At once modern and rugged, elegant and understated, this intimate Amangiri elopement is proof that creating beautiful designs in the most remote places is always well worth it.
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Willowhouse, Terlingua, TX
A Few of Our Favorite Micro Weddings at Willow House
Francesa and Marco’s Wedding
This earthy and romantic micro-wedding at the Willow House was destined to stand out from the start. When Francesa and Marco reached out to us, they knew they wanted a small and intimate desert wedding. After cancelling their original pre-COVID plans to have a 300 person wedding in the Philippines, these two romantics knew there was a bigger purpose - and they trusted us completely to design an earthy, sophisticated micro-wedding in West Texas.
We put our full heart into bringing this day to life. We went from 95 degrees to a full on storm with massive wind gusts, lightning strikes and rain cover, and this was by far one of my favorite weddings we’ve ever been a part of.
For our color palette, we leaned into earthy colors and textures to accentuate the gentle, muted tones of Terlingua’s natural landscape. We chose natural linen hues to blend with the mountains and desert earth. And we loved finding unique, warm neutrals to bring in the darker tones of the surrounding canyons, then pairing them with blush accents to mirror desert sunsets - every detail intentionally blurs the line between natural setting and constructed design to create a raw, organic feel.
We knew Francesa and Marco trusted us to create a completely unique and personal micro-wedding experience, so we designed a non-traditional ceremony site set in a field of ocotillo. We built a freestanding ceremony installation with raw wood pillar stacks at different heights to make sure we didn’t obstruct the view of the mountains, and we worked closely with Open Road Florals to create large, unique floral arrangements with desert textures.
We designed the reception tables with the same level of care, arranging delicate pebbles to line the guests’ place settings and complement the organic surroundings. The clay set floral arrangements and the natural raw linens amplified the luxury desert design. And instead of traditional place setting chargers, we draped blush organic linen across the table from setting to setting to create an opposite runner effect.
This earthy and romantic Willow House destination wedding reminded us that destination can mean anything you want it to. It’s your day. Even with a rare thunderstorm that sent guests running for shelter mid-reception, this wedding ended up being one of our favorite desert weddings of all time, and in the words of the bride, “it was even more us than we ever could’ve hoped.”
Photo: Jordan VothVenue: Willow HouseDesign and styling: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Open Road FloralsHair and makeup: Hello Flawless ArtistryRentals: Loot Rentals / Nuage DesignsWedding dress boutique: Winnie Couture. Kathleen and Thomas’ Wedding
Even the smallest gathering can be extravagant, and Kathleen and Thomas’ luxury micro wedding at Willow House is no exception. Grounded in the rugged, arid landscape of West Texas, Willow House is a perfect destination wedding venue for couples seeking to unplug and embrace the wild natural beauty of the American Southwest.
As a couple who spent much of the pandemic traveling to remote AirBnbs and unique desert locations, Willow House felt like the perfect for this intimate destination wedding. Kathleen and Thomas fell in love with the venue’s thoughtfully designed casitas with unobstructed views of the Chisos Mountain Range, and we couldn’t have been more honored to design a luxurious, desert wedding in this space.
For their ceremony, we wanted to amplify the remote feeling of being in the middle of the desert by creating a unique and low-profile custom arch installation. Every detail was inspired by the surrounding desert landscape: we tucked desert elements and grasses around the ceremony aisle and seating to create a lush, organic feeling. And the ceremony installation juxtaposed jagged natural rock with soft sage and ivory blooms, creating a natural and elevated feel that mirrored the surrounding ocotillos, blooming upward in the harsh desert landscape.
After the ceremony, we elevated the minimalism of the desert landscape with modern ambiance. Clusters of pillar candles, quartzite atop the bar, branches placed throughout the tablescape – all of these details felt so in tune with desert surroundings. And for the reception dinner, we designed a luxury, neutral tablescape styled with stone tableware, ivory and sage linens, smoke colored glassware and matte black flatware to add an elegance and softness without competing with the desert surroundings.
This authentic and intimate destination micro wedding was all about creating magic in the middle of nowhere, our specialty. And we loved every second of it.
