Abbie and Malik's wedding was a family affair. From the location in Palm Springs (where the bride vacationed with her grandfather growing up) to the "diligently hung vintage lace hoops," the couple incorporated their family and friends with heartfelt details. We're also totally infatuated with the florals-both the incredible bougainvillea that sets the scene at The O'Donnell House, and the bold desert event florals by The Bloomin' Gypsy. Most of all though, we're loving the amazing smiles and joy captured by beautifully by Hailley Howard Photography and we know you will too!

What made the wedding special and unique?

Abbie and Malik chose Palm Springs as their ideal destination for their special day. Abbie spent many vacations visiting her grandfather who resided in Palm Desert, so the location was extra special to her. In the early part of their relationship, Abbie and Malik would take road trips and spend weekends out in Palm Springs. In addition, they wanted their wedding weekend to be a short and accessible getaway for family, friends and guests. All of the decor was either created/collected by Abbie or her friends and loved ones, which made their wedding day even more special and meaningful.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

Abbie was set on finding a non-fussy, non-traditional "bride" dress. She was looking for something lace but more of a vintage feel. The dress she found at "The Bustle" was one of three that she tried on. She loved the off-white color which had a coffee colored underlay.

What were some touches added to make it personal?

The decor was a collaborative effort of friends and family. Abbie had friends over to help make much of the decor in advance. Her mother and friends also worked hard on the decor from out of state. The day of, they diligently hung vintage lace hoops from the balcony. Abbie had a parent from work hand-sew a long lace table runner from doilies that she had collected at various thrift shops and antique stores. The wedding arch was built by a former student's father. So, there was quite a village contributing. One other element that was very personal to us were the various photos of loved ones that were framed in the entryway. It gave the wedding a very sentimental approach, especially for guests as they entered.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The morning of the wedding, a giant rainbow appeared from a RARE morning rain (when does it ever rain in Palm Springs?!?). We knew that it was my grandfather looking down on us. (He had passed several months before the wedding, and we had hoped that by having it close to him in Palm Springs, he would be able to attend.) It was my dad that saw the rainbow, captured the photo and sent it to me in the morning, so it was very special. Also, of course, walking down the aisle and seeing all of our friends and family gathered in one place was incredible. That's definitely a more typical memorable part of the day, but I'm sure it's special and unique for every bride and groom. One other very special moment (that I'm so glad we chose), was to leave the wedding for a bit during our cocktail hour with our amazing photographer. She had a plate of food and champagne ready to go in the limo and we drove down to capture a view scenic desert shots. It was a great few minutes with us alone and being able to celebrate and let everything seep in. Not to mention, we were able to capture some incredible photos against the desert mountain backdrop.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Malik proposed to Abbie in a sunrise hot air balloon trip in Cappadocia, Turkey. The proposal came as a complete shock and surprise and was done in the most incredible setting. We were enjoying the sunrise view over the unique terrain of Cappadocia. It was out of this world and one of a kind!

Photographer: Hailley Howard Photography // Coordination: Lisa Sipe with The O'Donnell House // Floral: The Bloomin' Gypsy, Veronica Lowe // Venue: The O'Donnell House Palm Springs // Dress: Private Label "The Bustle" Del Mar // Hair: Cassie McNulty at the Ace Hotel // Makeup: Claire Alyse Makeup, Claire Stones // Decor: Bride's own // Catering: Westwood Catering // Food/Bev: Coordinated by O'Donnell House // DJ: DJ Mark with Creative Audio Productions // Photo Booth: Classic Photobooths