Matt & Jen – Ace Hotel, Palm Springs, CA
Valentine’s Day is all about love, so what better day for Jen and Matt to be married than a day dedicated to love. Friends and family of the couple gathered on a perfect, sunny southern California day at the Palm Springs Ace Hotel, built on the foundation of a mid-century Howard Johnson Hotel. The hotel has a very simple, modern aesthetic.
With a cute baby bump, Jen walked down the aisle in a flowing, ivory dress to the sounds of an acoustic Bob Dylan song and she and Matt wed under the chuppah just outside the reception hall, called The Commune. The Commune is a 3,000 square foot event space used for meetings, receptions, dinners, weddings and pretty much anything else you can think of. The glass walls open up to a circular pool, an outdoor lounge area, an intimate amphitheater where the ceremony took place, and views of the mountains. It’s a unique setting that transforms from a room surrounded by glass walls on three sides to a roofed structure completely open to the outside air. We took some pictures of the amazing architecture.
The feel of the night was earthy and green (environmentally speaking). Flowers were simple, reflecting the desert ambiance, with yellow and purple cacti, in glass jars filled with sand, seeds, and pebbles. A towering chocolate cake was also accented in yellow flowers, as were the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets. A family style dinner was served and one thing that stood out at this wedding was the strong family spirit. It was clearly a family affair, with about 15 little ones under the age of 3, and kid-friendly touches like a basket full of toys and 10 or so highchairs. It was a laid back occasion, all about love. The toasts made by friends and family where romantic and funny, full of slice-of-life stories from Jen and Matt’s childhood and adult years. A band from the Los Angeles area, I See Hawks In L.A. , rocked the stage with a country, bluegrass, Americana, rock sound and even played their rendition of “Hava Nagila” for the chair dance. Wedding diva’s, Cathy and Dorry of Celebrations of Joy!, created this one-of-a-kind wedding that centered around the couple’s personal touches.
The SoCal ShutterBooth photo booth was the source of many smiles and a whole lotta’ laughter at Jen and Matt’s wedding. Check out the photos in our ShutterYou event gallery!