Photo: Dionne Kraus PhotographyVenue: Willow HouseDesign and styling: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Color Theory Design CoVideo: Goodco StudiosRentals: Loot Rentals Paper goods: Wildhouse InkLet us plan your dream day
Click the link below to learn more about our wedding planning services
Le Chacuel, Joshua Tree, CA
As luxury wedding designers, we challenged ourselves to explore the intersection of Wabi Sabi and bridal design at Le Chacuel.
Carisa Wedding Bridals
This Wabi Sabi editorial bridal shoot started with a feeling. So many bridal shoots are designed around a dress or a key design statement piece, but after spending a year at home learning how to create a sense of place that makes you feel something, we started to question what it could look like if we brought the life we cultivate internally to serve our work externally.
What if we designed based on a feeling?
What if we started with something not very bridal at all, and leaned into a minimal, Wabi Sabi aesthetic?
What if we created a bridal shoot in conversation with a place in nature?
As luxury wedding designers, we challenged ourselves to explore the intersection of Wabi Sabi and bridal design at Le Chacuel: a luxury eight acre property set in nature in the heart of the desert.
From the moment we saw this romantic luxury spa and home we knew this was the perfect place for a Wabi Sabi bridal shoot. Inside, the space boasts floor to ceiling glass sliding doors that open up to views of Pipes Canyon canyon, and the minimalist, high-end terrazzo materials and smooth finishes throughout make this place one of understated beauty in nature, a true example of Wabi Sabi in practice. Outside, the property features a streamlined salt water pool, a hot tub, a luxury outdoor shower and a deck with unrivaled views rolling mountains filled wild cacti and thousands of Joshua trees.
This Wabi Sabi shoot embodies luxury in simplicity. For brides looking to plan a modern elopement in Joshua Tree, this shoot is a perfect example of how you can be both effortless and sexy. Simple and luxurious.
There is something so moving about bringing luxury to the desert, and we made sure every design detail amplified the understated beauty of this modern Joshua Tree retreat. Blue Pansy Floral created sparse, minimalist arrangements that elevated the textures of surrounding blooms and cacti. The tablescape featured neutral handmade ceramics from local Joshua Tree shops, high-end chiffon and linen fabrics, and luxe candles from The Floral Society.
The bridal fashion followed suit, with a rotation of sophisticated, minimalist looks including a vintage linen poolside coverup, a modern dress from Lovely Bride LA, and a luxury silk pantsuit. As we moved throughout the space to experience simple luxuries by the pool to a freestanding ceremony set up to a timeless modern tablescape, every detail worked in tandem to create a Wabi Sabi inspired place that you feel - a place that feels like full of natural elegance, perfect for a bride on her wedding day.
Venue: Le Chacuel
Design, Styling and Coordination: Mae&Co Creative
Photo: Anni Graham
Florals: Blue Pansy Floral
HMU: Delta Ibeaute and Riri Roya
Dress: Lovely Bride LA
If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
The Griffin House, Columbia Gorge, OR
At Mae&Co Creative, we believe it’s imperative to incorporate location in anything we create. Our design is always rooted in a sense of place.
Caitlyn & Jerimiah’s Wedding
At Mae&Co Creative, we believe it’s imperative to incorporate location in anything we create. Our design is always rooted in a sense of place. That’s part of what makes our style and vision for your wedding day so unique. Whether that’s bringing in the natural elements with tabletop styling or choosing colors that with blend in or stand out just right, the setting always anchors design.
For this ceremony in the Columbia River Gorge, we couldn’t wait to design a completely monochromatic palette that would not only stand out amongst the greens but also enhance the natural beauty of the location. In our soft ivory design, nothing is fighting each other, nothing feels out of place and it’s perfect.
The Griffin House served as the perfect backdrop for this earthy and ethereal wedding design. The ceremony space features sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge, one of Oregon’s most dramatic landscapes. This location isn’t without its challenges though, as our team had to create a thoughtful design that could withstand 70mph wind gusts like a champ... without one lace detail or one flower straying out of place.
Our amazing team of vendors made this day possible. Noble Floral Co. created a stunning arch design, bringing to life our visit to use only one color flower for an elegant, high end design. The design rentals added to the day’s elegance, with diamond flutes, crystal glassware, and white linens. Every detail amplified the monochromic design, including the luxury stationary from Evergreen Ink.
