A Playfully Pink Wedding With Vintage Vibes at The Sands Hotel in Indian Wells, California
Shutting down the bar on the first date? Definitely a sign of an ever-lasting love! When Hilary Hahn and Drew Simon connected through mutual friends, the spark was undeniable—so strong, in fact, Drew decided to venture a bold ask of his date. “He asked me to take me to Hawaii that night,” Hilary revealed. “I said no, but a year later, I said yes—that’s where he proposed!”
The couple hosted a small ceremony in 2020 but wanted to throw a more substantial celebration a year later. This delayed event also meant that Hilary and Drew could be joined by a very special guest: their three-and-a-half-month-old daughter.
When designing their big day, the newlyweds stuck to very specific (and meaningful) inspiration. “I wanted to honor my mother, grandmother and, of course, our baby girl, born just three and a half months before our wedding,” the bride tells. “I grew up in a pink house and my mother always had these elaborate decorations, so I wanted to recreate that.” When thinking pink, there is perhaps no better venue than The Sands Hotel in Indian Wells. This renowned hotel is known for its blush details and '50s-and-'60s-inspired, Palm-Springs-chic aesthetic.
Our detail-oriented lovebirds filled the space with complementing decor. Set against the famous pink wall and door, the altar featured vibrant arrangements of varying sizes with pampas grass, roses, orchids and painted palm leaves bursting forth. Black chairs awaited friends and family to watch the “I dos." Each seat featured a pink fan to beat the California desert heat.
Hilary walked down the aisle with her precious girl in arms—the bride sported a classic Vera Wang gown with a tulle trumpet skirt and coordinating cathedral-length veil. The bridal bouquet featured an asymmetrical bunch of florals and bunny tail grass in cream, white and lavender shades. The couple’s daughter wore a tutu-style tulle dress accented with a headband displaying a large flower bow. Both ladies met the groom—clad in a sophisticated deep navy tuxedo—at the end of the aisle for the vow exchange.
Post-ceremony, guests were guided to the dreamy reception space surrounding the hotel’s pool. Suspended rattan chandeliers with gathered pampas grass, palm leaves and disco balls hung above long dining tables featuring white linens and tons of pink accents. Low centerpieces displaying fuchsia and white flowers wove around small votives in between each place setting. Attendees found their seats in modern ghost chairs to enjoy a delectable meal before dancing the night away in The Sands’ ultra-stylized restaurant, The Pink Cabana, which features pink and green details as a nod to the chic Palm Springs vacationers of the 1950s and 60s.
In addition to the tablescapes, Hilary and Drew provided guests with a number of stylish photo opportunities—the altar decor doubled as a picture backdrop for friends and family throughout the evening (with the addition of quarter-dome signage displaying the couples’ names, of course!)
Of their fashion-forward event, Hilary notes that they “threw out all the traditions and had food trucks, a mini neon carnival and flew in my favorite NYC DJ.” When prompted to share any words of wisdom for future brides and grooms, Hilary kept it light and fun, like her wedding day: “[Wedding planning can be] such unnecessary stress. Just have fun with it!”