Photo: Bright Bird
Where do two design aficionados celebrate their wedding? For New York couple Ashley Fortune and Steven Turtzo, the answer was the Parker Palm Springs Resort—Jonathan Adler's playful, vibrant ode to midcentury-modern design. On May 12, 2012, the couple threw a modern, colorful soirée at the California resort, with the sunny weather providing the perfect backdrop for their outdoor wedding ceremony and reception.
"I grew up spending summers in Palm Springs," said Ashley. "I'm a fashion designer, and Steve is a graphic designer, so we loved the Parker's midcentury-modern look."
Steve proposed with a black diamond engagement ring from Conroy + Wilcox—Ashley loves black.
The bride wore a Vera Wang dress, accentuated with a black sash. "I fell in love with the construction of my Vera Wang silk-organza gown—you could lift up the top layer of the skirt and see that all the layers were hand-sewn," she said. The bridal bouquet was made of white anemones. "Anemones are my absolute favorite!" Ashley said.
Steve wore a J.Crew suit. (Ashley is a designer for the company.) His fiddlehead-and-billy-ball boutonniere now sits on a vase on the couple's kitchen table.
The bridesmaids wore different dresses in nude tones; the groomsmen donned gray suits with matching bow ties. The bride's nephews wore J.Crew, just like the groom. Guests picked up glasses of lemonade before the ceremony.
Ashley's father, Lance, walked her down the aisle to "Here Comes the Sun." The ceremony was decorated with tassel garlands. "We are obsessed with Confetti System's tassel garlands!" said the bride. "After the wedding, we hung ours over our bed."
The outdoor ceremony was everything the bride wished for: "We wanted to get married someplace with sunny weather and beautiful landscaping."
Ashley created mustache cutouts for the reception seating cards; later in the evening, they served as photo-booth props. Steve designed the menus—as well as the save-the-date cards and invitations. "The entrées were sea bass and braised beef short ribs, but everyone told us the highlight was the lobster mac-and-cheese appetizer—it was amazing," said the bride.
Tables were covered with pink peonies and the bride's favorite anemones. Lit-up lanterns also set the mood during the reception. Guests toasted with pink champagne. The florist spelled out the new family's first initials in carnations: Ashley's, Steve's, and their cat, Toby's!
The dessert table—which Ashley's sisters put together—included cupcakes, candy, macarons, and a small lavender wedding cake topped with Jonathan Adler salt and pepper shakers. Also on the dessert table: lemon- and chocolate-mousse shooters.
Photo: Bright Bird
"Our guests surprised us with a sparkler tunnel at the end of the night," said the bride. "It was so fun!"
—Rebecca Ascher-Walsh
Wedding Planner: Artisan Events || Ceremony Venue: The Parker Palm Springs || Reception Venue: The Parker Palm Springs || Bride's Wedding Dress: Vera Wang || Hair and Makeup: Amy Hansen || Groom's Suit: J.Crew || Florist: Artisan Events || Caterer: Revolution Brewing || Entertainment: Ian Broucek || Photography: Bright Bird