We love that this design shows how intentional color design can amplify a stunning natural backdrop. This earthy, monochromatic design was the perfect fit for this Columbia Gorge destination wedding. And if you’re looking for unique ways to elevate an outdoor setting, we hope you find inspiration from this unique design!
Venue: Griffin House
Design, Styling and Coordination: Mae&Co Creative
Photo: Sarah Olivia Photo
Florals: Noble Floral Co.
HMU: NW Makeup and Hair
Dessert: Dawn Nelson
Paper Goods: Evergreen Ink
Rentals: Party Place PDX, Nuage Designs inc. , and Royce’s Prop Shop
If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
The Paseo, Phoenix, AZ
It’s no secret, the desert is our muse, and we loved designing this upscale, earthy wedding at the Paseo venue in Phoenix Arizona.
Styled Wedding Shoot
It’s no secret, the desert is our muse, and we loved designing this upscale, earthy wedding at the Paseo venue in Phoenix Arizona.
The Paseo is an exclusive, luxury venue surrounded by the picturesque Sonoran Desert. This romantic and completely private outdoor Arizona wedding venue is the perfect setting for an intimate celebration, and we couldn’t wait to plan and design a wedding in this space framed by the beautiful Superstition Mountains.
As luxury Arizona wedding designers, we were instantly inspired by the upscale, outdoor venue and we wanted to create a modern, earthy design that elevated the natural surroundings. At Mae&Co, we believe inspiration should always be the base for your designs, and we leaned in to the stunning golden hour warmth at this venue. Our colors palette incorporates beige, gold, and burnt sienna tones to accent the surrounding mountain terrain, along with blush and mauve highlights to add a sophisticated, modern feel.
The ceremony and reception floral installations from Flora were a perfect addition to the couture linens and distinctive furnishings we sourced for this wedding. While the colors matched the Sonoran desert landscape, we loved playing with different textures to add depth an contrast to our design - and the ivory velvet and gold metal frame chairs from Prim Rentals added a perfect touch of glam to this understated Phoenix wedding venue. Think upscale desert vibes with an earthy twist!
After the bride and groom exchanged their vows with the Superstitions as their witness, the couple wandered through the pristine desert to enjoy a moment alone while savoring the natural Sonoran desert views. And as the sunset started to spill over this modern Arizona wedding venue, guests were invited into the Paseo venue pavilion space where a tablescape filled with golden detail to match the golden hour light. Plus, we loved adding in ornate golden flatware, clay colored candles and accents, and stunning snow colored and mauve linens - all working in tandem to create a cohesive design inspired by the Paseo venue’s surrounding landscape.
Venue: The Paseo
Design, Styling & Coordination: Mae&Co Creative
Photo: Kraff Photos
Florals: Flora
HMU: Urbanista Weddings
Dress: Sarah Seven from Lovely Bride Phoenix
Rentals: Prim Rentals, Gigi & Jack Co., and Nuage Designs inc.
If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
Easton Broad, Portland, OR
Styled Wedding Shoot
Industrial wedding venues have been trendy for a couple of a years, but we still believe that minimalist industrial spaces are the perfect imaginative, transportive canvas for a modern bride. If you’re inspired by editorial beauty and minimalist architecture, you’ll love this unique industrial wedding.
Designed at Easton Broad, a sleek industrial city space, we designed this wedding to be modern, cool, and organic. Taking full advantage of the expansive space, we created unique ceremony, reception, and champagne tower set ups.
In the ceremony space, we designed a unique fabric installation. We created a loose, organic feel by layering and crossing the draping material to evoke a cool, editorial look. To amplify the sparse, modern feel, the floral design incorporated striking, white bare branches throughout, with luxurious orchid blooms.
In the reception space, we created a design inspired by rich, luxurious textures. The simplified cream, ivory, and neutral color palette highlights the striking textures of the soft chiffon runner, the wooden vessels filled with lunaria, and the clear ribbed glassware. The concrete canvas of the industrial space was the perfect backdrop to keep the colors muted and understated, minimal and dramatic.
And to add a unique, modern twist to the ceremony space we created a champagne fountain to create a sense of decadence — paired with French macaroons for dessert!
We love that this design shows that a minimal, industrial space is the perfect canvas for a luxurious modern bride. And if you’re looking for a simple yet striking industrial affair, we hope you find inspiration from this unique design!
