We ask that you consider booking one of the many lovely rentals in the list below -- many are walking distance to the venue! If you prefer a hotel, we recommend the Field Station Hotel in Yucca Valley. They still have rooms available as of late March 2025, and it is much nicer than the other hotels in the area. (There are almost 20 guests staying there - if you are one of them, we encourage carpooling to the Welcome Dinner, Wedding, or Sunday Send-Off) Accommodations Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CmHzBT5rLmd-N1ujgRu9UfWmEmgyO1pQYkrlBgHVEr0/edit?usp=sharing
Although May has some of the best weather in the high desert, the temperatures can vary widely. Historical averages are in the high 50s at sunrise, the mid 80s at 3pm, and mid 60s at 10pm. It could be a bit hotter or cooler, or a little windy. Embrace the unknown, and come prepared!
'Ranch formal' or 'desert chic' are location appropriate, but anything classy and comfortable will do. Don a linen dress or suit, or dust off your cowboy boots and hat. Wearing crisp dressy denim with a sharp top or blouse is a-okay. Light, earth tones, or colorful attire will be much more comfortable than dark materials. Dirt-friendly shoes are recommended, as are layers for when it cools down at night. The ceremony, dinner, and reception will all be held outdoors.
- Bring your national parks pass if you have one, for free entry to Joshua Tree National Park. Entry is otherwise $30 per car for a weekly pass. - Bring sunscreen, lots of water, and snacks, if you are driving around the park or desert. There are no amenities aside from pit toilets in the national park - not even anywhere to refill a water bottle. - Bring a backup cell phone battery pack. Cell service is spotty in the area, which can make your battery die quicker as it searches for service. We also recommend printing a map or saving to your phone directions to places you are going, in case you lose service en route. - Many of the hotels and rentals in the area have pools, cowboy tubs, or hot tubs. There are also hot springs nearby. Bring a swim suit if you'd like to use these.
Your presence at our wedding is the biggest gift we could ask for - and we appreciate that for many of you, that is a considerable trip! We will have a registry on this site, but likely not until the month prior to the wedding. As many of you know, we have been displaced due to smoke damage from the Eaton fire in early January. We don’t yet know how many of our belongings will be cleanable or replaced by insurance. We will send an email blast with our registry once it is live. If you would like to contribute to a cash fund, you can do so fee-free on Venmo to the account @Hillary-Barton. Funds sent here will be split between our Baja Blast (mini Honeymoon) in May, and replacing our smoky old HVAC, which will not be covered by insurance.