Disco Daydream Elopement at California's Amboy Salt Flats

Cinematography: Filmed By P

Wedding Styles: Modern & Bohemian

Wedding Season: Summer

Submitted By: Karlee Dorian

Have you ever imagined a euphoric wedding backdrop like the Salt Flats in Amboy? Throw in disco balls, a circular metallic arbour and boho blooms to accompany and you’re getting close to the magic of this dreamy elopement inspiration.

Located in Amboy, California on the Mojave Desert, are the Amboy Salt Flats which are part of a larger, dry lake known as Bristol Lake.

Under an hour’s drive is Joshua Tree National Park, also a popular elopement destination and where iconic musicians have long made breathtaking performances.

Travel almost two hours and you’ll arrive in Palm Springs, home to luxury accommodation for the perfect romantic getaway. Amboy also falls on the historic route 66, a road where dreams have forever been chased.

With an ever-evolving style, elopement photographer Karlee Dorian collaborated with her fellow photographer Alazzia Gianni to incorporate metallics, disco balls, crisp florals and the feeling of euphoria in this inspiring styled shoot.

Karlee said her vision was to bring to life her very own disco daydream. In Amboy on the salt flats, they utilised the clean landscape to allow the couple and detail to speak for itself.

Having the theme based around a daydream set the tone and feel for the creatives involved who collectively captured a moment in time where possibilities are endless and there are no boundaries in time and space.

WE LOVE: The artistic choices of the shimmering disco balls against the milky landscape that glisten iridescently. How the shoot takes us on a romantic, emotional adventure. In our imagination it tells a tale of two lovers, escaping the limelight of Las Vegas or West Hollywood embarking on a romantic adventure to find the most intimate moment and place to elope.

The natural make-up by Stephani has a touch of glitz and glam. This is seen in the shimmery stars placed just above the eyes, capturing the starry-eyed moments felt on a wedding day and night.

Delia Haro’s bohemian, dreamy and forever lasting selection of floral arrangements are the cherry on top of the circular wedding arbor that frames the desert landscape beyond. The flower palette is composed of creams, blushes and beige's that blend alongside the natural, earthy tones present in the landscape. To contrast this she adds subtle, soft pastel bursts of lilacs and burnt oranges to the bride’s bouquet.

The Mia Riley modern, sheer and elegant wedding dress drapes onto the earth, it’s crisp white connecting to the pearly landscape beneath it. It’s paired beautifully with the grooms’ ivory suit keeping the styling modern yet minimal.

“The entire process of planning the shoot was liberating! To know that the collaborative vision you once had in your head is now a reality for everyone to see and enjoy. We created a mood board and pinned down the feel and details of what we wanted to execute. This was a little challenging, but through meetings every week and reaching out to other creatives we made it work.

Working together with other creatives was one of the coolest things. Everyone had their special gift and when you bring such talented people together to create a project it turns into a masterpiece. We had 4 months to plan and with it being my first styled shoot EVER it was a success!” - Karlee

To elope in such a remote location wouldn’t be free from logistical challenges. With Amboy being located in the Mojave desert, it has searing high temperatures of 105+°F in it’s peak summer month of July. Yet for those looking for exclusivity, intimacy and remoteness or just sheer “wow” factor then such a place could very well be for you. And if not, simply serve as inspiration for a bohemian, desert inspired elopement.

On a warm summer night you could only imagine the magic in lighting up your love on such a wide open space with Make Your Wedding Sparkle that ties perfectly into the theme.

Thank you to the team for evoking creative thought and a sense of inspiration, just as our dreams, have the endless potential to do so.

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