Venue: Easton Broad
Design, styling & coordination: Mae&Co Creative
Photo: Vic & Josh
Florals: Selva Floral
HMU: Make Me Up Cyn
Dessert: Hedonish Desserts
Paper goods: State of Reverie Studio
Rentals: Great Jones NW and Nuage Designs inc.
If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
Private Beach, Aruba
Jess & Dylan’s Wedding
We started our 2021 wedding season off right with a unique and tropical micro wedding in Aruba. When Jess and Dylan (the sweetest couple) came to us to help them create a destination elopement in the Caribbean, we immediately got to work working with local vendors and started designing a modern and elegant beachside wedding.
And even though we felt confident and ready to bring this day to life (we’re big believers in our well-oiled systems we’ve put in place!) this destination wedding in Aruba had a LOT of unexpected twists and turns! But it is always so worth it to see our couples have the best day of their lives, exactly the way they hoped it would be.
Our sweet bride told us: “With a six month timeframe and a little questionnaire you were able to make my destination full service elopement a walk in the park…I don’t think you could have made things any easier for us. Mae&Co went above and beyond for us even more than I knew on our special day.”
While our couple was getting ready, our incredible vendor team setup and tore down everything three times that day due to a sudden change in Aruba’s beach party policies. But at the end of the day, our couple walked down the aisle to a stunning custom-built, white wood chuppah frame with hanging lanterns and large floral installations. Then they sat down to enjoy a dinner with their closest friends and family. The modern and elegant table design featured a dusty rose runner with shaved coconut candle holders and lush, tropical floral installs and lanterns overhead.
Despite all odds, we made it happen and the day was perfect. We absolutely love what we do, so whether you’re up against challenging weather, or you’re overwhelmed planning a destination wedding, we’re committed to helping our clients experience their day without having to sweat a single detail. So if you’re looking for a dream team of in-house planners, designers, coordinators and stylists to make sure your wedding day goes smoothly, we hope you’ll trust us to bring your destination wedding to life!
Design, styling and coordination: Mae&Co Creative
Photo and Video: Karra Leigh Photo
Florals: Good Seed Floral
Catering and Rentals: The Little One Aruba
If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
Autocamp Yosemite, Midpines, CA
A Few of Our Favorite Weddings at Autocamp Yosemite
Yosemite is one of those places that never loses its striking grandeur — the place is an experience in itself. This iconic National Park is well known for its dramatic viewpoints, like Glacier and Taft Point, but the park is filled with lesser-known elopement locations in the valley too. If your dream day includes hiking to waterfalls and exploring majestic natural beauty, let us help you plan an adventurous wedding experience in Yosemite —and let’s start with finding the perfect basecamp.
One of the best lodging options near Yosemite National Park is Autocamp: a new experience-based accommodation rental. Autocamp Yosemite is conveniently close to the park entrance, giving you the freedom to spend the day hiking, climbing, or exploring the park. The modern space stands in sharp contrast to so many of the rustic cabins in Yosemite Valley. This boutique lodging experience offers sleek airstreams, minimalist cabins, and glamping tents, and their warm, mid-century modern clubhouse is the perfect Yosemite wedding venue. With a lower lawn and flexible wedding set up locations, we love the modern, versatile design of Autocamp Yosemite.
Brian & Lindsay’s Micro Wedding
From the very beginning, Brian and Lindsay knew that they wanted to do things differently, and they were looking for something that was unique and authentic to their relationship. Yosemite was the first place they traveled together, and we knew that planning an intimate micro wedding at Autocamp Yosemite would be the perfect fit for these two adventurers.
While we’ve styled and designed many weddings in Yosemite, this experience was completely unique. A week before Lindsay and Brian’s micro wedding, Yosemite shut down due to hazardous smoke, and because Yosemite was operating with a limited visitor capacity and a permit system, the park was so still and quiet. We planned and replanned (as stylists and planners often do behind the scenes!) to bring this intimate wedding to life despite all odds for our couple. And at the end of the day, everything turned out exactly as it was meant to be. In a traditionally busy season, Brian and Lindsay ended up having one of the most iconic vista points in Yosemite, Tunnel View, to themselves without another soul in site.
