Maia and Dylan knew right from the start that they wanted their special day to be lighthearted and fun. They were drawn to Palm Springs for its retro charm and decided to infuse their celebration with retro and Western vibes. With Maia’s passion for horseback riding and Dylan’s background in aerospace engineering, their retro Ace Hotel wedding playfully blended a “Wild West” theme with quirky nods to space.
They started the celebration with an intimate first look and exchanged heartfelt vows privately before their enchanting garden ceremony. The festivities continued with a clubhouse reception, where bursts of vibrant orange, twinkling string lights, and dazzling disco balls set the mood for a night of joyous revelry. They capped off the night with a memorable pool jump, marking the end of a truly spectacular day of love and laughter.
If you’re looking for creative ways to personalize your special day with cohesive and stunning touches, these images by Junebug vendor Carmen Lopez provide all the inspiration you could ask for.
The Couple:
Maia and Dylan
The Wedding:
Ace Hotel, Palm Springs, California, United States
Sharing Quiet Moments and Weathering Wedding Day Surprises
We decided to do a first look and recite our vows privately before the ceremony. It was so meaningful and memorable to see each other in a quiet, calm place, feeling all the emotions wash over us and allowing us to be fully present with each other before any guests arrived. During our ceremony, the wind picked up like crazy. The first guest pulled my veil off my head, and the second knocked our entire backdrop over. Our officiant handled it like a champ, continuing the ceremony flawlessly.
Crafting a Personalized Ceremony Together with Their Officiant
We worked with an incredible officiant, who offers a custom ceremony as one of her options. She interviewed us separately and crafted a ceremony telling our love story. We wrote our vows, which were like love letters to each other. We ended with saying our “I dos,” committing to values like fun and support. We walked down the aisle with our moms to separate songs of our choosing. It felt personal, emotional, happy, and funny, all tied into one short and sweet ceremony.
Budgeting and Planning with Purpose: Staying True to Your Vision
Work together to decide what is important to you as a couple and what is less important. Stay true to this. This will help guide budget and overall planning and ensure your wedding feels like your creation, not what you are supposed to do. If you can, use a wedding planner! Working with Details, Darling was so helpful because she helped us turn vague ideas and how we wanted to feel into a tangible and super special event.
A Personal and Practical Venue Choice for Retro Ace Hotel Wedding
Knowing the vast majority of our guests were flying in from out of town, we wanted to spare them the craziness of LAX. We’ve enjoyed visiting Palm Springs as a couple, and I grew up visiting my grandpa. We were drawn to the Ace Hotel for its laid-back atmosphere, location close to the mountains, and standalone wedding venue. The way it’s set up is super customizable, allowing us to bring our vision to life. And the jump in the venue’s pool at the end of the night.
Traditional Elegance with a Playful Twist to Wedding Beauty
I found this beautiful gown by Flora that feels traditional in some ways (A-line silhouette, balconette neckline) but features a pattern large enough to feel playful. I knew I wanted to do a fun veil for the ceremony and portraits, and I worked with Madison Chamberlain, who does incredible work! We finally nailed the idea of “campy cowgirl chic,” which turned out amazing. I wanted to look glowy and dewy for my makeup, and my eyes wanted to pop. My makeup artist did a fantastic job and nailed it from the trial. I wanted to elevate my style for my hair, and Jen created a beautiful low bun with curly texture on top and chunky braids on both sides.
Customizing Their Wedding Menu with Family Style Dining
Food is essential to us, so we made sure to give guests lots of options. The Ace Hotel offers family-style food as an option, so we chose chicken with mashed potatoes and corn, steak with potatoes and broccolini, and BBQ pulled shiitake with a polenta cake. For dessert, there was a chocolate cake and lemon bars. At about 9 pm, chicken tenders and tater tots came out. Those were a big hit!
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Carmen Lopez
Event Planning – Details, Darling
Ceremony + Reception Venue + Catering – Ace Hotel
Floral Design – Shindig Chic
Cake – Over the Rainbow Desserts
Officiant – Roxanne Hunt
DJ – Alex Harrington
Videography – Amari Productions
Invitation Design – Summit & Sage
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Jen Martens
Wedding Dress – Flora
Bridal Accessories – Madison Chamberlain
Groom’s Apparel – Indochino
Groomsmen’s Apparel – Magnanni
Rings – Tiffany
Rentals – Adore Folklore
Congratulations to Maia and Dylan on their Wild West meets retro space Ace Hotel wedding. Many thanks to Junebug vendor Carmen Lopez for beautifully capturing all the details that showcase their love story. Draw inspiration from stunning weddings like this by checking out her profile in our directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.
This wedding reminds us how important choosing the right venue can be. Your venue sets the stage for a celebration reflecting your personalities as a couple. If you’re just starting to look for a venue, take a look at our ultimate guide to help you find the perfect one.