Vintage Palm Springs Styled Engagement Session

We’re pretty sure that every engagement session should be styled, after this past weekend’s vintage Palm Springs styled engagement session with Steve and Shannon. They put so much time, thought and effort into preparing for this shoot and it was the best way to finish off this year’s engagement session season! The concept of their engagement session was a nod to their upcoming wedding next summer, which is a Palm Springs by Day / Palm Springs by Night theme (and we are sooooo excited to see what Jen with First Pick Planning has drummed up for it! EEK!).

We started at a private home in Palm Springs, poolside with chilled Coca-Cola’s and festive sunglasses! We even recreated their Save the Dates, which were creatively designed by their friend (and Steve’s colleague), Rick Lynch. Afterward, we headed up to Joshua Tree for some nighttime glam James Bond style, and they totally rocked it despite being absolutely freezing (literally, we were only a couple of degrees above freezing after the sun went down!).

What we absolutely loved about this session (besides pretty much everything) is that it was entirely personal to them and their fun-loving personalities. In fact, Shannon’s engagement diamond, fur coat and silk scarf from the daytime look are all her Bubbe’s (her grandmother), and the earrings for the daytime and ring from the nighttime look are from Shannon’s Nana, who has since passed. These two just love laughing and having fun – and they bring so much joy to any situation. We absolutely just love these two!

And their engagement story? It is absolutely epic. In Shannon’s own words:

Steve spent 3+ months organizing the engagement surprise which included coordination with 22 people (18 of which did not live in Los Angeles), not to mention the additional 4 people who sent video messages, one as far as Thailand.  I thought I was going to meet my friend for coffee at Urth Cafe to go to a record release party (that is how he got me dressed in something other than my weekend lounge wear) and when I arrived I was greeted by my 5 best friends from high school (traveled from AZ, Seattle, and DC).  This began the 4.5 hour journey through the important places in our relationship, at each stop was a new group of people to surprise me, they would read me a sweet note Steve wrote about the meaning of that location and then I would receive a video clue from someone who couldn’t join in-person of where the next stop was.  One of my favorite parts that I could not stop talking about the whole time was the MASSIVE party bus Steve had us traveling in.  The final stop was the Pacific Palisades at my cousins gorgeous home where Steve was waiting by himself inside anticipating my arrival and everyone was eagerly waiting outside for us to emerge together – ENGAGED!!   Then we went back to Steve and my place for a big engagement celebration.

With an engagement story like that, we can’t wait for their wedding in just a few short months!

Until then, here are just a few of our favorites from their vintage Palm Springs styled engagement session! xoxo

Vendor Love

Hair + Makeup // Jen Martens, Jen Plus Colour
Ring // Jean Dousset
Save the Date Designer // Rick Lynch
Printer // Quick Silver
Daytime Clothes, Shoes + Accessories // Nordstrom
Suit // Men’s Warehouse
Evening Dress // Kyss
Drinks // Coca-Cola
Palm Springs Venue // Special thanks to Mark + Tracy for graciously allowing us to use their Palm Springs home!