These two spend the morning saying their vows and exploring the park in complete privacy. After a day of adventure, they ended their night celebrating at Autocamp with their closest friends. We wanted to create a space that took full advantage of Autocamp’s beautiful, modern property, so we designed unique areas for the guests to enjoy throughout the property. After a casual happy hour, the guests wandered down the slopes to the lower lawn to find styled lounge areas and an intimate dinner tablescape.
The tablescape colors were inspired by the fall bloom in Yosemite’s valley. Rust, ochre, sand, and blush colors elevated the golden magic of the surrounding landscape, creating a sensation that the wedding venue flowed seamlessly into the neighboring national park.
To create an intimate, upscale design, we used string lights to illuminate the long farm table dinner. The tablescape design featured modern gold rimmed chargers and dinner plates, brass flatware, amber goblets, and rust colored napkins, to integrate with the surrounding colors of Yosemite valley. The design was simple and understated, with florals filling ceramic bud vases and candlesticks standing tall in their modern brass holders. And after the sun went down, the lights illuminated a desert disco dance party — the only way to celebrate having the park and a beautiful Yosemite wedding venue completely to themselves for this national park micro wedding.
Photography: Anni Graham
Design & Styling: Mae&Co Creative
Venue: Autocamp Yosemite
Rentals: Standard Party Rentals and Charming Treasures
Catering: Chef Melissa
If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
Kima Tulum, Quinta Roo, Mexico
A Few of our Favorite Weddings in Tulum
Kima Tulum is an under-the-radar jungle oasis just outside of Tulum’s city center. This modern villa is located on a sprawling private estate, a world apart from the energetic hustle of Tulum, but still close enough to enjoy the city’s crystal blue beaches. This off-grid wedding venue is a design-lover’s dream come true: the beautiful, white-washed walls give the exterior a warm, Mediterranean feel, while the interiors blend Ibizan style and rich Mayan culture with natural, locally sourced materials.
This Tulum venue offers a perfect alfresco setting for a destination wedding, featuring rich jungle greens and vibrant textures throughout the idyllic space. And with three luxurious guest suites, a stunning lap pool, and private gardens throughout the property, you’re able to enjoy a completely private stay and keep the party going long after you’ve said “I do.”
Katherine & Daniel’s Wedding
Earthy, modern, sophisticated, unique — this stunning destination elopement at Kima Tulum was all of those things and more.
To create a one-of-a-kind luxury wedding at this completely off-grid and remote venue we created a unique color palette that would play off the rich, jungle greens. Using Kima Tulum as our inspiration, we worked with Best Day Ever Floral Design to incorporate bold, dark grey, blues throughout the floral elements and tablescape to create contrast against the greenery in Tulum while complimenting the cool, modern lines of the venue. And to play up the earthy feels of Tulum, we sourced unique, soft black rentals from Archive Rentals to help modernize our palette. With black fringe chargers at every table setting, muted black taper holders, dark rattan-style hanging lanterns, and black-framed wishbone chairs, we loved incorporating a dark accent to make the design pop.
We utilized the venue’s locally-sourced wood tables for the elopement reception, but we added our own touch of intimacy by adding overhead string lighting and hanging pendants to illuminate and elevate our dinner nook. And with added terracotta, brass, and sand tablescape details, all of the tablescape design elements worked together to create a romantic intimate vibe — perfectly capturing the warm feel of an evening under the stars in Tulum’s coastal jungle.
Photography: Kape Photography / Design & Styling: Mae&Co Creative / Venue: Kima Tulum / Florals: Best Day Ever Floral Design / Officiant: Pastor Noe / Hair & Makeup: Prep Tulum
Paulina & Gabe’s Wedding
This destination wedding at Kima Tulum was so special, because it was not easy to get to. After months of planning, venue changes, replanning, and so many pivots in the face of a global pandemic, Paulina and Gabe’s jungle wedding at this off-grid resort ended up feeling exactly like it was meant to be.
For Paulina and Gabe, we love the unique challenge of creating a wedding design that would contrast the jungle while complimenting it at the same time. We built a custom modern, minimalist frame for the ceremony backdrop, providing a sense of structure against the wild and lush jungle background. While the rigid shape of the arch worked in contrast to the wild feel of the jungle, the dark wood complemented the natural setting perfectly. To build on the idea of our design working in contrast and in tandem with the jungle setting, we worked with Best Day Ever Floral Design to juxtapose bleached and fresh palms, creating a unique ceremony design.
