A complete guide to how Amanda and Averill planned their wedding at Joshua Tree National Park for $14,500. With a budget of $14,500, this couple was able to fly out from New York, and hold a 35 guest wedding at Hidden Valley Picnic Area, Joshua Tree National Park, for only $14,259. We break down Joshua Tree National Park wedding ceremony locations, highlight navigation information, feature a wedding photographer, and go over where to throw your Joshua Tree reception.
Meet Amanda and Averill
Although Amanda and Averill may be used to 3 am pizza, crowded subways and the fast-paced life of NYC, Joshua Tree National Park was exactly the serene and adventurous venue they were looking for when planning for the perfect summer wedding! When Amanda and Averill found out they could use Wedy to book an all-inclusive California wedding package – they booked with us in a New York Minute!
As a couple that travelled all the way from the big apple to get married in sunny-side California, Amanda and Averill were amazed by the beauty of Joshua Tree – especially at Hidden Valley, pictured to the left. From the rocky terrain, and the golden skies, to the infamous Joshua Trees, found all over the national park – they were in love with their wedding venue. Joshua Tree was the right choice for them to build their perfect wedding – they mixed and matched vendors and experiences on the Wedy App!
With the Wedy app, you can browse pre-designed, all-inclusive wedding experiences, making it a one-stop shop for your big day! Here’s how Amanda and Averill planned for their Joshua Tree Wedding!
Cost Breakdown
Here is a full cost breakdown of Amanda and Averill’s Joshua Tree Wedding! Please be aware that there is an additional $120 permit cost not included in the below breakdown, payable to the Joshua Tree National Park office.
Wedding Gallery
Wedding Timeline
Here’s an exclusive look at Amanda and Averill’s Joshua Tree Wedding Timeline. They held their wedding ceremony at Hidden Valley before heading to an Airbnb for an intimate reception with their closest family and friends.
Sample Wedding Timeline
12:00PM: Your Day of Coordinator arrives at your Joshua Tree Airbnb. Your wedding cake is delivered Fine Arts Cookie.
1:00PM: Your Photographer arrives and captures getting ready photos. Your Florist and Event Rental vendors arrive at the ceremony location to start the ceremony set up.
1:20 PM: Your Videographer arrives at your Airbnb
1:30 PM: Time for first looks! Your photographer sets up your spouse, the groom in position first, and has the bride would sneak up behind him
1:45 PM: Leave for Ceremony Site at Hidden Valley (North)
30 Minute Drive
2:15 PM: Arrive at ceremony location
2:20 PM: Couple Portrait Session with Videographer and Photographer
3:00 PM: Caterer arrives at your Airbnb to setup for dinner
3:30 PM: Family Portrait Session
3:45 PM: Meet your Officiant at Hidden Valley Picnic Area (North)
3:50 PM: Time to begin your ceremony! (Vow ceremony, handwritten vows, ring exchange).
4:05 PM: Share that big “I do!” and seal it with a kiss! End of Ceremony!
4:10 PM: Event Rentals vendor leaves to the reception location. Candid moments are captured by your photographer and videographer as you. go along!
4:20 PM: Couple and the wedding party leave for the reception dinner at their Airbnb
30 Minute Drive
5:00 PM: Newlyweds make a grand entrance!
5:15 PM: Start dinner and bar services. Enjoy your intimate reception!
5:45 PM: The evening goes on, culminating some casual speeches and intimate moments.
6:00 PM: Time for your cake cutting and a champagne toast! Some vendor services wrap at this time.
6:30 PM: Your videographer will finish up your 3 hour videography session!
7:00 PM: Photography and catering services wrap and the dancing begins!
8:55 PM: Your DJ plays his last song of the night and then begins strike (taking down of the venue). Guests head home and say their farewells.
9:00 PM: Newlyweds make their grand exit! Ride that #JustMarried glow!
Amanda and Averill’s Joshua Tree Wedding Destination
Amanda and Averill held their wedding ceremony at Hidden Valley Picnic Area in Joshua Tree National Park. Their wedding cost a total of $14259.
Below is a vendor breakdown of everything that was included in their Joshua Tree Wedding – as curated especially by the Wedy concierge team, uniquely for Amanda and Averill! You can check out the cost breakdown here to see the costs of each vendor!
VENDOR BREAKDOWN
- Photographer: Sincerely Photo + Video
- Videographer: VMH Productions
- Catering: James Madison Catering
- Cake: Fine Art Cookies
- Day of Coordination: Fruitvale Designs
- Wedding Planner: Wedy App
- Rentals: Palo Verde Parties
- Officiant: Wedding in the Desert
- Florals: Pinyon Pine
You can browse amazing Joshua Tree wedding vendors all over the Wedy App!
How to navigate through Joshua Tree?
Here’s a helpful map with all of the permitted Joshua Tree National Park ceremony locations, updated for 2023! This list is non-exhaustive but goes beyond our listed ceremony locations above.
