Though people often think of deserts as hot and barren, the soft shades naturally found in the plant life in this climate are in fact a great fit for the romantic pastels so popular in weddings today. Desert settings can be a good fit for a variety of styles for your celebration, but the dry landscape hosting events like Burning Man and the Coachella music festival makes boho-chic aesthetics feel like a natural fit. 

For a styled shoot that was both edgy and whimsical, Ilana Rosenberg of Ilana Ashley Events, along with the creative team of vendors, added vintage furniture and the elegance of rose gold details to a desert garden. The pale tones and varying textures of the cacti were utilized to add a unique style to a wedding that would usually only feature flowers. Cacti served as an inspiration throughout different aspects of the shoot. As Ilana explains, “To echo the tall saguaro cacti, we chose an unstructured lace dress with gorgeous natural draping. The rose gold crystal-encrusted ovals of the bride’s headband mirrored the round pads of the prickly pear cactus, and the deep greens of the plants added depth and dimension to the groom’s charcoal grey suit.”

The tablescape featured rose gold artichokes to hold place cards, and both wooden and velvet chairs added to the eclectic style. Exotic flowers such as coral orchids and protea blooms were a focal point among the cacti and succulents. The understated ceremony altar highlighted the natural beauty of the surroundings, rather than distracting with a lush structure of flowers. A modern lounge was created with a soft Moroccan rug, vintage wicker chairs, and a marble tic-tac-toe game atop a golden midcentury coffee table.

“Our Desert Garden shoot showcased a more expansive idea of beauty. We incorporated a plant that is usually seen as hard, prickly and untouchable with unexpected details and a unique color palette of rose gold and brilliant greens,” Ilana shares. “By transforming this plant into a soft and whimsical element, this styled shoot became perfect for the imaginative and modern-day bride and groom.” A vintage Rolls Royce draped in a garland of succulents and greenery made for the perfect getaway vehicle.