Balinese Winter Elopement in Joshua Tree & Palm Springs
Onny and Diana reached out to me in mid November 2021 about eloping in Los Angeles over the holidays. They were traveling from Bali, Indonesia (where they’re from) to visit Onny’s parents in Mexico, and being from Southeast Asia myself, I felt an immediate connection to them. There’s something about meeting other people from your side of the world that makes you instantly feel at home. :’)
During our initial consultation, I threw out the idea of Joshua Tree and Palm Springs as a potential location, which immediately peaked their interest. As it turns out, Onny had spent some time in Joshua Tree many years ago when he used to live in LA, and he had taken a photo of JTNP that now hangs in their board game cafe that they jointly own in Bali. Talk about coming full circle! Joshua Tree and Palm Springs just felt like it was meant to be.
I am a huge fan of all the details Onny and Diana chose to include on their day. Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you should skip out on having all the details of your day photographed - they are such an important part of your story! If you’re thinking that you don’t have any details that are “important” enough, think again. Besides the “usual” details such as vow books, rings and jewelry/accessories, think about what brought you to this day. It could be:
A gift from your partner early on in your relationship (or a special gift you gave your partner)
A cultural piece that represents where you’re from (in this case, Diana wore a sarong kebaya - traditional Balinese wedding attire - in place of a traditional wedding gown)
Something tangible you enjoy together (favorite books, board games, etc)
Flight tickets if you’re traveling for your elopement
Maps of the place you’re eloping in
From the time O+D reached out to their elopement date, we had just about 3 weeks to plan and situate everything - including booking an AirBnB, figuring out a timeline, and securing permits and vendors for their day.
Onny & Diana’s getting ready part of the day was sweet and relaxed. Diana decided to do her own hair and makeup, while Onny spent that time taking his own photos of the VW Beetle they had rented, putting on music on the vinyl player, and exploring their AirBnB’s backyard. When Diana was nearly ready, Onny helped her into her sarong, before finishing getting ready himself.
Onny and Diana chose to take on a relaxed, go-with-the-flow approach to their Joshua Tree and Palm Springs elopement; we didn’t have strict times to hit for any specific activity (except for their ceremony which they had an officiant for), so after their ceremony, we sat down for a picnic lunch, explored the park a little, and decided on a whim to drive through the entire park and exit by its south gate on our way to Palm Springs where they would join up with their friends again for dinner.
This is exactly what I love about elopements, especially when it just involves you, the couple. You get to choose exactly how your day unfolds, when and where you want to be, and what experiences you want to have. You’re not tied to anyone else’s expectations but your own, and how incredibly special is that?!
Onny and Diana trusted me with their entire day, and I could not be more grateful for that trust. Thank you both for sharing this special experience with me, it was truly a freaking privilege to help you craft your Joshua Tree and Palm Springs elopement. :’)
AirBnB: Twilight Terrace
Officiant: Wedding in the Desert (Celene de Miranda)
