Love was in the air at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. And not just because of the romantic lyrics being sung from the mainstage, or the new connections made through dancing at the Do LaB. Wedding ceremonies and vow renewals took place on the festival grounds this year.
Heather Mendoza more or less fell into officiating weddings at Coachella. As an event planner, she’s recognized how expensive ceremonies have become in recent years. Having a unique wedding herself — she got married at her boxing gym — the Long Beach resident came up with the idea to offer her services for free at the annual music festival.
She shared a video on social media proposing the idea and was met with an influx of inquiries of couples looking to get married on the festival grounds. Because she was offering the service for free, while also attending the music festival with friends, Mendoza was intentional about the couples she selected and how many time slots she would have available to perform the ceremony.
@theheathermendoza
Would you get married at Coachella?
Hey I’m Heather Mendoza, a Southern California Wedding Officiant and Event Planner and I’m looking for 2-3 couples to marry at Coachella weekend 1. If you’re already ENGAGED and down for a festival wedding in the desert, I’ll be officiating FREE ceremonies. ** REQUIREMENTS: • Must be 21+ • Must be attending Coachella Weekend 1 (with your own pass) • Must bring a valid California marriage license AND be a California resident • Must provide valid ID (Passport or Drivers License) All UNMARRIED couples welcome
the gays, the baes, everyone in love If this is your vibe, DM me, comment if you love this or send this to a couple who would want to do this
#Coachella2026 #CoachellaWeddings #Engaged #WeddingTok #KaliUchis
Two weeks before the festival, she had an interview process with the couples she had narrowed down from the application pool. More of a conversation than anything, it was a chance for Mendoza to learn more about the couple’s love story, connect with her clients and find out what Coachella meant to them and their relationship.
For Nydia Infante and Micahel Castro, who she married on the first day of the festival on Friday, April 10, the couple had been together for over 20 years and share two children. Mendoza’s service felt like the perfect way to tie the knot after all these years.
@theheathermendoza M & N get MARRIED at COACHELLA
Coachella Wedding Officiant Heather Mendoza Venue: @coachella Rainbow Tower @Wedding Planner & Officiant #CoachellaWedding #WeddingOfficiant #Married #Coachella2026 #Officiant
The couple lives in the Coachella Valley so both their kids, as well as some of their in-laws and friends, were able to join them for the ceremony in front of the famous Spectra rainbow tower on the festival grounds.
On Saturday, April 11, she performed a vow renewal for Anthony Espinosa and Richard Cruz in front of the Do LaB. After the ceremony, the couple was able to immediately start the celebration as they made their way into the crowd for the DJ set.
Mendoza stayed on the campground, which allowed for her campsite to be the meeting point for the couples as well as their friends and family. She also set it up as an opportunity to get some pre-ceremony photos as well as where they could sign the official documents.
@theheathermendoza Check out my Coachella Campsite! It’s the PINK PALACE
stop by and say Hi! @coachella #Coachella #CoachellaCamping #Barbie #Coachella2026 #Glamping
As an added bonus, a content creator named Evelyn Oritz (@Amor.Archives.Co) volunteered her services to capture videos and moments from the weddings after seeing Mendoza’s original video online, proposing the idea.
Unfortunately, a few couples had to drop out for one reason or another, including one couple who’s resell tickets got cancelled at the last minute and couldn’t afford to get new ones at the higher price point.
As for what’s next, for Mendoza, she hopes to be able to officiate more weddings in meaningful moments, such as Gay Pride in Los Angeles. In addition to wedding ceremonies and vow renewals, she also wants to extend her services to commitment ceremonies and have a more official chapel at events to add to the experience.