Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage Wedding Photos

Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage Wedding

The moment Sally reached out to me about her and Michael’s desert wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Rancho Mirage, California, I was pumped. Sally is an Aussie, and her soon-to-be husband Michael both have a passion for music. In fact, it was at Coachella in 2008 where they first met. They love warm weather, cold beers, and hopefully these Palm Springs photos from their February wedding too.

Honestly, Michael and Sally’s desert wedding was a breath of fresh air. They’re just such genuine humans. The focus of their wedding was simple: get married and have a good time with friends. There was no bouquet toss, grand entrance, money dance, shoe games, or anything like that. They filled the evening with dancing, drinking, and good conversation. Below are some photographs from Sally’s Ritz Carlton wedding in Rancho Mirage, California.

Destination Weddings At Luxury Resorts

There are a lot of rad Palm Springs wedding venues to choose from. Personally, I really enjoyed shooting at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage. The property just didn’t have a ton of unique spots for wedding photography. This tends to be the case in almost all hotel weddings. Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage weddings are awesome, but if you’re researching luxury resorts, check out these additional rad properties nearby:

I don’t like to give wedding planning tips, since event planning isn’t my expertise. But you should speak with every vendor you’re looking to hire. That way you get a feel for their style, vibe, and the energy they’ll bring. Even the most well-organized, posh resort wedding can still get stressful, so be kind to one another. Enjoy the wedding planning process as much as the real wedding day.

Wedding Spaces At The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage

Since I mentioned the property doesn’t have a ton of unique photo spots, let’s talk about what it offers space-wise. That matters more than you’d think when picking a venue. The resort has 15 total event rooms and just under 35,000 square feet of event space, indoor and outdoor combined.

How Big Can You Go?

The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom is the big one. Up to 650 guests seated, or 800 for a standing reception. Want something more intimate? Salons I through IV each hold around 140 seated, and Mirada fits about 180. For outdoor, Vista Lawn is the largest: up to 450 seated, or 600 reception-style, with desert and mountain views built right in. Smaller outdoor spots like Springs Lawn, L’Edge Lawn, and the Ballroom Terrace top out around 120-200 guests. Better for a more intimate ceremony or cocktail hour.

It’s Not Just The Ceremony

Rehearsal Dinners, Brunch, And The Wedding Suite

The resort books out the days around your wedding too, not just the day itself. They’ve got dedicated space for a rehearsal dinner the night before. Same for a day-after brunch, if you want to keep celebrating with out-of-town guests before everyone heads home. Couples also get access to the resort’s suites for their wedding night. Not a bad way to end the evening, especially with those mountain views. Pricing for all of this runs through their own event planning team, not a posted rate. Your best move is reaching out directly through the resort’s wedding planning page for real numbers.

Thank you again to Sally and Michael for letting me document your desert wedding at Ritz Carlton. You guys are fucking awesome. From the sunglasses to the open bar to the endless good times, you two are nothing short of amazing. I hope you keep rocking in Orlando with your friends, and keep going to Coachella to get dirty, sweaty, drunky, and awesome. Cheers to you both.

Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage: 68900 Frank Sinatra Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270