Dean and Mara's Rustic Palm Springs Wedding

By Jordan Lemke

Mara was smitten with Dean the moment he picked her up for their first date. “He came to my door, completely unexpected,” she says. “Most guys in California wouldn’t.” (Dean is from Michigan.) Many dates later, Dean proposed to Mara with a ring from her jewelry line, Smith + Mara. They planned a weekend-long wedding celebration at Palm Springs’ Korakia Pensione that had the feel, as Mara describes, of a wellness retreat. They began the morning of the ceremony with a group yoga session, and the big day culminated with the couple exchanging vows as the sun set behind the San Jacinto mountains—a beautiful backdrop for an equally beautiful couple.

Treat Yourself

“We went above and beyond to customize the experience for our guests with awesome welcome bags, from their favorite snacks, to what type of wine they like.”

Dean and Mara didn’t wait to get the party started. They entered the reception to R. Kelly’s “Step In the Name of Love,” and invited guests to join them on the dance floor.