Joshua Tree National Park is a truly dreamy place for a wedding. The unique landscape, the glowing sunsets, the ethereal vibes - it’s gorgeous! While getting married inside the park is totally something you can do with the right permitting, you may choose to get married in a proper venue nearby. If you’re having guests, choosing one of the beautiful Joshua Tree wedding venues can often be the easiest way to go. You can still get incredible portraits together inside the park! That leaves the question, what venue should you choose? 

What to know about Joshua Tree wedding venues

When it comes to elopements, I often recommend planning an Airbnb wedding. However, if you’re planning an intimate destination wedding with guests, Joshua Tree can be a little tricky. In most cities, Airbnbs will charge you an event fee to hold an event there, but in San Bernardino County, local ordinances prevent this at a certain size. Legally permitted short-term rentals (STRs) in San Bernardino County only allow events of 12 people or less during the day (yes, even if you get permission from the Airbnb host). There are some STR properties in Yucca Valley that allow 16 people, but if you plan on having more guests than that, you’ll need to book a place that’s permitted as a venue. Some Airbnbs are permitted as venues, but you’ll need to ensure it has that venue permit to host a wedding of more than 12 people (depending on the location). 

Luckily, there are some INCREDIBLE venues in the Joshua Tree area! While a few of the more Pinterest-popular wedding venues have closed since the pandemic, there are still great options. The best part is that many of them double as rentals so you and your guests can stay on-site!

These venues options are based purely on my research as possible options for your wedding day and are meant to help you jumpstart your own research. I know how overwhelming googling can be! I have not yet photographed at these venues but would love to do so, with YOU!

The Morada 

Max Capacity: 150

Surrounded by the Mojave Desert, The Morada is a stunning estate wedding venue in Joshua Tree. Located just 10 minutes from downtown Joshua Tree, this redesigned 1958 pueblo house can host up to 150 guests, making it the perfect venue for weddings of any size. With a backdrop of mountain views, desert plants, and remarkable sunsets, this estate is a dream venue for your outdoor wedding! I especially love the narrow, modern pool outside.

Rimrock Ranch

Max Capacity: 22

If you’re planning a smaller, more intimate wedding, Rimrock Ranch, located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park is the perfect spot. This venue has four 1940’s style cabins on its 36-acre property. The landscape is spotted with flowering cacti and rolling desert hills, making it one of the most stunning Joshua Tree wedding venues.

Sacred Sands

Max Capacity: 100

One of the great things about many of these Joshua Tree wedding venues is that they offer indoor and outdoor spots so you have options (or if the weather takes a turn). That’s the case at Sacred Sands, a gorgeous boho-style wedding venue in Joshua Tree. Host your cocktail hour on their outdoor patio, which overlooks majestic views of the Mojave Desert, and then enjoy a reception in their romantic ballroom. This spot is almost fully booked for the rest of 2022, but they have plenty of availability for 2023!

The Wheelhouse

Max Capacity: 150 Reception, 120 Seated Dinner

This artistic 2,221-square-foot ranch is a dream spot for couples looking for contemporary and retro style wedding vibes. Located near the entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, the open-floor-plan house has a lot to offer both indoor and outdoor. Your guests can enjoy a private pool, spa, firepit patio and covered outdoor dining room while overlooking unobstructed mountain views. This spot has a decidedly more modern vibe than most Joshua Tree wedding venues.

Penny Lane

Max Capacity: 150

Penny Lane Ranch is a contemporary, rustic wedding venue with a 2,200 sq ft barn with white interiors. This wedding venue sits on a landscape overlooking olive trees, palm trees, and endless mountain views, making it a dreamy spot to elope in Joshua Tree. This property also provides a number of options for indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spots. The ceremony site offers sweeping views while the barn can be decorated as boho, chic or rustic depending on your style.

Boulder Grove Ranch

Max Capacity: 130 seated, 140 standing

Boulder Grove Ranch is a picturesque Joshua Tree wedding venue. This spot has both indoor and outdoor venue spaces, allowing you to choose which vibe best fits your wedding dream list. One of my favorite spots is the ceremony site with those stacked round boulders the park is known for. But there are so many different settings here! Whether you want a rustic feel for your reception, a romantic, wooded backyard, or a modern barn to host all the dancing, Boulder Grove has it!

Pioneertown Motel

Max Capacity: 200

This is one of the most iconic places to stay in Joshua Tree. The town of Pioneertown was built in the 1940s as a filming location for old Western movies. The motel looks like it’s straight out of one of those movies! Each room is named after a movie star considering stars like Gene Autry have stayed here. The rooms have been gorgeously modernized since, and they allow events on site. Whether you’re looking for an intimate spot to have your wedding in Joshua Tree, or a spot to host a large number of friends and family, Pioneertown Motel offers 3 unique spaces for guest lists of varying sizes. There’s a barnyard option, an amphitheater, and the Canteen lounge. This venue is the perfect spot for anyone looking to have a more Wild West aesthetic for their wedding.

Autocamp Joshua tree

Max Capacity: 165

If you’re not familiar with Autocamp, it’s a series of lodging properties around outdoors locations made up entirely of rentable Airstream campers. There happens to be one in Joshua Tree and you can rent the hotel common space as a wedding venue. There’s even a place for food trucks to hook up and serve your reception! The building featured in this photo is the Mohave Dome, which can be used for a beautiful sit-down reception for up to 50 guests. You could even do a buyout of the entire property and have all your guests stay in Airstreams! It’s truly a unique spot to get married.

Which of these Joshua Tree wedding venues will you choose?

Whether you want modern, boho, Western, or something in between, there’s a Joshua Tree wedding venue for you. Once you decide where to get married in Joshua Tree, you’ll need to choose a photographer! If you’re looking for destination wedding packages, you’ve come to the right place. To see more of what I have to offer and how I can help you have the perfect day, check out my wedding packages.

Ready to get married in Joshua Tree?