Lauren and Robert’s desert wedding at The Ruin Venue was boho minimalism at its absolute finest! With the help of Heartthrob Weddings and Events, they brought their at-home style into the desert with vintage furniture, organic textiles, neutral florals from Tropic of Flowers, and tons of greenery. In keeping with the boho-chic vibe, Lauren chose a dramatic Rue De Seine gown and delicate flower crown, and her girls donned neutral Show Me Your Mumu that complemented her look beautifully! Between the bride arriving at the ceremony in a vintage car, the golden hour portraits, and the plate smashing at the reception, there were so many unforgettable moments that Sarah Linda Photography captured brilliantly!

The Couple:

Lauren and Robert

The Wedding:

The Ruin Venue, Joshua Tree, California

When planning our wedding, the most important factor for us was finding a great venue that reflected who we are as a couple and giving our family and friends an experience they’d never had before.

The most memorable part of the day was seeing all our family and friends in one place together to celebrate our special day. We had guests from England, Canada, Hong Kong, Cayman Islands, and Australia, so being reunited with everybody was an unbelievable feeling.

Wedding Party Processional – “Heart of Life” by John Mayer
Bride’s Processional – “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
Recessional – “Better Together” by Jack Johnson

We had always dreamed of a beach wedding but when it came time to planning, it just didn’t feel like “us”. We wanted something that was unique, had a stunning neutral backdrop and really spoke to the overall vibe that we were trying to achieve. After doing some additional research, Rob stumbled upon our venue and said: “I think I’ve found the perfect place”. We were living in Canada at the time, so during a work trip, he traveled to Yucca Valley to visit the site, and I trusted his instinct. We booked it on the spot. It wasn’t until we moved to California, that I had a chance to go up and view the venue. He was right; it was perfect!

Our wedding vibe was a reflection of our own style at home and everything we love. We’d almost describe it as “boho minimalism.” The backdrop gave us a beautiful neutral canvas that we then complimented with organic greens, vintage furniture, and Kilim patterns. We didn’t overdo it, as we wanted to backdrop to speak for itself.

Our wedding favors were Mexican Blankets. The desert gets cold at night, so we wanted something practical that guests could use during the night but also take home with them to remember the special event.

We cannot say enough about our beautiful photographer, Sarah! She is so talented. Rob and I are not natural in front of the camera, so were a little nervous that we’d look very posed and stiff. Sarah took us out for an engagement session to get us used to the camera but also to get to know her better as a person and her style of photography. That made all the difference! The day of the wedding, she came with her husband so they were able to photograph both parties and to capture every moment. She guided us through the whole process and made it so incredibly easy. We are beyond happy with the photographs and are also very glad we got to meet such a wonderful person. She fit into our wedding party so well, and it was meant to be!

From the event planner: Lauren and Robert wanted to combine their Greek heritage (so many plates to smash!) with their love of desert color palettes, white, and minimalism. Lauren is an interior designer and had some amazing ideas to work with the already gorgeous Joshua Tree landscape. Guests were treated to branded coconuts, and the bride came down the aisle in a vintage Speedster with her father!

Congratulations to Lauren and Robert, and a big thanks to Heartthrob Weddings and Events for sharing this beautiful wedding at The Ruin Venue with Junebug! Looking for more desert wedding inspiration? You have to see this intimate southwestern desert wedding at Moab Under Canvas!