Maggie Downs

Maggie Downs has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Afar. She is the author of the memoir Braver Than You Think and 50 Things to Do Before You’re 5, a guide to family adventures. She lives in the desert with her family, a cat named Coleslaw, and a pup named Popcorn.
Disco-Chic Wedding at Ingleside Estate With Broadway Glam and Kermit

Disco-Chic Wedding at Ingleside Estate With Broadway Glam and Kermit

Tequila shots in place of petals. A mirrored ceremony stage. A Broadway-meets-Rat Pack soundtrack capped off with a surprise duet featuring Kermit the Frog. Justen and Travis’  nuptials at the Ingleside Estate were anything but conventional, fusing classic Hollywood sensibilities with campy irreverence.

Midcentury Wedding at Indian Wells With Disco Balls and a Baby Blue Lincoln

Midcentury Wedding at Indian Wells With Disco Balls and a Baby Blue Lincoln

Set against the timeless beauty of the Coachella Valley, Caroline and Margo’s big day bloomed beneath the sun with plenty of personal touches and color. The couple’s love story began in college at ages 18 and 19, but life took them in different directions — Margo transferring schools for hockey, Caroline building a life in Boston.

Burning Man–Inspired Wedding in Palm Springs With Persian Traditions

Burning Man–Inspired Wedding in Palm Springs With Persian Traditions

When Layla envisioned her wedding to Alex, she imagined the most epic party outside of  the Black Rock Desert. So, with the Coachella Valley serving as the backdrop for their shared love of desert revelry, the couple’s Burning Man–inspired celebration pulsed with bohemian vibes, festival music, and endless joy.

Sinatra Estate Wedding With Old Hollywood Glam and a Joshua Tree Finale

Sinatra Estate Wedding With Old Hollywood Glam and a Joshua Tree Finale

Some love stories start with grand gestures, others with a simple “Heyy” waiting patiently in an inbox for five years.
Chicago natives Reilly and Joanna met at a summer concert on a ski hill, where Reilly casually mentioned that he had once reached out to Joanna on social media. She laughed it off — until she found the message, which had sat unopened since 2013.

La Vie en Rose: Behind the Gates at Marrakesh Country Club

Audio availableLa Vie en Rose: Behind the Gates at Marrakesh Country Club

Golden hour spills across Marrakesh Country Club like molten honey,  coating  the façades of  the villas and casting long, languid shadows over the clubhouse terrace. The air feels thick with anticipation, as if the desert itself is holding its breath, waiting for the night to unfold. Inside the clubhouse, the bar hums — glasses clink, gossip tumbles, and debates unfold with the urgency of  a  Jeopardy!  lightning  round, or a last-call confession

A Taste of Ixtapa: Chef Felipe Meneses Pelayo Connects Palm Desert and Mexico Through Flavor

A Taste of Ixtapa: Chef Felipe Meneses Pelayo Connects Palm Desert and Mexico Through Flavor

Palm Desert Food & Wine’s Sunday Brunch unfolded like a love letter to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, as chef Felipe Meneses Pelayo invited guests on a sensory journey through Palm Desert’s sister city — places separated by geography but united in spirit. For Pelayo, the executive chef and visionary behind Angustina Mezcal y Cocina in Zihuatanejo, this was an opportunity to share a story through food. His ability to weave ancestral techniques with contemporary flair has not only defined his culinary philosophy but also secured his place in the 2024 and 2025 Guía México Gastronómico (a prestigious guide celebrating Mexico’s top 250 restaurants).