For the reception, we drew our inspiration from Kima Tulum: a luxury wedding venue in the heart of an off-grid setting. A place completely unexpected, and completely enchanting. We believe intimate romance can be found in this most exotic places, so we wanted to elevate the magic this secret Todos Santos wedding venue by making the reception to look like it grew out of the jungle. All of the florals on the tablescape are inspired by the jungle. And to elevate the wild, jungle feel we dusty pink and soft coral colors throughout the modern tablescape design — matching the bold colors of the tropical anthuriums. We loved playing with height and dimension for this design too, choosing tall taper candles to match the oversized palms. We loved every detail of this intimate reception design, from the pink crystal glassware to the rattan fringe chargers, from the string lights to the modern place settings, everything worked in tandem to set the tone for a perfect evening under the stars dancing to a local mariachi band.
We work hard for our clients. From a complete replan and postponements to the completely remote venue, from the hurricane and storms rolling through the city to building structures in the middle of the jungle, we mean it when we say you won’t have to worry about a thing on your wedding day. We’re so thankful for our clients who trust us 110% to plan, design, coordinate, and take care of them — even in the most remote and hidden places.
Photography: Monique Serra Photography
Design & Styling: Mae&Co Creative
Venue: Kima Tulum
Florals: Best Day Ever Floral Design
Officiant: Pastor Noe
Rentals: Archive Rentals
Live Music: Mariachi Tulum
DJ: Pure Pulse
If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
Top 5 Desert Wedding Venues
We love a desert venue. As destination wedding planners, we’ve travelled all over the globe to design and style elopements and celebrations, but we have a special place in our heart for modern desert weddings. We love the vastness of the desert. We love the way the moon rises to create a canvas between the earth and sky - it’s the perfect backdrop for a unique, luxury wedding. We love the versatility of the desert, too, as the textures and landscapes inspire different designs based on the venue, location, couple, etc. So whether you’re planning a luxurious, sophisticated party for 200 guests or a small, minimalist celebration for two, here are our top five places for an intimate and bougie desert wedding.
Amangiri
Amangiri is a 5 star, luxury resort that lies within 600-acres of private desert wilderness in Southern Utah. The modern and simplistic architecture of this hotel venue features clean lines, natural materials and uninterrupted views of the surrounding desert and mesas. But Amangiri is more than a luxury hotel, it’s a staggering landscape of canyons, mesas, mountains, and desert with so many unique locations, and every wedding we create in this space is a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.
If you’re seeking adventure, this venue offers unparalleled access to slot canyons hikes, desert helicopter rides, and unlimited exploration. But if you prefer a bougie retreat, you’ll love the multi-course meals and state of the art spa facilities. We love that there’s truly something for everyone at Amangiri - with luxurious, private rooms, full service spa amenities and privileged access to National Parks and Lake Powell guests of Amangiri experience the convenience of a high-end hotel with easy access to speciality guided adventures. An added bonus? The staff at Amangiri will do anything and everything to ensure your stay at the resort is absolutely unforgettable and bespoke.
Click here to read more about Amangiri weddings, designed by Mae&Co creative
Images from Laurken Kendall
Willow House
The Willow House is a modern desert retreat, located on 250 acres of private land and boasting stunning, unobstructed views of the beautiful Chisos Mountain Range. The clean lines and muted tones of the building blend into the vast surrounding desert - at Willow House, the design options are truly endless.
This desert wedding venue feels unique. Set in Terlingua just outside Big Bend National Park, the venue boasts access to some of the state’s largest ocotillo plants and some of the most colorful floral and fauna in Texas. Yet the brutalist style casitas evoke a neutral, modern feeling, perfect for a contemporary desert wedding. With 11 unique casitas on the property and a modern gourmet kitchen, the Willow House is the perfect place for a weekend-long wedding celebration with your closest friends and family. And with a new patio structure in progress, this desert wedding venue promises to be one of the most under-the-radar boutique hotels in 2021.
Click here to read more about our most recent wedding at the Willow House, designed by Mae&Co Creative
Images from Karra Leigh Photo
Under Canvas
With locations all across the United States, Under Canvas offers adventurous couples the perfect place for a bohemian-inspired wedding. While each Under Canvas glamping wedding venue lets you experience the great outdoors with modern comforts, every location is unique. We love the desert Under Canvas locations in Moab, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Lake Powell where you enjoy can luxurious, safari-style canvas accommodations with unparalleled access to nearby national parks.
