Pioneertown Weddin'

This is the just kind of wedding that makes me want to get married again.... Sweet and simple, with a really sexy backdrop.

Here are a few words from the lovely bride:

We always knew that we wanted a semi-elopement, handmade, un-cookie-cutter-style wedding and after getting engaged in Joshua Tree last year, knew it was the perfect location and we would never find anything similar in the UK. We never had a wedding style/theme/scheme in mind but the desert encapsulates everything we love -- country, psychedelic weirdness, good BBQ and Californian hospitality, with not an English country garden in sight. 

We had the most surreal and magical day with our closest friends and family, as well as the amazing people who helped bring the day together.

(Photos by Rad + In Love. See more images + get all the dets over on their blog)

Jonathan's Badass Bachelor Party: BBQ, Paintball + Ceremony of Losing One's Nads

The cast of characters:

My brother-in-law Carlos, who is insane, was the demented SOB that planned the party. Although I had plenty of input. The guys who attended were the slime of the earth. The complete underbelly of society. My brother (Captain Jerk) and my soon-to-be-uncle-in-law (Father Costanzo), Luis "the Judge" Gonzales, my friends Tim, Joel, and Mario. Carlos brought a couple of his wacky friends, including a Japanese exchange student called James Bond who barely spoke English and turned out to be a mean shot with a splatter gun. 

The attire:

Those jerk-offs were not allowed on the van without a costume. I wore my bride-to-be's sparkle leggings, a Scottish tartan & a tuxedo top. My evening wear was inspired by a character I used to do back in my acting days. 

The activities:

BBQ breakfast, Paintball, The Ceremony of Losing One's Nads at my former bachelor pad. (It was a ceremony to give peace to my penis, one that marked the changing hands of control from myself to my wife.) Afterward, we headed to Tonga Room and to El Compadre. We ended the night at Sam's Hofbrau, as you do.

Photos by Melissa Ryan of Marble Rye.* (Check out more images from Jonathan's bachelor extravaganza here and here.)


*FYIZ: Melissa just launched a #WHYWEDTHEDESERT contest over on her site. If you're planning to get married in Joshua Tree (or might be persuaded to scrap your current plans in order to do so), she wants to take your photos for free.

J-tree here we come

I'm pretty sure Afton posted these photos just for me.

H and I are headed to Joshua Tree for a few days with my dad and his lady, and we've been trying -- without complete success -- to explain the rock and roll legacy of the place, which centers around Gram Parsons (obviously) but also Keith Richards.

Everything comes back to Keith Richards, no? I mean, LOOK AT THAT HAIR. Anita Pallenberg's hair is pretty good too.

(Photos by Michael Cooper circa 1969 via F/F via MS.MS.)

If you want to get married in Joshua Tree....

(Or even if you're just planning a vacation....)

Go directly to the Desert Fete approved Joshua Tree wedding resource list.

Lady knows what she's talking about.

p.s. I can add one more resource. H and I spent three nights at the Quail Mountain House last fall, and I NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE.

(Polis by Michelle Pullman)

karaoke wedding reception?

Dear ESB,  

please weigh in! 

so we have many vocally talented friends, and a few that are professional musicians. while we're not too keen on picking any one (or set) of them to be our wedding band (we want them to be partying with us!) for our joshua tree outdoor campfire kinda reception-idea,  we thought getting a karaoke machine - with a long list of pre-selected songs - could be a really fun way to include everyone. i can also see how this could go possibly terribly wrong. . .   thoughts? 

thanks!

LOVE!

-NorthEastside Bride

*****

Mkay. In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I hate karaoke. I mean, I'm willing to go to a dive bar/bowling alley that features karaoke for, say, a bachelorette party, but a new year's eve party I attended this year was hampered, in my opinion, by a retarded match of Karaoke Revolution that required those of us in the other room to turn our music off.

Here's what I think. Karaoke could be really fun late night. But if you bring it out too soon there is a serious danger you will scare off the people who have a) no interest in singing and/or b) no interest in hearing the "vocally talented" people sing. (Also... Professional musicians might really rather bring along guitars or whatever than sing along with a fucking machine.)

xoxo,

ESB

Photo by Michelle Pullman

p.s. You guys have sent me so many good questions, and I plan to answer them all, I swear. But feel free harass me if any of them are time sensitive.

a fabulous desert fete

The kick-ass desert bride snuck me more polaroids from her much-anticipated (by me) Joshua Tree wedding.

Let's hear it for the dress. And the groom. And the dress. Don't make me choose.

Let's also hear it for Michelle Pullman, the killer non-wedding-photographer photographer.

I must admit, this is the shooting style I prefer. I'm curious to see what my own wedding photos look like. Someday.

a desert bride got married

I'm keeping an anxious eye on her blog for pictures of the much-debated Joshua Tree wedding dress.

(Image from here)