Intimate Backyard Wedding

This wedding by Marlin Munoz is truly special! Virginia and Christopher not only married one another on their big day, their two families also blended together. They wanted to honor that and stay faithful to who they are, so they kept things simple and natural. I love that Virginia chose to go barefoot! It adds such a charming bohemian feel.

More from the bride, Virginia:

We are a mid-life couple blending families, so we did not want a traditional ceremony. We wanted something organic and authentic–absolutely no pomp or circumstance.

I splurged and got a one-of-a-kind ensemble from the fabulously avant-garde couture store, Les Habitudes in Beverly Hills. There was no style number. I mixed two pieces: an off-white bustled taffeta skirt and a rose/taupe beaded bodice with an asymmetrical mesh shoulder sleeve. I also bought an off-white cashmere sweater that tied at the waist which I wore over the bodice when it cooled off in the evening.

I’m not a veil person, so I didn’t wear anything in my hair. The dress made enough of a statement – anything on my head would have been overkill.

We decided on a Quaker wedding because we loved the non-hierarchical philosophy. Instead of one clergyman officiating, each guest is considered an officiant and together the community “marries” the couple.

The guests (60 of them) sat in a large circle around us. Inside the circle of chairs was a circle of flower petals laid out on the ground. Chris and I and our two younger children–the flower girl and ring bearer–stood inside the petal circle. The circles symbolized our “sacred space.”

We said our own vows and then invited guests to speak. Some people had prepared speeches or poems, and some spoke off-the-cuff. When the guests were finished speaking, the ceremony was over. That was part of what made the wedding spontaneous and fresh: we didn’t know what people would say and we didn’t know the ceremony was over until it was over. Guests signed a wedding book signifying that they had “witnessed” our wedding–and so we we were married!

We had planned to get married at a more formal site, but when the economy crunched my husband’s business, we decided to move the ceremony to our backyard.

Five months before our wedding we bought an old craftsman home in a historic neighborhood, so the look and feel of that house – a bit frayed around the edges, but solid with great bones, that has stood for over 100 years – seemed appropriate for two middle-aged therapists creating a strong foundation for a new family.

See Also

A Bold Berry-Colored Vallejo Wedding

We live in a section of Los Angeles called West Adams. It is supposedly one of the ten most historic neighborhoods in the country.

The flowers were purple–mostly lilacs and hydrangeas. The tablecloths were camel and the napkins were celadon green. We strung some twinkle lights around the pergola rafters and put votives on the tables with the centerpieces.

Be yourself, be comfortable, and don’t be afraid to break with tradition. Your guests will likely be delighted by a wedding that is not the “same old.”

Wedding Vendors (Los Angeles, CA):

Photographer: Marlin Munoz/ Venue: Bride & Groom’s Home/ Florist: Gilly’s Flowers/ DJ: Better Music Services/ Caterer: Papa Cristo’s/ Beverages: Bev Mo/ Cake: Lark Cake Shop/ Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas/ Valet Parking: Valet Girls/Hair & Makeup: Dedra Whitt/ Bride’s Dress: Les Habitudes/ Bride’s Jewelry: Claude Morady/ Flower Girl’s Dress: My Girl Dress/Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein from 3 Day Suit Broker/ Son’s Attire: Calvin Klein, J. Crew Crewcuts, Nordstrom