8 Hot California Wedding Venues with Cool Desert Vibes


Dreaming of sunset-colored canyons, tribal touches, and fancy flora for your big day? Then a desert wedding is for you! These locations turn up the heat with postcard-worthy panoramas and an adventurous "middle of nowhere" vibe. From a Spanish Revival mountainside hideaway in Palm Springs to a charming adobe resort in the High Desert, these cool California venues provide a one-of-a-kind experience thanks to their bold boho-chic aesthetic and laid-back landscape.



JOSHUA TREE



Rasta Rita Cantina + Venue

Twentynine Palms, CA

Fab Features: a high desert gem in historic Twentynine Palms • breathtaking mountain desert panoramas and postcard landscapes • creative, affordable catering packages include the locally famous Rasta Rita Margarita and taco trucks

Catering: In-house, BYO
Price: $ • $$


PALM SPRINGS | PALM DESERT



Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs

Palm Springs, CA

Fab Features: 16-acre desert oasis combines a hip, mid-century modern flair with a casual-luxe island motif • lush garden ceremonies framed by a spectacular mountain backdrop and receptions in the Old Hollywood-luxe oval ballroom • all-inclusive amenities include two swimming pools, a variety of drinking & dining establishments, and the largest spa in town

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$

DoubleTree by Hilton Golf Resort Palm Springs

Cathedral City, CA

Fab Features: the San Jacinto Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for ceremonies • outdoor celebrations take place on the beautiful Veranda Patio with market lights overhead • flexible event spaces can accommodate intimate gatherings to extravagant affairs

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$

Desert Willow Golf Resort

Palm Desert, California

Fab Features: the sleek contemporary clubhouse is surrounded by silvery sage, golden-tipped brittlebush, and tiny lavender blooms of the namesake desert willow • exchange vows on the terrace overlooking the sun-drenched Chocolate Mountains • the Firecliff Ballroom affords glass walls that look out across beautiful terraces and landscaped walkways dotted with trees and lakes

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$

Indian Wells Country Club

Indian Wells, California

Fab Features: prestigious golf known for its impeccable grounds and white-glove service • ceremonies on the 18th hole against a rugged mountain silhouette • lavish receptions in the grand ballroom where the wall of windows brings the outside in

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$ • $$$


RANCHO MIRAGE



Desert Island

Rancho Mirage, CA

Fab Features: historic property reimagined as a hip hideaway in tony Rancho Mirage • 100 manicured acres of greenery spread out around a sparkling 25-acre lake offer ample ceremony options • glam receptions in the entertainment-ready ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows framing lake and mountain vistas

Catering: Preferred list, BYO
Price: $$ • $$$


INLAND EMPIRE | HIGH DESERT



The Sundowner Ranch and Barn

Lucerne Valley, CA

Fab Features: a historic hideaway surrounded by 160 unspoiled acres at the foot of the mountains • the remodeled barn retains its vintage charm and boasts an event-friendly kitchen • spend the weekend in one of the cabins or camp under the stars — RV hookups available, too!

Catering: BYO
Price: $


SANTA CLARITA VALLEY | ANTELOPE VALLEY



Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles

Lancaster, CA

Fab Features: laid-back, off-the-grid acreage where it's just you, nature, and up to 100 guests • affordable packages range from BYO everything to luxury glamping • enjoy incredible starscapes & sunsets, Joshua Trees, high-desert foliage, and the nearby Antelope Poppy Reserve

Catering: BYO
Price: $


Venue: Villa & Vine

Are we friends yet? Join MyGuide for more goodness!

Some clients may have paid to be placed in our editorial and some of these links may be affiliate; however, we never include a venue, vendor, or product unless they have a proper place here. This is part of our Core Values. We create our website first and foremost to be good for the couples using it to plan their Big Day. We won't stray from that for a few advertising dollars. #scoutshonor

Find More Articles About...

All-Inclusive | Art Gallery | Ballroom | Barn | Beach / Ocean | Beach Wedding Ceremony | Brewery / Distillery | Bridal Fairs | Brides Want to Know | Budget Wedding Ideas | Business Functions / Meetings | Cakes | Ceremony | Chapel / Church / Temple | Checklists | City / Urban | Cityscape | Colorful | Covid | Creek / River | Cultural | Destination | DIY Wedding Ideas | DJ / Entertainment / Music | Dog | Elegant | Elopement Packages | Engagement / Proposal | Expert Advice | Flowers | Food | Forest / Woods | Fun | Garden | Give Back | Glam | Glossaries of Wedding Terms | Golf / Country Club | Great View | Green Weddings | Grooms / Groomsmen | Hills | Historic | Historic / Landmark Building | Honeymoons / Travel | Hotel | Indian | Inspiration Board | Invitations | Lake | Landscaped Grounds | Large Wedding | Late Night | LGBTQ+ Friendly | Local Weddings | Loft / Warehouse / Industrial | Makeup / Hair | Mansion | Modern | Moss | Mountain | Museum | Nightclub | Non-Profit | Ocean / Bay | Offbeat | On-Site Accommodations | Outdoor | Outdoor Ceremony | Panoramic | Park | Penthouse / Rooftop | Photography | Printable | Private Estate | Private Home | Questions To Ask Your... | Ranch / Farm | Reception | Rehearsal Dinner | Resort / Spa | Restaurant | Retreat | Romantic | Rustic | Shabby Chic | Small Wedding | Special Events / Parties | Unique | Unique | Valley | Vintage | Wedding Dresses / Accessories | Wedding Insurance | Wedding Registry | Wedding Venues / Locations | Weddings by Season | Wineries | Winery / Vineyard | Winter | Zoo / Aquarium