Stacey and Brian’s Moorten Botanical Garden wedding is making us believe that there is not a more special combination than vintage style and desert landscapes! Not only did this creative bride source her dress and all of the wedding party looks from thrift stores and vintage shops, but she also made all of the floral arrangments, sourced from a local flower market. The overall vibe was carefree and whimsical, which truly allowed every emotion to flow freely and openly from beginning to end. The cactus-filled venue was the most perfect backdrop for the authentically retro look the couple created and made for some seriously romantic portraits captured by Samantha Dean Photography!

The Couple:

Stacey and Brian

The Wedding:

Moorten Botanical Garden, Palm Springs, California

We DIY-ed all our flowers, sourced from the Los Angeles flower market! I did a practice run for the flower crown and got some advice from a friend who had done wedding florals previously. It was super economical, and I loved how large we were able to make the bouquets. I would definitely do my own flowers again!

We were going for a casual vintage look for our bridal party. My wedding dress was a gorgeous true vintage lace bell sleeve 1970s gown that I bought online without trying on. It didn’t require any alterations, and it was literally exactly what I had imagined! I also sourced all of the bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen vests from online vintage shops or thrift stores. Though this took some extra time, I loved the mismatched look. It was quite economical, as well!

Bridal Party Processional – “Starlight” by Amanda Cook
Bride’s Entrance – “Pieces” by Amanda Cook
Recessional – “You Make Me Brave” by Bethel Worship“You Make Me Brave” by Bethel Worship

Advice from the bride: Provide a printed schedule for everyone that is helping out/involved for the day of the wedding, making sure to allow extra time for transitions. Also, spread out tasks among multiple people, even close friends who are not a part of the wedding party. Even if you don’t hire a wedding planner (we didn’t), we highly recommend a day-of coordinator!

Advice from the groom: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Planning a wedding on our own and Stacey finishing her Ph.D. at the same time was not an easy combination. Things take longer than you might think!

Congratulations to Stacey and Brian, and a special thanks to Samantha Dean Photography for sharing this Moorten Botanical Garden wedding! Want to see more garden wedding magic? This minimalist garden wedding at Terrain at Styer’s is exactly what your Pinterest has been waiting for!