Historic Cree Estate Wedding

We can’t imagine anywhere better to transport ourselves on a Monday morning than Palm Springs. Today’s wedding from Flora + Fauna, The Events Department, and David Rohr takes us to the uniquely chic celebration of Emily and Nima, who brought together tradition and untraditional ideas for a day that was perfectly tailored to the couple.

From the bride, Emily: We wanted to create an atmosphere that felt very welcoming and uniquely ours. We chose the Cree Estate as it is a private home where we could plan the wedding exactly to our liking without any constraints as to which vendors we selected, where we set up the event, etc. It was truly a space to make our own! We aspired for a natural outdoor setting but added a touch of charm and romance with beautiful long wooden tables and overhead string lighting.

We also made sure it was a hybrid American and Persian wedding as the groom was Persian. We wanted to take elements of both cultures so you may see some pictures of the sofreh, which is a customary table the bride and groom sits down at with many symbolic objects mostly signifying a life of happiness and sweetness. The venue is so beautiful on its own that we did not want to overdo it with anything taking away from its natural beauty. The old Spanish stucco house is very charming, but it is truly the luscious grounds that stick out which are covered with beautiful bright flowers and many types of cacti. We added string lights to bring a romantic look to the evening, but other than that the natural landscape was all we needed.

We made our place cards double as favors and gave each guest a mini succulent with their name and table setting indicated on a small card. We ordered the succulents on Amazon and enlisted the help of our friend Meg who has elegant handwriting to provide her calligraphy services for an afternoon. The total time in preparation was under two hours and less than $250 for 175 guests. We also purchased some fun props to bring an element of fun to the setting. We bought the large inflatable swans, orcas and flamingos for the pool. We also purchased a fog machine and lasers so the late night dance party photos could be extra fun!

A Tuscan Inspired Wedding with Pastel Hues at California’s Filoli Gardens

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Book all the essential vendors as soon as you have decided on the location and look and feel of the wedding. Then don’t do anything of the little planning until three months before the wedding, as no matter how much pre-planning you do, you will still be busy right before. So take some time to have a lull in planning and enjoy the engagement period!