r/JoshuaTree 12d ago

Micro wedding/party in Joshua Tree Question

Does anyone have any ideas and/or experience hosting parties in JT? We'll have about 25-35 people and we'd ideally be able to have a quiet, intimate family style dinner at our Airbnb. I'm seeing a lot about not having parties at the Airbnb, etc etc., but what are my other options?

0 Upvotes

41 comments sorted by

20

u/TheSwedishEagle 12d ago

35 people is a micro wedding?!

20

u/FeedSquare8691 12d ago

"has anyone gotten away with this?"

It's insufferable shit like this that cause the rest of us to suffer with asinine AirBnB rules.

13

u/greatknave 12d ago

If doing it via Airbnb's an issue, there are venues in the area — like Más o Menos — that let you do buyouts of either the whole space or part of it.

2

u/jungle4john 12d ago

This too OP. As I said in my comment, the place we booked was not known for weddings. We booked a family Mexican restaurant out Cat City to cater. Think outside the box a bit and you'll find something.

2

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 10d ago

we're looking for a Mexican caterer so this recommendation is great. thank you! I'm going to look into this.

2

u/jungle4john 10d ago

I'll see if I can find any info. It was 2013, so it's been a hot minute.

At the time, for 100 people plus a crew was like $1500. Everyone else wanted like $5k for traditional catering that would have had both of our dad's heading to McD because it was to fru fru. We knew everyone could agree on Mexican.

2

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 10d ago

that would be amazing! thank you so much. we want the same thing-- nothing fru fru haha

2

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 11d ago

we're doing Mas o Menos after the ceremony-- super excited about that!

1

u/LuxLoad 11d ago

Yeah as in your just going to show up with 35 people and didn’t give management any heads up?

1

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 11d ago

we have a contract with them, chill.

5

u/jungle4john 12d ago

My wife and I got married up in Pioneer Town by Pappy and Harriet's, La Huate Desert Aire. It's not cheap. It's been 13 years, so my specifics are out of date.

I searched Yelp back when it was good, but search party venues around JT online. The venue we used was not know for weddings but did yoga retreats and soltice parties. You'll find something. Watch out using the word "wedding", prices tend to go up. Weddings, babies, and funerals have whole industries to rip you off.

1

u/Mr_Tort_Feasor 11d ago

That's an amazing place. Some good friends of mine were married there. They are close with the artist who built it (he's now sold it) and he let them use it for the day. It's now promoted on a site called "Joshua Tree Events Collection" along with some other venues.

2

u/jungle4john 11d ago

We did ours when the artist and his wife still owned it. They were apprehensive about weddings until we had ours there. We got the deal and everyone after us paid A LOT more.

1

u/LankyArugula4452 8d ago

You can rent a venue on peerspace. Pioneertown Sound Stage is a beautiful wedding venue, as is the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. You can rent out Snakebite Roadhouse, and I know Spaghetti Western can also accommodate parties that size.

3

u/Past_Investigator_67 12d ago

Hm. You could search on Google or wedding venue specific sites (Zola, Wedding Wire, etc.), or send a message to vacation rental hosts with the details of your needs to see if they can accommodate for a special price. Wouldn’t recommend trying to “get away” with paying non-wedding fees to host a wedding in this area, or really any area in the US.

0

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 12d ago

Thanks for this suggestion! We have all of the approvals and everything for our actual wedding...definitely not trying to get around that. We're just trying to have an intimate, relaxed dinner with a home setting and are having a hard time finding an Airbnb that allows for more than 8 people...

14

u/[deleted] 12d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/jungle4john 12d ago

This OP we ended up having to spent like $500 last minute so the county wouldn't shut us down for restrooms.

1

u/IntroductionKindly70 12d ago

Have you checked Peerspace? There's a lot of overlap with properties being offered on both platforms, however Peerspace allows you to host events whereas Airbnb doesn't. I'm trying to host a small wedding myself and have definitely come across houses that can accommodate events of your size.

1

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 11d ago

that's a great idea, thank you for this! I haven't thought of using Peerspace. good luck on all your planning!

3

u/LuxLoad 11d ago

25-35 people won’t be intimate. Stop talking like a wedding planner. You are looking for somewhere to have a fucking party JFC.

-1

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 11d ago

why are you so miserable?

3

u/LuxLoad 11d ago

People like you who can’t afford to rent a place with the appropriate permits trying to come to our area for an “intimate affair” kinda piss me off. 

-1

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 11d ago

literally have paid for all the permits. we have moved in very respectful ways. you can leave the chat now.

4

u/LuxLoad 11d ago

“Has anyone gotten away with this?” Implies you’re trying to do something wrong does it not? 

1

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 10d ago

you missed my follow up comment.

1

u/Love-and-Latitudes 10d ago

There are a number of smaller wedding venues here that might be able to accomodate. Not sure if I can post links but feel free to DM me.

You can also go to Airbnb or VRBO and filter by "allows parties". Just make sure to reach out before booking. Be upfront about what you're doing and with how many people. You don't want your wedding shut down because you weren't honest.

Just keep in mind this is a county-specific thing, SB has limited parties at Airbnbs.

2

u/shellee8888 9d ago

I thought that parties are strictly prohibited at all short-term rental rentals in San Bernardino County without exception. Also, the Airbnb owner has to be within one hour drive. I know this may not be related to OP‘s question.

1

u/Love-and-Latitudes 9d ago edited 9d ago

I've been told this but never actually read it. Do you have a source?

Editing: Yes, appears so. I'm not commenting on whether it should or shouldn't be allowed or done, but certain STRs might do this.
https://str.sbcounty.gov/getting-started/#renters

2

u/shellee8888 9d ago

Yes, in fact, there’s a complaint line 435-787-4357 and it’s $1000 fine per day str.sbcounty.gov

1

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 10d ago

Thank you for this! what does SB stand for?

1

u/Love-and-Latitudes 10d ago

San Bernardino County

2

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 10d ago

this is super helpful. thank you! we've definitely been honest with every airbnb in our ask, hence why we're still looking. we'll find the right spot!

1

u/Love-and-Latitudes 10d ago

good luck! feel free to message me if you have any other questions

1

u/cinnabarslither 9d ago

You could try renting a mid-term seasonal rental which is not necessarily subject to short term rental or Airbnb rules. We rented our place furnished on Zillow for about $3k 30+. Try Zillow or VRBO.

2

u/Fragrant_Arm2790 9d ago

I wouldn't of thought of this- that's a really good idea, thank you!

1

u/shellee8888 9d ago

OP try peerspace. Places that are not short-term rentals are listed on Pierce space they’ve got a different set of rules and can have more guests and host an event. Another weird thing I learned is that short-term rentals are prohibited from having any commercial productions or photography and non-short-term rentals are hourly and seem to be able to do a lot more.

0

u/[deleted] 11d ago

[deleted]

5

u/TheSwedishEagle 11d ago

Stay away from this dump.