Wedding Day

Wedding

Boulder House

Reception

Mojave Desert Retreat

Celebration Of Love

Our hope

Stephen and I are inviting you to come celebrate our marriage with us on April 1st, 2017!We will have a small and intimate wedding on March 31st, 2017! (Yes, the day before we get to see you!) We, however, are hoping to also have a celebration of love, celebrating our love for each other and for all of you on Saturday, April 1st, 2017. (No joke!). Please come prepared for a casual gathering in the Joshua Tree Desert. There will be food and drinks for everyone's enjoyment. More details under the "Celebration of Love" tab!

We spent the first five months of our relationship barefoot, half naked, swimming in waterfalls and living off the grid. We fell in love in paradise. No, it wasn't on "The Bachelor."Once we left the island of Bioko, we were forever changed. Our minds, our hearts, our souls were intertwined in ways we could not even comprehend. We broke up when left the island, deciding it was a "jungle romance," a fling. How wrong we were! Only mere days after being back in the States did we decide we had to try again, despite the fact that Stephen was moving to Northern California and I was moving to Southern Idaho. 10 hours apart from each other, both working seasonal conservation jobs with limited time off. Yet, we made it work. Our love only grew and we had epic adventures together in the Great Basin. But, life was hard, our jobs separated us. Stephen went to Fresno, I went to Costa Rica. We were physically far apart but mentally connected. We both knew that we wanted the other one in our lives but we struggled to figure out how. After sometime, we rekindled our romance over a fire in the Joshua Tree desert. We decided to fight to be together because, clearly, we were awful at being apart. After sometime together exploring San Diego, Stephen moved to Olympia, Washington to pursue his Masters degree and I went to a tiny island off the coast of Maine to play with seabirds. But this time, we didn't let the distance separate our hearts.Once I finished my conservation job on the island, I moved to Olympia to be with Stephen. It's proven to be the best decision of my life. (Sorry, mom!) Not only am I madly in love with my soon-to-be husband, but I am madly in love with Olympia. Despite the cold. Now instead of running around half-naked on a black sanded beach, we spend our days wearing multiple layers and cuddled under blankets. But our hearts are always warm and full of love and compassion. A few months ago, I came home from work, exhausted and sweaty, (it was the summertime). And Stephen looked at me with the cutest and most loving smile I've ever seen and said "we should get married," I laughed and took a shower. Later that night, he brought up the topic again. We laughed and spoke of how wonderful it would be, and then we decided to just do it. Why wait? We already knew it was going to happen one day, we already knew we could never love another soul more. Now, we live blissfully in Olympia falling more in love everyday. (Yes, it surprises us everyday that we actually DO love each other more and more).

From one rain forest to another

Our Story

Our Wedding

The details

We're having a casual, soak up the sun party to celebrate our marriage! Hopefully it will be warm enough..if not, there is a hot tub! (It's small and we will have to take turns but sharing is caring; so remember your bathing suit!)The venue is a beautiful house, called the Mojave Desert Retreat in Yucca Valley. It's an amazing 5 acre property with a beautiful yard full of Joshua Trees. There will be food, drinks and merriment all around. If you have an instrument, bring it along! The party is intended to be a casual, come and go as you please, gathering. Please feel free to arrive whenever you would like and hang out for as long as you want and enjoy the desert with us! The early afternoon will be full of light appetizers and wonderful company, then as the sun sets we will have a buffet style dinner and a live band for about two hours! UPDATED TIMELINE: Please arrive to the Mojave Desert Retreat anytime after 12pm (noon)! There will be light appetizers and finger food (and, of course, some fine beverages) to start. This part will be a causal hangout, there is no real structure except to enjoy each other's company, we will have some yard games and some fun!Around 3pm, there will be a taco truck for a buffet style late lunch/early dinner. So, if you chose to arrive later but want to eat some yummy tacos - please arrive by 3pm!Starting at about 5pm, there will be a live band for two hours! To kick off the band, Stephen and I will have our first dance. (Followed by the father/daughter dance and the mother/son dance). And then free for all dancing!! After the band, we will still have music. If you any have Spotify requests, let me know :D Stephen and I will be sleeping on the premises and a couple other people have signed for up for camping so the party will last as long as you choose!Camping is still available at the Mojave Desert Retreat, so just let me know if you're interested. To let me know, put it as a note when you RSVP!! Thank you!! **The campsite option, however, is a BYOT (bring your own tent and other supplies) option, as we cannot provide those for everyone.Also, please be aware that the venue is a mixture of grass and desert floor (aka dirt), I suggest wearing shoes appropriate for the environment...you will sink into the ground with heels! Check out the band at <a href="http://www.streetlightcadence.com">www.streetlightcadence.com</a>!

