“The extreme clarity of the desert light is equaled by the extreme individuation of desert life forms. Love flowers best in openness and freedom.” Edward Abbey 

Growing up in the Coachella Valley, I have fallen in love with the light and warmth of the desert time and again. It seemed only natural to have Evans Wedding Photo’s first stylized shoot in the beautiful desert I have called home for most of my life. To some, the desert may not be traditionally beautiful; however, for this stylized shoot, I undoubtedly wanted to showcase the unique beauty and essence of the desert and its many intricacies. 

When most people think of the desert, they surely envision cacti. The unique and charismatic venue, Moorten’s Botanical Gardens, is unique for its Cactarium - the first in the world. The venue naturally lent itself to the wildly-organic desert inspiration I was looking for.  

Established in 1938 in beautiful Palm Springs, California, Moorten’s private arboretum boasts 3,000 examples of desert cacti and other desert plant life. The Mediterranean-style home on property, befittingly named Cactus Castle, is in the Palm Grove Oasis, and is often described as a haven of tranquility. This beautiful botanical garden, located on the famous Palm Canyon Drive, possesses the appeal and charm of old Palm Springs.

For the final shots of the day, we moved to Eagle Rock Canyon near dusk. Nothing captures desert beauty more than awe-inspiring openness of land framed by the stunning San Jacinto mountains. 

The desert was merely the background for the real inspiration, love. The beautiful, happily-engaged couple, Josh and Jaleesa, were such a joy to shoot. The love they have for one another is undeniably sweet. Josh and Jaleesa are a truly genuine couple - thank you to them for making this stylized shoot possible.

A huge THANK YOU to the amazing vendors as well. I had no doubt Cachet Fiore would create a beautiful bouquet, as I am always amazed at their talent. I asked for a bouquet to match the wildness and textures of the venue, and Cachet Fiore outdid themselves once again. We chose a soft, ethereal gown from Love and Lace Bridal, complimented by a copper, bohemian-inspired headpiece for her. The stunning, rose gold sequined backless Truvelle gown featured a chiffon skirt, which caught the movement and the warm desert wind perfectly. For him, nothing could compare to a modern, slim black suit. 

Enjoy.

Vendor List:

Venue - Moorten Botanical Garden

Dress - Love and Lace Bridal - Truvelle

Hair and Make-Up - HairByCassielu, [email protected]

Florals - Cachet Fiore

Groom's Suit - Express

Bride's Head Piece - My beautiful wife Jessica.