A Fresh Bohemian Wedding at La Quinta Resort & Club in California

The casual vibes and picturesque terrain of California’s Palm Springs inspired Blair Duckworth (26 and a graphic designer) and Spencer Paysinger (27 and a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins) to host a destination wedding full of desert charm. “We were looking for a beautiful desert sunset location and La Quinta was just that,” Blair says. "It was important for us to have everything in one place." To match the chic breeziness of the venue, Blair paired her modern two-piece gown—a Chantilly lace crop top and silk organza skirt—with an illusion veil. The groom put a twist on the classic tux by donning a custom green suit and vest with a vintage pearl tie bar and suede loafers. And for his wedding ring, Spencer chose a unique meteorite band. The bridesmaids wore custom jumpsuits fit for the summerk temperatures, and succulents popped in the bouquets and boutonnieres. For the ceremony, Blair’s mother rewrote the lyrics to “Real Good Hands," which were sung for the bride’s processional into the courtyard. At the reception, “We wanted relaxed but elegant, with neutral tones, succulents and rose gold,” Blair says. Gray stoneware and copper flatware topped the wood feasting tables. To lighten the mood, the pair included giant Jenga blocks, a second-line parade and a playlist of ’90s R & B jams. “We chose ‘Love on Top’ by Beyoncé because every time it comes on in the car, we both jam!” Blair says. From there, hip-hop and R&B kept guests grooving all night. The couple honored their mutual Southern roots through their menu: a family-style feast of blackened catfish with crawfish étouffée, corn bread and a signature cocktail—the Sweet B, made with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and lemonade. For dessert, five naked cakes in three different flavors satisfied the sweet tooth of the crowd. Since Blair isn’t a fan of cake toppers, her design team at Rock Paper Details, Events took the opportunity to surprise the pair with a custom neon sign they added to the boxwood wall to “top” the dessert table. A play on Spencer’s last name, “Love Pays” served as the couple’s hashtag. To create the sign, the team took Blair’s handwriting of the phrase to a local designer to replicate it for the four-foot-wide piece. “It was the biggest surprise of the day,” Blair says. “This is now one of our favorite features in our home and a constant reminder of our wedding."