La Quinta is a cute desert community about 30 minutes to the east of Palm Springs. Surrounded on three sides by the Santa Rosa Mountains, La Quinta is the home of the La Quinta Resort and Club, PGA West, Traditions, and other exclusive country clubs. I know a lot about the area because I bought a home there in 2004 when real estate prices had skyrocketed on the coast.
I found the La Quinta Resort and Club to be more of a sanctuary than a golf club. It is tranquil and serene. They have private bungalows similar to those found at the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles. The resort is sprawling, and includes a five-star hotel, condominiums, timeshares, and private homes. I would guess that it's about three miles square. And it backs up into the mountains on two sides so it enjoys a high level of privacy.
Last year I was hired by Ron and Linda Cohn, restauranteurs from San Diego, to photograph their son Jeremy's wedding. The Cohns are a lovely and generous family who could have chosen any location in the world for their son's wedding, but they chose the La Quinta Resort. They brought some of San Diego's best talent out, including Kathy Wright of Kathy Wright & Company florals, and Randy Stubbs of Silver Star Video.
About 150 black-tied wedding guests attended the traditional Jewish ceremony, which according to Jewish tradition couldn't begin until the sun had set behind the mountains. The reception was held in the Frank Capra ballroom, which was lavishly decorated by Kathy Wright. I was almost overwhelmed by the rich colors. Each table had a big "tree" of flowers coming out of a three-foot square patch of trimmed wheatgrass.
The hotel had prepared a theme drink for the event, Apple Martinis, and the more the guests drank the wilder the reception became. The live band, NRG, played until midnight, and the guests enjoyed a 5-star dinner prepared by the the La Quinta Resort banquet facility. If you're considering having a wedding at The La Quinta Resort, please call catering sales at (760) 564-5773 or email: weddings@laquintaresort.com
Contact information:
• Photographer Robert Marcos (760) 504-4787
www.robertmarcos.com
• La Quinta Resort & Club (760) 564-5773
www.laquintaresort.com
• Florist Kathy Wright (619) 299-2520
www.kathywrightandco.com
