How to Plan a Joshua Tree National Park Wedding
Getting Married in Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park is a desert wilderness of 800,000 acres with beautiful geologic features and vast serene desert scenery. It is home to a variety of unique plants and animals and offers a wide array of desert backdrops that will take your breath away; which is why it is also included in my Best Places to Elope in Southern California blog among many other incredible locations around Southern California.
Imagine overlooking stunning rock features and Joshua Trees along the valley floor as you feel the warm desert breeze against your skin. The sunshine surrounds you, desert beauty is everywhere you turn, and there are blue skies encompassing the stillness of the desert floor. Then turn to face the person you are about to say yes to forever with, holding hands in this indescribably beautiful moment as you start your adventure together. Getting married in Joshua Tree offers this incredible experience and more for you and your partner. Whether it’s an intimate elopement at one of Joshua Trees desert wedding venues just the two of you or a wedding ceremony with a group of your friends and family at the amphitheater after a night camping under the stars together, I would love to help film this once in a lifetime day so that you can experience these precious moments again and again.
Best Places to Get Married inside Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park offers breathtaking wedding venue locations throughout the park so that you and your loved one can find the perfect desert spot to say “I do.”
Below is a list of predetermined wedding locations inside Joshua Tree National Park:
Cap Rock
Rattlesnake Picnic Area
Live Oak Picnic Area
Split Rock
Lost Horse Parking Lot
Porcupine Wash
Queen Valley Mine Intersection
Turkey Flats
Indian Cove Amphitheater
Hidden Valley Picnic Area
Quail Springs Picnic Area
For updated information and additional details like number of people and vehicles allowed at each location, you can check out NPS.gov under “locations.”
Wedding Venues Near Joshua Tree
Autocamp Joshua Tree
The iconic autocamp experience just outside of Joshua Tree National Park, including tons of great features like fire pits, a seasonal pool, and clubhouse.
Sacred Sands Oasis
An intimate oasis just one mile from the Joshua Tree entrance with incredible mountain and desert views and amazing accommodations.
Morada Joshua Tree
A collection of stunning and creative desert styled properties to provide a luxurious and picturesque environment for your Joshua Tree adventure.
6 things to consider when getting married in joshua tree: featured in the blog
Hiring a videographer for your elopement
The best time of year to elope in Joshua Tree
Things to do in the National Park
Where to stay in and near Joshua Tree
Wedding permits for Joshua Tree National Park
Wedding details and style
Need more help figuring out details or are ready to start planning your Joshua Tree Wedding? Keep reading and don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!
Finding a Joshua Tree Wedding Videographer
If you are wanting a warm and welcoming, minimal, desert-style wedding, Joshua Tree National park is your place to go. The large rock structures, desert plants and natural/ earthy color tones provide a beautiful atmosphere for minimal, bohemian, adventurous weddings. It’s one thing to plan your dream desert wedding to begin a lifetime of memories together, but to be able to watch your day unfold, your story being told in a thoughtful and authentic way for years to come, is a rare and timeless treasure to hold. I believe intentionally made films have the power to transport us back to that moment in time — a moment of love where you feel fully known, a celebration unlike any other, a union that bonds you, grows you, and will be one you will cherish forever. Not only will you be able to watch and share your special day again and again, but you can see the love in your spouse’s eyes, feel the warmth of an embrace, relive watching that gorgeous sunset together, and savor all the feelings that come flooding back from that very day.
And I have just the Joshua Tree videographer for you, check out some of wedding & elopement films here!
Best Time to Get Married in Joshua Tree
There are a few factors to consider when picking your wedding date in Joshua tree like weather, location, and tourists! Typically, the best time of year to get married in Joshua Tree is April, May and early June. Early Spring temperatures are more mild and you can avoid the scorching desert heat in the summer. Getting married in Joshua Tree in the spring is ideal as temperatures are moderate, wildflowers are beginning to bloom, days are longer and sunnier, and the natural beauty of Joshua tree is on full display. Spring months in Joshua Tree mean beautiful specs of wildflowers across the desert floor, optimal weather for your outdoor ceremony, less crowds (especially if your date is on a weekday) and a more peaceful ceremony location tucked away somewhere among the parks endless natural beauty.
Things to do in Joshua Tree
National Park
Not only is Joshua Tree a stunning location to get married, but it also offers a variety of activities as well such as hiking, rock climbing, and stargazing. Plus, hiring me as your Joshua Tree wedding videographer means I will be there to join in on activities like hiking, climbing, or sitting around a fire with you to capture every aspect of your incredible adventure. I love being able to capture all the adventurous moments- not just the curated, wedding parts, but the fun, candid time with your partner and community so that you can relive your whole wedding experience over again from start to finish.
If you’re looking for more ideas of things to do while in Joshua Tree, check out the Top 10 Things to do in Joshua Tree here for more ideas and details/information.