Permitted Joshua Tree Wedding Locations, Featured on this Map
- Joshua Tree West Entrance Station
- Indian Cove Ranger Station
- Twentynine Palms North Entrance Station
- Joshua Tree National Park South Entrance Sign
- Joshua Tree Visitor Center
- Joshua Tree Visitor Center
- Cottonwood Visitor Center Entrance
- Quail Springs Picnic Area Wedding Location
- Lost Horse Parking Lot Wedding Location
- Hidden Valley Picnic Area Wedding Location
- Cap Rock Wedding Location
- Queen Valley Mine Intersection Wedding Location
- Split Rock Loop Trail Wedding Location
- Live Oak Picnic Area Wedding Location
- Turkey Flats Wedding Location
- Porcupine Wash Wedding Location
- Indian Cove Amphitheater Wedding Location
- Rattlesnake Canyon Picnic Area Wedding Location
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park Lost Horse Ranger Station
- Hidden Valley Campground
- Barker Dam Nature Trail
- Wall Street Mill Trail
- Wonderland Ranch Ruins
- Hall of Horrors Area
- Ryan Mountain Trail
- Sheep Pass Campground
- Geology Tour Road
- Big Horn Pass Rd
- Jumbo Rocks Campground
- Belle Campground
- Arch Rock Nature Trai
- White Tank Campground Road
- Cholla Cactus Garden
- Ocotillo Patch
- Cottonwood Campground
- Cottonwood Spring
- Oasis Cave Market and Liquor
- Indian Cove Ranger Station
- Indian Cove Boy Scout Trail
Hidden Valley Picnic Area Map
Here’s a helpful map of hidden valley picnic area. Fun Fact – Hidden Valley is the only Joshua Tree ceremony location that allows pets!
Where to throw your Joshua Tree wedding reception?
Whi Amanda and Averill threw their wedding reception at a desert Airbnb, couples in Joshua Tree have a wide selection of both wedding venues and Airbnbs to choose from for their wedding receptions. Most couples holding small weddings will hold their ceremony at the national park, and then move to another location for the reception, however many venues offer ceremony and reception packages if you would like to bundle and save. Here’s a helpful list of Joshua Tree Venues and Airbnbs that can be used for your wedding reception!
Joshua Tree Wedding Reception Venues
Here are our picks for the best wedding venues to hold your Joshua Tree reception! These venues can accommodate between 30-100 guests, are right by the national park, and offer all-inclusive wedding packages!
Where to get a California Marriage License?
California Marriage License Offices featured on this map
- San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk Main Office
- County Of San Bernardino Clerk’s Office
- San Bernardino County Assessor District Office
- Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
- Riverside County Recorder
- Superior Court of California, County of Riverside – Temecula Courthouse
- Riverside County Assessor
- Riverside County Clerk
- County of Riverside County Administrative Center
- Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department
- Old Orange County Courthouse
- Laguna Hills Civic Center
- Orange County Clerk-Recorder – North County Branch Office Anaheim
- Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department
- Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department – Old Orange County Courthouse
- Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department
- Ventura County Clerk-Recorder Marriage Licenses
- Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, East County Office
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Headquarters
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Beverly Hills Branch Office
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk East Los Angeles Branch Office
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Florence-Firestone Branch Office
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Lancaster Branch Office
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Van Nuys Branch Office
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk LAX/Courthouse Branch Office
- Los Angeles County Superior Ct
- San Diego County Clerk
- COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
- Office of the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk-San Marcos
- San Diego County Clerk
- San Diego Recorder-County Clerk
- Office of the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk-Kearny Mesa
- Apostille California Secretary of State
- Apostille March Fong Eu Secretary of State Building
- Notary Copy Center Plus, Inc
- Notary 29 Postal Plus
- Notary Copy Center Plus, Inc
- Notary The UPS Store
- Twentynine Palms DMV
- Social Security Office
Tips & Tricks
After planning weddings for as long as we have – we’ve learned the ins-and-outs of the industry. So here are some tips and tricks to planning a summer wedding in Joshua Tree?
- Start by writing a guest list and figuring out roughly how many people will be in attendance before narrowing down your wedding venue. Once you have a definite number of who will be there, you can start looking at venues that can accomodate your guest count and budget, before narrowing down your venue search for more specifics.
- Invest in a quality venue and catering – since your venue and food will likely be two of the biggest cost pools, you should make sure you are absolutely sure about these two wedding costs. Some venues have in-house catering so that you can bundle and save!
- Skip the wedding stationary – instead of ordering custom stationary like: save the date invitations, wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations, and bachelor and bachelorette party invitations – opt for an easy fix by creating your own online invitations on Canva!
- Opt for an off-season wedding on a weekday – If you’re in the industry, you know that peak season weddings and weddings from Friday-Sunday, tend to be the most expensive. Opting for an off-season wedding may not always be possible, depending on the weather, or if you’re holding your wedding on a special anniversary. But holding your wedding on a Thursday or a Sunday can help you to save venue costs if you are on a budget!
- Hold a cash bar – while cash bars aren’t always ideal (according to the guests), your wedding is your time to invest in memories – not alcohol. If you have the means to invest in bar packages or liquor services during your reception, certainly take advantage of that! If not, a cash bar comes in handy and can help you budget!
- When buying decorations and furniture – ask yourself, will I regret not purchasing this item? Will anyone really notice that this item is missing from my venue? When it comes to decorations, you and your spouse should go over your wants and needs. Decorations like chair ribbons, table acrylics, a seating chart, lounge furniture in the lobby, etc. may be skippable.
- Hire a duo photo + video team – if you’re trying to get the most bang for your buck, opt for a photographer and videographer duo, to curate the perfect package of footage for your bid day. Whether you want more portrait photos captured, or some vlogging action during your reception, bundling your photo and video vendors is the way to go!
- Book an all inclusive wedding package to save – if you’re getting married and don’t know where to begin with the planning process, Wedy’s here to save the day! With the Wedy App, you can browse custom wedding and elopement packages, mix and match your wedding vendors, and calculate your total costs all in one app. Download the Wedy App today, and click below to browse for wedding packages in Joshua Tree!
Joshua Tree Wedding Planners
With the Wedy App, we can help you find elopement packages in Joshua Tree, California, connecting you to California elopement vendors, including photographers, florists, venues, and more. Download our app today and find out how to elope in Joshua Tree National Park, California.
