A cowboy’s former estate, 225 palms, and a seven-foot bronze banana make a convincing start to a wedding weekend. The 13-acre venue was once Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch, later belonged to Merv Griffin, and now wears Jonathan Adler interiors among palm and citrus trees, three pools, croquet lawns, pétanque courts, a spa called Palm Springs Yacht Club, and enough eccentric rooms to make adding personality to the wedding largely unnecessary.

That head start is one reason Cathy O’Connell of COJ Events keeps Parker Palm Springs on her list. She gets three things here that she says seldom arrive together: “beauty that’s already built in, real privacy, and a team that sweats the details before I have to ask.” Parker also limits the number of weddings it accepts, which matters when you would prefer not to feel like Saturday’s slot between Friday breakdown and Sunday setup. The hospitality gets equally personal: Cathy credits the staff with guiding guests without making them feel managed, while Executive Chef Pedro Baroso brings Michelin-level training to the reception table.

Couples can take that privacy much further than a room block. Parker offers both a 144-room takeover and a full-estate buyout that closes the restaurants, spa, and grounds to outside guests, turning the weekend into a house party with considerably better housekeeping.

The Case for Making It Official

Norma’s serves brunch all day; post-wedding alarms are officially unnecessary.
Two red-clay tennis courts stay lit for matches after dark.
The Gene Autry House has a screening room and private sauna.
Giant chess, hammocks, croquet, and pétanque handle unscheduled afternoons.
Mini Bar and Counter Reformation keep the after-party on property.

Photography courtesy of COJ Events / Photographer: Matthew David Studio