If you’re inspired by the American Southwest, we have endless design ideas for Under Canvas Zion: a haven located upon 196-acres of remote desert terrain, surrounded by views of soaring sandstone cliffs and majestic red rock. And if you love adventure, we think you’ll love Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase: this location is perched on a Canyon Rim Plateau with easy access to Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon, the Lake Powell Marina and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park. Regardless of which Under Canvas location you choose, we promise these venues are the perfect mixture of high-end comfort and big-time adventure.
Images from Dawn Photo
Casa Santal
Located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park, Casa Santal is a modern, desert paradise. Designed as an artist’s retreat on a bluff overlooking a valley of Joshua Trees, this minimalist home boasts panoramic views from every angle. If you value Wabi Sabi design aesthetics, we can’t think of a better place for you to tie the knot in a place that marries love of design and nature.
Casa Santal caters to high-end, desert elopements with options for a private chef, yoga and massage offerings to help you enjoy the space and relax and feel pampered. We love the sexy, luxe feel of this Joshua Tree desert venue, and we think this is the perfect place enjoy some of the best views in the Mojave Desert. With canyon views, a large deck, and a shaded pergola, this venue has so many options for a unique ceremony space that will allow you and your guests to celebrate and enjoy the scenery.
Image from Anni Graham
The Joshua Tree House Tucson
The Joshua Tree House in Tucson, also known as the Posada House, is a 5 suite inn bordering the west side of Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ. Situated on 38 acres of land with a forest of Saguaro cactus, native plants, and an abundance of wildlife this is a space to reflect, reset, and create.
Each suite has its own unique feel. And when you book all of the suites for this Arizona desert hotel venue, you have access to a chef's kitchen, pool, rooftop lounge, yoga room, dining patio, fire pit, and living room with a projector, in case you want to end your wedding celebration with a movie night. This venue is perfect for off-beat desert brides who are ready to throw the party of the century. And trust us, we’re the team you want to have by your side to bring this bash to life.
Images from JTH Tucson
Ready to start planning your dream Desert wedding? Hit us up!
Ecotrust, Portland, OR
Styled Wedding Shoot
This industrial rooftop wedding was defined by effortless elegance. Every element of the design for this sleek rooftop ceremony reflected the couple’s modern, sophisticated style. Set above the city skyline, we wanted to create a design that celebrated the bold height of this wedding location, a modern wedding design that incorporates the tall, sleek lines of the city.
Instead of diminishing the striking city skyline, we wanted our design to really capture the experience of a place; being part of the city’s heartbeat, recalling the feeling of watching the sun spill over the rooftop as you say your vows, it’s so significant. And by creating a design that augments the dynamic height of an urban rooftop wedding and frames the city, we designed a unique venue that is so much richer and bolder in the memories of our couple’s wedding day.
To create a sophisticated rooftop celebration that really captures the feeling of a trendy, chic city wedding, we honed in on the details. We designed and built a custom arch, knowing that we needed to create an original piece to frame the city backdrop. At Mae&Co, we specialize in being able to bring custom backdrops from concept to creation. The arch where you say your vows frames an everlasting moment, and we bring value to our couple’s by incorporating structures and elements that reflect the couple’s style. And for this modern rooftop wedding, we knew we wanted to create a custom frame with strong, architectural lines that would create a timeless, high fashion feel.
While our custom arch may be the biggest part of our design, we made sure every detail captured the opulent feel of this wedding. The custom invitation suite by State of Reverie features modern, elegant typography and the muted tones match the sophisticated feel of this elegant event.
The lush tablescape design incorporates tall floral installations by Good Seed Floral, creating a dynamic shape that plays in conversation with the rooftop terrace views. Touches of gold flatware, smoke glassware, and cream florals create a timeless, elegant feel. And the modern lines of the centerpieces and tablescape chargers elevate the design to blend perfectly with this unique, urban space in NW Portland’s charming Pearl District.
Every detail worked in harmony, as cascading blooms intertwined with brushed metals and soft fabrics fell gently on modern table settings - mirroring the way the bride’s soft pink veil swirled around her modern, structural gown on the top of this rooftop wedding venue. And when the couple descended to the city’s core, the sophisticated setting on this modern rooftop lingered.
