer camp! Especially a place like the Ace: it’s adult relaxation pool-party paradise.
I met Sarah and Will in late 2018, when they came to Palm Springs to tour venues, and I got to shoot their engagement session in Joshua Tree! I felt so close to them immediately - they are just a few of the warmest, most welcoming people ever. I felt the same way on their wedding day with all their family and friends - I left literally asking Sarah’s mom to adopt me and I was having so much fun, the only thing that made me leave on time was knowing I had a 2.5 hour drive home ahead of me. I had sooooo much fun being a part of this day. Not to mention I freakin LOVE Palm Springs weddings - every time I shoot in Palm Springs, I just feel like my style ‘clicks’ and I always shoot my favorite work there. I’m so inspired by the desert landscape, bright colors, the clean white architecture of the Ace - OH.MY.GOD. It’s a photographers dream! I loved this wedding and these humans sooooo muchhhhhh.
Q: What did you love about your wedding location? Why did you choose Palm Springs?!
A: We always knew we wanted a destination wedding, but wanted somewhere that both meant something to us and would be easy enough for guests to be able to get to. Palm Springs was our first big trip together and where we first said "I love you"... so it has such a special place in our hearts! Plus, it's a super easy flight from Minnesota! We loved everything about the Ace from the moment we stepped in there and just knew it would make an amazing venue. It just felt so "us" - seriously the second my dad got there he was like "oh.. I get it now!" Plus, since they handled so many of the wedding logistics, it made it easy to plan from afar!
Q: Were there any setbacks or problems you ran into planning a destination wedding? Do you have any advice for anyone planning a destination wedding of their own?
A: Luckily we had literally THE BEST vendors in the world - and I felt taken care of the whole time and that made the planning easier. I didn't really love planning a wedding - honestly after picking out the big stuff (IE the coolest venue and the best photographer) - I just didn't care about much else! So from that aspect, it was pretty easy because there just wasn't a ton to do. THAT BEING SAID! I would probably recommend a wedding coordinator for other brides! Especially if you have more going on - I think that may have been helpful to feel more prepared day of. But it worked out for us not having one so I can't say it's necessary either!
Q: Do you have a favorite moment from the wedding day?!
A: Is it too cheesy to say the entire day? Honestly, from getting ready with my girlfriends in the morning, to seeing each other for the first time, sharing some super special moments with my dad, reading our vows, stepping away for a few minutes to sit alone with each other before dinner, to dancing the whole night… it really was one of my favorite days of my life! I thought that was just something people said after their wedding, but I totally get it now. We decided against a big, traditional wedding with a big wedding party and lots going on - and ended up being surrounded by just our closest friends and family on the most beautiful California day... and it was the most humbling and incredible feeling. Plus... tacos and Lizzo all night long.
Q: Any funny moments or silly stories?!
A: My bustle didn't totally fix the length of my dress all the way - so my friend took a scissors and just cut off the train!
Q: What advice would you give to future couples who are getting married?
A: Book vendors you trust and love!!! I cannot stress how amazing it was to just feel like things were going to go smoothly because our vendors just TOOK CARE OF S***! And just made it the most fun day ever. Decide what's important to you and forget the rest! That's so much easier said than done, but seriously.. those aren't the things that matter. And try your best to be PRESENT during the day. It flies by, but taking some time to step aside and take it all in is so important! Oh... book Kami as your photographer... DUH! (… I didn’t add that in or tell her to say that, I promise hahahah. - Kami)
Vendors!
Photography: Kami Olavarria
Venue: Ace Hotel & Swim Club Palm Springs
Catering: The Ace
Florals: Studio Kate Floral
Hair + Makeup: Feel Good Spa (The Ace)
Music: Dart Collective
Dess: Maggie Sottero
Grooms Suit: Theory Suit
