NEW LMAM Logo
NEW LMAM Logo

HOME

SERVICES

LETS CHAT!!

FOLLOW

The Living Desert Wedding in Palm Desert | Kristen and Keith

Photographed on film and digital at The Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA

Wedding

Some weddings stay with you. The Living Desert Wedding in Palm Desert of Kristen and Keith is one of them. Not because of any single grand gesture, but because of the weight of what that day carried for Kristen. She had waited a long time to find the right person. And she found him. Her mom wasn't there to see it, and I thought about that more than once throughout the day. There was a quiet significance to everything Kristen did, the way she got ready, the way she walked in, the way she looked at Keith during the ceremony. She knew what it meant to finally be here.


Getting Ready For The Living Desert Wedding Palm Desert

The dress, the details, the rings laid out before everything else comes together. There's a stillness to these moments before a ceremony that I always try to preserve. Kristen getting ready, makeup done, accessories in place, the dress waiting.

A wedding dress displayed on a mannequin in a hallway — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bridal accessories and wedding day essentials arranged flat lay on white background — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Two engagement rings displayed in a heart-shaped jewelry box — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A makeup artist applies eyeshadow to a client's face during a beauty session — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Palm Desert, CA
Professional portrait photograph — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Groom getting ready in a modern living room with pool table in foreground — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A man in formal attire stands by a window in a contemplative pose, with a framed portrait visible in the background. — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA

The Living Desert Wedding Palm Desert

The Living Desert is a genuinely unusual wedding venue, and that's exactly what makes it work for the right couple. Kristen arriving here, at a zoo and botanical garden in the desert, set the tone for the whole day.

Entrance to The Living Desert Zoo and Garden facility with signage and desert landscaping — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A man in formal attire standing outdoors posing for a portrait photograph — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
bride full length portrait Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
bride beautiful dress Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
bride and sister Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA

The First Look

There were two first looks. The first was between Kristen and her dad. He saw her before anyone else did, before the ceremony, before the crowd. I give those moments space. There's not much to do except stay out of the way and keep the camera ready. Then came the first look with Keith. Kristen walked toward him, and he turned. That beat, the turn and what follows, is one I always position for carefully, because it passes fast and it doesn't repeat. On this day, with everything Kristen was carrying into that moment, it landed the way those moments are supposed to.

Bride and Dad first look — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A bride and dad sharing a kiss during their wedding ceremony — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bride taps groom's shoulder during their first look - Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
first look of bride and groom Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding couple posing together outdoors — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A woman in a white wedding dress holding a bridal bouquet outdoors — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A bride holding a wedding bouquet of white calla lilies with green stems and leaves — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bride and groom portrait with bouquet Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA

The Living Desert Wedding in Palm Desert Ceremony

The ceremony space at The Living Desert was set up against a backdrop you wouldn't find anywhere else in Southern California. Couples planning a The Living Desert Wedding in Palm Desert often choose the venue for its desert gardens and wildlife encounters. Desert plants framing the aisle, open sky above, and that particular quality of Palm Desert light that makes everything look like it belongs exactly where it is. I walked the space before guests arrived. That's something I always do. Knowing where the light falls, where the shadows shift, where the officiant will stand, it means I'm not figuring any of that out when the moment is already happening.


Wedding ceremony setup in rustic venue with wooden beams and natural light — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Outdoor wedding ceremony setup with aisle and altar — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding family portrait with bride and groom — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bride and Groom before wedding at altar — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA

The Ceremony

The ceremony was the heart of it. Vows, the kiss, the recessional. Keith watching Kristen come to him. These are the photos I always want to get right, and on this day, the material was there.

The officiant standing at a microphone against a wooden wall backdrop — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Mother and Groom walking down the aisle - The Living Desert wedding in Palm Desert, CA
Wedding ceremony with bride and father walking together under palm trees — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Groom awaits for his bride — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Groom waiting for her bride — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding ceremony with guests gathered around the bride and groom — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding ceremony with bride and groom exchanging vows before officiant — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bride and Groom exchanging vows Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
First Kiss at wedding ceremony — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding ceremony recessional with newlyweds celebrating — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA

Reception Setup

The outdoor reception space was laid out with tables, a welcome area, and a guest book display. The setting did a lot of the work on its own.

Outdoor wedding or event entrance setup with welcome table and signage — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding memorial display with heart-shaped mirror guest book and decorative elements — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Outdoor event setup with dining tables and umbrellas — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Outdoor wedding reception setup with decorated table and seating — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Elegant outdoor wedding reception table setup with floral centerpiece — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Outdoor wedding reception setup with round dining table — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA

The Reception, Including the Giraffe

The reception brought everything together. Portraits of the two of them, speeches, dancing, and then the moment I knew I'd be talking about for a while: Kristen and Keith feeding a giraffe. That's not something you get at most venues. It was easy, unhurried, and a little surreal in the best way. They were clearly in their element with each other, and that came through in every part of the evening.

Wedding portrait of bride and groom posing together outdoors — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Kristen and Keith's Wedding at The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert, CA
African savanna landscape with wildlife and solitary palm tree — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A bride and groom embrace and kiss outdoors during their wedding celebration — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding portrait of bride and groom — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Giraffe at Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Village Watutu Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bride and Groom Feeding Giraffe Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Kristen and Keith Wedding Photo 1461 scaled
First Dance Moment Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bride and Groom Dip during first danceWedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Bride and Groom photo at the sweetheart table Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Father and Daughter shares an intimate moment at an elegant evening event with live entertainment — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Mother and Son sharing an intimate moment at an elegant formal event with outdoor lighting — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Tiered dessert display with cupcakes and cake at outdoor event — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
A couple posing outdoors at night under hanging palm fronds and Spanish moss — Wedding at Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA

Kristen waited a long time for this day, and she got to spend it with someone she loves, at a venue unlike anywhere else, feeding a giraffe at her own wedding reception. Her mom would have loved it.

Planning a Wedding in Palm Desert or in Greater Los Angeles?

Let's Make a Memory photographs weddings throughout Palm Desert, CA and the greater Los Angeles area — on film, digital, or both. Whether you're planning a church ceremony, a private estate event, or something in between, reach out and let's talk about what you're envisioning.

Our collaborative partners:

GET IN TOUCH