Rock climbing and bouldering (my go-to activity in Jtree)
Joshua Tree is a world-class climbing destination. With over 8,000 climbing routes, 2,000 boulder problems and hundreds of crags to choose from, Joshua Tree has endless choices for a fun filled day of climbing. Not to mention the incredible rock structures and breathtaking views you get to soak in while doing it. If you’re new to climbing here are a list of the top rated guiding companies to take you on an adventure you won’t soon forget.
hiking, biking, horseback riding
There are so many amazing ways to experience Joshua Tree including hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Throughout the park, there are numerous trails to hike- a whole list of hikes available and categorized in easy, medium, and hard can be found here. When doing outdoor activities like hiking, be sure to pay attention to the weather forecast, heat, and bring plenty of water with you! Bikes are only allowed on roads open to vehicles, but can be such a fun way to explore the park and take in the views, covering more ground than you would walking. Joshua Tree also has two hundred fifty-three miles of equestrian trails and trail corridors which is a great way for people to access a lot of the park and make for a memorable tour of the park as well.
stargazing
Joshua Tree is considered an International Dark Sky Park due to its darks skies away from the lights and pollutants of the urban settings which means it offers incredible views of stars, the milky way, and meteors every night. This page also includes tips for stargazing, photography tips, and night sky programs that they offer as well. Joshua Tree’s stargazing opportunities are endless, breathtaking, and definitely something to take advantage of during your stay or wedding in the park.
Your Joshua Tree Wedding and Elopement Videographer
I have explored a variety of National Parks in our van, Sheila, but Joshua Tree has been a place I return year after year. I love feeling small as I scale each climbing route or sitting under the blankets of stars each night. There’s just something about the desert that brings a peace and celebration of the simplest of things — letting you breath a little deeper and walk a little slower.
It’s these things and more that make it an unmatched wedding and elopement destination. The surroundings of this vast landscape symbolize what I believe is important on a wedding day — simplicity, ease, and rootedness with your partner and nature. Pairing my love and admiration for the desert with my experience in filming couples in wild, vast spaces on their wedding day, I would love nothing more than to help bring your adventurous, intentional wedding vision to life and document it to share for generations.
Your Joshua Tree Elopement Videographer,
If you’re looking for adventurous video inspiration, check out my recent films below
Sunrise North Cascades Elopement Trailer
Rock Climbing Engagement Film in San Diego
Where to Stay for Your Joshua Tree Wedding
Joshua Tree National park as well as the surrounding area has beautiful areas to camp, desert styled airbnb’s to enjoy, or high end camping for a more comfortable but adventurous stay. Depending on the kind of wedding experience you are wanting, there are so many great options in and near Joshua tree from Jumbo Rocks Campground, high desert cabins, or luxurious yurts for a romantic getaway. Make sure to consider photos and video when picking a place to stay as well since we want to capture every detail of your day from getting ready to saying “i do” to celebrating the night away. Below is a list of great options to get you started on searching for that perfect place to start your adventurous wedding day.
joshua tree camping
There are 500 campsites available within the campgrounds that Joshua Tree has to offer. While they do have a few campgrounds that are first-come, first-served, most are claimed through reservation up to six months in advance. Camping among the Joshua Trees and on the desert sand among the grand rock structures is definitely an incredible experience to add to your adventurous wedding in the park. And you won’t have to go very far for your ceremony in the park either! If you’re considering camping during your wedding, make sure to make reservations well in advance, as many campsites fill up fast, especially early fall and late spring.
There are also a few private campsites in Joshua Tree National Park through people who have bought spots of land in the park like this private camp site that has a focus in Jumbo Rocks Campground. The site will be prepared and taken down for you, all you have to do is show up and enjoy the private Joshua Tree camping experience.
joshua tree airbnbs
There are numerous incredible airbnb’s in the surrounding area near Joshua Tree. Many of them have desert-style decor, amazing views or backyard oasis’ with small pools, and make for a memorable and beautiful getaway for your wedding. Not to mention great gathering areas for guests at your wedding to enjoy the night before and great getting ready spots for the morning of your special day. Take a look at these beautiful desert airbnb’s to get an idea of what is available around the area.
joshua tree hotels & glamping
If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous than a desert home but more comfortable and luxurious than camping, take a look at a few of these incredible glamping sites that offer that outdoor experience with a relaxing and homey feel for your Joshua Tree wedding. Both of these options offer secluded areas with beautiful desert views, incredible stargazing opportunities, beautiful outdoor amenities and adorable desert style details to create an enjoyable and memorable outdoor experience.
Make it stand ou
Permits to Get Married in Joshua Tree
If you are planning to get married in Joshua tree, you will first need to purchase and apply for a wedding permit as the park requires a Special Use Permit. Once you have your date and location selected, it’s time to take the next steps of purchasing a permit. The permit costs $120 but allows you to elope in one of the most beautiful locations and is definitely less expensive than planning a traditional wedding as well. So if you’re ready to start making plans for your Joshua Tree wedding, don’t hesitate to fill out my contact form and I can help walk you through the steps and make your desert wedding dreams become a reality.
Joshua Tree Wedding & Elopement Inspiration
An destination wedding is a great way to get to plan all the little details of your day that make it unique and special to your desert styled day, but it can be hard to imagine what it could look like without some help and inspiration from other Joshua Tree weddings. Details like invitations, table settings, florals, vow books, and a color palette for your day. Below is a Joshua Tree wedding mood board to help you start brainstorming and making your vision become a reality. There is no one right way to style your special day, but a few fun picks to add color, details, and something unique to your desert wedding can go a long way. And don’t hesitate to reach out along the way, I love helping your vision come to life and then capturing every detail of your memorable Joshua Tree wedding and adventure.
Interested in getting married in joshua tree? I’d love to hear from you!
Read more: Southern California Wedding and Elopement Locations
Check out my best places to elope in southern california blog for more!
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