🌌 If We Eloped in Joshua Tree: A Dreamy Desert Vow Renewal

On the evening of my wedding in 2011, I boarded the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in a flutter of anticipation. Each time the tram car swayed over a support tower, my heart did a little skip of its own. I felt the wind shift through the windows. I smelled the pine trees as we climbed, and I held onto the giddy realization that I was about to marry Shaun. It was the kind of sacred nervousness that only comes once in a lifetime.

I felt radiant—more beautiful than I had in a long time. So much thought had gone into the details: twinkle lights wrapped in blue tulle to represent the stars, adorning our ceremony arch and lining the aisle; florals I arranged myself; hand-picked music and readings. But just before walking down that aisle crowded with strangers, all those details faded into the background. I only hoped my voice would carry loud enough for my vows to be heard—I've always been a quiet speaker.

What I didn’t think to do was hire a wedding photographer. It’s something I regret deeply. We had about 50 guests gathered in that moment of magic, and while Shaun’s aunt did snap some meaningful photos, it wasn’t the same. A professional photographer would’ve captured the way the wind moved through the pines, the glow of our faces, the tiny but powerful beauty of that day.

Elopement in the forest

🌵 When We Renew Our Vows, It’ll Be in Joshua Tree

One day, we’ll do it again—just the five of us. If I were to elope now, it would be somewhere sacred and soulful, like Morning Dove, a vacation rental in Joshua Tree managed by Homestead Modern.

This home is not just beautiful—it’s art, forged from the desert itself. The builders sifted and sorted stones by hand from the land around the home, using them to create layered, textured concrete walls and floors. Even the occasional fallen pebble from the walls feels poetic, like the home is exhaling as it settles into the landscape. It’s modern but grounded, sleek yet soulful. There’s radiant floor heating, a giant rock by the bathtub to perch on while you dry off, and soft guest slippers that make you feel like you’re walking on clouded sand.

It’s a home that holds stories. Ours would feel right there.

💐 Let Someone Else Handle the Flowers This Time

This time around, I’d hand the reins to Alyssa from Desert Rose Creative. She’s a master of florals in the high desert. Her work is both modern and timeless, with arrangements that feel intentional, architectural, and full of life. She’s not only talented, but kind—and deeply trusted in the wedding community here.

🍰 A Family-Sized Dessert Spread

We’d skip the traditional cake in favor of a small dessert smorgasbord, perfect for our sweet-toothed crew. Gluten-free tiramisu is non-negotiable—it’s our favorite. I'd add in a few elegant, allergy-friendly treats so our kids could enjoy every bite. This wouldn’t just be a celebration of love; it would be a celebration of our family—how it began, and how it’s grown.

cupcakes by Patty’s Cakes in Fullerton

✨ The Same Starry Theme, Just More Personal

We’d keep the Starry Night theme. It feels more relevant now than ever. Our kids are named after the cosmos—Jackson’s middle name is Atom, Halley (yes, like Halley’s Comet, not Haley), and Allison's middle name is Miranda, one of Uranus’s most fascinating moons.

We love space. We love science. And we’ve never felt the need to explain that to anyone. That’s one of the beautiful things about elopements and intimate micro weddings—they revolve entirely around what’s meaningful to you. Not trends. Not traditions. Just truth.

🎶 Dancing Under Desert Stars

For music, I imagine a live guitarist playing something evocative and cinematic, like the soundtrack to The Mexican (yes, the one with Brad Pitt). I can see us dancing barefoot under the desert stars, our kids spinning and laughing around us, the breeze wrapping itself around our shoulders. Music drifting as we finish our meal, slow dancing with gratitude in our hearts.

Celestial Invitations

📸 This Time, We’re Capturing Everything

I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. This time, we’ll hire a wedding photographer. We already know who we’d ask—someone who has known our family for years, someone who’s watched our kids grow. There’s something so powerful about having your family photographer document your wedding day. They already know your dynamic, your story, your inside jokes. They’ll see the beauty you don’t even realize you’re showing.

If you're planning a wedding and you already have a family photographer you trust, consider asking if they also photograph weddings. I promise they’ll capture you in the most meaningful way.

Maybe part of why I became a photographer is because I know how it feels when those moments aren’t preserved. I know the ache of the memory without the image—and I never want anyone else to feel that.

💛 When That Day Comes…

We’ll renew our vows under a sky of stars, in the place we love most. We’ll wear our original wedding clothes (yep, they still fit!). We’ll be surrounded by our three kids, our greatest creation. We’ll celebrate what we’ve built and what’s still to come.

And this time? We’ll capture it all.