Last week I had the pleasure of visiting The Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California. Hillary Gluch is the catering manager in charge of weddings there. The resort is modern and in the style of an expnsive Italian palazio. Very open with lots of rough stone walls, bouganvilla, and polished marble floors. They hotel was remodeling the pool area while I was there, but David, their director of catering told me that once completed the new pool will be better suited for cocktail receptions and other social functions, as well as a larger and more beautiful swimming pool.
Wedding ceremonies are bellisimo in any of Miramonte’s outdoor sites. The Olive Grove is a meticulously groomed grassy courtyard ringed by mature olive trees. Strawberry-colored bougainvillea sprawls theatrically over balconies that overlook the Grove, and a magnificent fountain plays a trickling melody. In another part of the resort weddings blossom on Miramonte Green, a manicured lawn bordered by flowers in a spectrum of vibrant ball-gown hues. For intimate ceremonies couples share their vows in the Herb Garden, where a small fountain bubbles amidst fragrant sage and lavender.
To keep the rest of the festivities outdoors, venture upstairs from the lobby to the Piazza, a broad, colonnaded patio with a spectacular view of the resort, the Santa Rosa Mountains and the ever-changing desert horizon. Guests savor fine wines and Tuscan-influenced cuisine, while basking in the glow from an outdoor fireplace fashioned of creamy stone. Terracotta floors, rustic fixtures, and imported rugs contribute to the Piazza’s convivial, Old World ambiance. Next door to the Piazza is the Terrace, a fabulous outdoor option for a cocktail hour, especially in combination with the Miramonte’s four ballrooms and their foyers. The rich, earthy palette of desert sunsets and vineyard mornings reflected in the resort’s color scheme are especially beautiful in the ballrooms. Spacious and flexible, any of these grand indoor spaces makes a glamorous setting for a sit-down affair.
Brissago, Miramonte’s on-site restaurant and patio, offers a gourmet experience for a congenial rehearsal dinner or distinctive brunch—or reserve any of the other event areas for these customary wedding gatherings. Miramonte’s catering experts offer many delicious culinary themes, from Toscano to Caribbean, and pride themselves on both exquisite taste and service. A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, this property features gracious accommodations, a state-of-the-art spa, and an uplifting atmosphere—all of which will make it hard for you to leave its serene embrace. You might as well plan on spending at least part of your honeymoon right here!
CEREMONY CAPACITY: The Olive Grove holds up to 250 seated, the Miramonte Green up to 250 seated; the Piazza holds up to 100 seated, and the Herb Garden holds up to 25 seated.
EVENT/RECEPTION & MEETING CAPACITY: Several venues hold up to 600 seated guests, including the new Mediterranean Ballroom, available January 2007.
Please contact Hillary Gluch at (877) 716-7987 for wedding information.