Want us to design your modern rooftop wedding celebration? Check out these sophisticated rooftop venues we love!
Photo: Catalina Jean Venue: Ecotrust Rooftop TerraceDesign & styling: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Good Seed Floral Rentals: The Party PlacePaper Goods: State of Reverie If you’re interested in how Mae&Co can make your day extra special and unique to you, we’d love to hear from you
The Colony, Portland, OR
Theresa & Kishor’s Wedding
A high-end winter wedding at the colony
Planning, designing, styling and coordinating this high-end winter wedding at The Colony in Portland, Oregon was such a joy for our entire Mae&Co Creative team. Our sweet couple, Theresa and Kishor, live in Bangkok, so we were both honored and so excited when they first contacted us for full service planning of their destination wedding in Theresa’s hometown. It’s such a special thing to be a part of the planning process from day one and we’re so grateful for our couples who fully trust in us and our expertise.
The ceremony was held at Our Lady of Lavang Parish, a Vietnamese church in NE Portland. The peach accents of the structure were stunning and complemented the neutral, earthy color palate of the overall design. Selva Floral’s unique, free standing floral arrangements were such an unexpected and beautifully modern statement in an otherwise traditional, historic space. They managed to frame the ceremony perfectly without taking away from the surrounding notable beauty of the building.
The ‘historic meets modern vibe’ was evident throughout the entire reception as well. The Colony, a mid-century colonial style venue in St. John’s neighborhood, is filled with both character and charm - a brick exterior, wood burning fireplaces throughout and a grand ballroom complete with massive windows and black wainscoting are just a few of the many charming qualities of the venue. Unique circular and curved signage by Kalen Rivers, modern, statement floral designs by Selva and a custom built photo booth back drop by our Mae&Co team were just a few of the design highlights that brought modern flair to the space.
The main ballroom, where dinner and dancing commenced, felt both inviting and luxurious with long candlelit tables, warm overhead lighting from antique chandeliers and custom dinner menus at each setting. We love nothing more than seeing the shock, excitement and sometimes tears from our clients when the reception space is first revealed to them, just before the room is filled with laughter and cheers.
Our full service planning package gives our clients the freedom to relax and truly enjoy the process. We give you curated choices, you make decisions and we take care of the rest. If you’re interested in our wedding planning services, click here to learn more. We’d love to be a part of your very special day.
Photo: Jordan VothVenue: The ColonyDesign, styling and coordination: Mae&Co CreativeFlorals: Selva Floral DesignRentals: Archive Rentals Signage: Kalen RiversPhotobooth: Smirk Photobooth Co
Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Alexis & Nick’s Wedding
This elegant Amalfi Coast wedding took place at a historic 5 star luxury hotel, Hotel Santa Caterina, perched on the cliffs of the rustic Amalfi coast. The Mediterranean architecture, colorful tile, draping bougainvillea and endless rows of lemon trees and olive groves provided the most quintessential Italian backdrop to this already perfect day.
International events require a fair amount of ‘think on your feet’ decisions and force you to really get creative with what’s around! In lieu of their original ceremony backdrop plan, Good Seed Floral utilized preexisting natural elements and created their arbor install on a tree limb, which flowed from overhead, all the way down to the base of a rustic wood fence. The outcome was stunning and so true to the surrounding Italian style.
Dinner took place in a bright, sun filled room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the sea and nearby town of Amalfi. We wanted the tablescape to reflect the colors of the Amalfi coast, so we opted for pale turquoise candle sticks, organic rust colored napkins and a gauzy sand table runner. Each setting was adorned with custom, earth tone menus and place cards from Seek Paper Co. The elegant room was soon filled with laughter, Aperol spritz induced toasts and live music from the hotel’s grand piano.
The couple shared their special day with just their closest family and friends in one of the most beautiful and romantic spots on earth. They chose to forgo traditional and decided to make it exactly what they wanted.
We love helping couple’s create unique events and authentic moments that are true to the them and their personal love story. Click here to read about our other Amalfi Coast event this past spring!
Photo: Karra Leigh Photography Video: Jessica Heron ImagesDesign and Styling: Mae&Co CreativeVenue: Hotel Santa Caterina Florals: Good Seed Floral