Address and Directions

5323 Roberts RoadYucca Valley, CA 92284From Fresno: about 5 hoursTake the 41 South to the 99 South follow it to the 58 East Merge onto the 15 North towards the 40/Las VegasTake exit 247 South/Barstow RdTurn right onto 247 South/Barstow Rd, to stay on 247 South turn left onto 247 South/Old Woman Springs RdTurn left onto Hillcrest Drive and then turn left onto Roberts Road and the destination will be on the rightFrom San Diego: about 3 hoursTake the 15 North to the 215 NorthMerge onto 60 East then connect to the 10 East Continue onto the 62 East/29 Palms HighwayTurn left onto Old Woman Springs Rd, then right onto Hillcrest DriveFollowed by a left onto Roberts Road and the destination will be on the rightFrom San Bernardino: about 1 hourTake the 215 South towards the 10 EastMerge onto the 10 East then continue onto the 62 East/29 Palms HighwayTurn left onto Old Woman Springs Rd, then right onto Hillcrest DriveFollowed by a left onto Roberts Road and the destination will be on the right

Accomondations

Camping

Mojave Desert Retreat Camping We can offer camping at the property where the Celebration of Love will take place! The pricing will be dependent on the number of people who decide to camp but will be no more than $25/person. If you would like to camp with us, please let me know ASAP.Joshua Tree National Park CampingIf you would like your own adventure, camping will also be available at Joshua Tree National Park. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm">https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/campgrounds...</a><a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm"></a>Bureau of Land Management CampingThere is also free camping around Joshua Tree National Park on the BLM land. Please read the following PDF for more information about how to find those campgrounds; <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/OverflowCamping.pdf">https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/Over...</a>Every campsite option though is a bring your own tent (and other supplies), as we cannot provide those at any location.

AirBnB

Book an entire house or just a room from a local host through Airbnb!<a href="http://www.airbnb.com">www.airbnb.com</a>There are plenty of beautiful homes in Yucca Valley for rent and the owner of our venue has recommended some wonderful homes near the venue! Suggested rentals:<a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12456106">https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12456106</a>

Hotels

Joshua Tree Inn - 7 miles away <a href="http://www.joshuatreeinn.com">joshuatreeinn.com</a>61259 Twentynine Palms HighwayJoshua Tree, CA 92252Hacienda-style motor inn popular with famous musicians offering themed rooms &amp; an outdoor pool. Free Breakfast. 4 star hotel.Best Western Joshua Tree - 4 miles away<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-details.05680.html?iata=00171880&amp;ssob=BLBWI0004G&amp;cid=BLBWI0004G:google:gmb:05680" class="widget-pane-link">bestwestern.com</a> 56525 Twentynine Palms HighwayYucca Valley, CA 92284Laid-back lodging with flat-screen TVs, plus an outdoor pool, a hot tub &amp; free cooked breakfast. 3 star hotel America's Best Value Inn &amp; Suites - 4 miles away<a target="_blank" href="http://www.oasisofeden.com/" class="widget-pane-link">oasisofeden.com</a> 56377 Twentynine Palms HighwayYucca Valley, CA 92284 Standard rooms &amp; quirky themed options, all with free Wi-Fi, in a modest hotel with an outdoor pool. Free breakfast. 2 star hotel

The Celebration of Love

Extras

Photos

Registry

Wedding Party

Q + A

We can offer camping at the property where the Celebration of Love will take place! The pricing will be dependent on the number of people who decide to camp but will be no more than $25/person. If you would like to camp with us, please let me know ASAP.Joshua Tree National Park CampingIf you would like your own adventure, camping will also be available at Joshua Tree National Park. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm">https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/campgrounds...</a><a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm"></a> Bureau of Land Management CampingThere is also free camping around Joshua Tree National Park on the BLM land. Please read the following PDF for more information about how to find those campgrounds; <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/OverflowCamping.pdf">https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/Over...</a>Every campsite option though is a bring your own tent (and other supplies), as we cannot provide those at any location.

AirBnB 

Travel

Things to Do

While gifts are appreciated, please know that your well wishes and presence is present enough. If you still desire to spoil us, please bear in mind that Stephen and I will be flying from Olympia to Southern California and will not have room for large items. Therefore, instead of a gift, we humbly ask for assistance in helping us enter this marriage financially secure.

Stephen & Jennifer

Stephen & Jennifer

S&J

Wedding Day

1:00 PM

Wedding

Reception

Celebration Of Love