Excited to share that my own wedding at Korakia photographed by Aaron Delesie was featured in Reverie Magazine this month!

Creating a Moroccan oasis in the desert, a San Diego couple ties the knot in Palm Springs.

“No stranger to weddings, Marisa, a wedding and lifestyle photographer, and Ron, a restauranteur, knew that they wanted something a little out of the ordinary for their wedding. They set out to plan an intimate wedding with the feel of a dinner party and the romance of the Mediterranean and a bygone era. With the help of their wedding planning and design team – Lisa Vorce and Mindy Rice – Marisa and Ron did just that. “It felt like you were in the Mediterranean, not the US,” said Marisa, “with Spanish and Moroccan influences.” “

Marisa chose a stunning Jenny Packham dress for her wedding, perfect for the desert climate. She complemented the gown with a lace headpiece by Twigs & Honey and shoes by Butter.

Ron cut a debonair silhouette in a Hugo Boss suit, slim black tie, vintage tie clip and Trilby hat from Christy’s.

Marisa gave her florist, Mindy Rice, carte blanche to create an exquisite floral design. Delighted by Marisa’s desire to go outside the white bridal box, Mindy created a bouquet of textural florals and greenery which included geranium leaves, poppies, and ranunculus, with accents of deep eggplant and red and yellow tones. Her bouquet was tied with an antique lace wrap.

Taking inspiration from a Moroccan patter, Marisa’s wedding planner and designer Lisa Vorce set the tone for the wedding by selecting letter pressed invitations exhibiting a tile motif. Adding an Old World touch, Lisa tied the invitations with hand-dyed silk ribbon, twine and in a beautiful brown presentation box.

The natural splendor of destination Pensione was the perfect springboard for their destination wedding. Guests felt that they had not traveled to Palm Springs, but rather another destination: the Mediterranean. At the ceremony site, their wedding design team of Lisa Vorce and Mindy Rice enhanced the existing bougainvillea prevalent throughout the property with Moroccan throw rugs, rattan furniture, and fuchsia flower petals.

After a decadent meal, Marisa, Ron and their guests enjoyed more cocktails and dancing, while classic black and white films such as Casablanca projected onto the wall behind them.

Adding a n Old World – and fun – touch to the reception was an adorable donkey, with whom Marisa, Ron and their guests had fun taking polaroids.

Late that evening, guests lit sparklers and headed for the hanging piñata, which they each took turns pounding until it released a shower of candy – their midnight snacks!

Having transplanted themselves and their guests to the Palm Springs desert and to a beautifully rendered Moroccan oasis, Marisa and Ron’s traveling itch was sated for the time being. A year later, they went on their honeymoon in Mexico.