Wedding Oasis

Cover photo: An elaborate archway lit with lanterns and overflowing with lush florals of roses, jasmine, and Amaranthus framed the orangery entry, where a band played on a tiered stage and welcomed guests inside.
All photos courtesy John and Joseph Photography unless noted otherwise

Every year, over half a million people step onto the Empire Polo Club Grounds to attend the sensational Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Wait a moment—now imagine stepping onto the same grounds to attend not a two-weekend-long artsy, brand-driven music frenzy, but a glamorous and extravagant wedding.

For a couple based in Chicago, the mountains of Indio, California were an ideal destination, so Hi Rise Events created a dreamy mountain-and-palm-tree gardenscape that absolutely dripped with romance—and planned four other wedding activations over the course of four days. The result did not disappoint, and even gained them a 2024 Special Events Gala Award nomination for the category of Best Wedding.

The festivities began with 200 guests arriving in California for a “Welcome to Palm Springs” Party. Then came a Ketubah Signing & Luncheon, followed by a Fiesta Rehearsal Dinner. The main event, of course, was the wedding ceremony, sandwiched by a cocktail party and reception, immediately followed by a carnival afterparty. To wrap up the weekend, guests were invited to a Sunday brunch. Transportation was provided for guests to each event.

On the day of the wedding, guests were immediately surrounded by romantic views as they entered the location, walking down a path lined with a huge floral display of brightly colored roses that led to the seating and ceremony area, which then lifted off the ground to wrap around a chuppah. Upon entering the wedding area, guests were welcomed with a cocktail reception, featuring a custom walk-around bar, seating lounges, a musical combo, a sushi bar, and appetizers. 

The ceremony took place at sunset, capturing all the vibrant colors of the desert. Then, everyone headed to the reception, which was held in an enormous orangery glass tent, dubbed the “Glam Greenhouse.” This structure featured a glass cathedral ceiling and glass wall panels, creating an oasis for the night’s festivities. An elaborate archway lit with lanterns and overflowing with lush florals of roses, jasmine, and Amaranthus framed the entry, where a band played on a tiered stage and welcomed guests inside.

Inside, the corners of the Glam Greenhouse held “garden lounge vignettes,” where guests enjoyed whiskey, martini, tequila, and cocktail bars. A gourmet four-course dinner was formally served, and a five-tiered wedding cake took the spotlight. This show-stopping pastry was designed by world-renowned custom cake artisans and featured a replica of the couple’s dogs, which were hand-crafted from fondant icing and set atop the cake. 

Guests thought that dancing would be the end of the romantic night, but they were in for a delightful surprise: when they stepped back out of the Glam Greenhouse, they found themselves entering a carnival afterparty. The polo field was completely transformed, surrounded by 25 10-foot-tall inflatable neon columns. Guests could stop by a merch tent to receive comfortable hoodies with the carnival’s logo as a cozy memento from the event. From there, they spent the night playing carnival games, winning prizes, and feasting from food booths and a booze bar. There were even dancers grooving on a black and white dance floor while a DJ kept the vibes going. To complete the carnival experience, guests slid down a 125-foot electric slide, bringing a childlike delight to the joyous occasion.

This electric wedding weekend ended with brunch the next morning to bring everyone together one last time before heading home. It is hardly surprising that a wedding held on the grounds of a dreamy, whimsical music festival would share the same romantic, lively energy. Of course, the same care, attention to detail, creativity, and meticulous planning is required to create such an iconic event, and thanks to every single vendor, staff personnel, and team member, this couple had a wedding as memorable as Coachella. 

Click through the photo gallery to see the amazing day!