California Backyard Wedding: Jessica + Mike

bride wearing boots

Today’s wedding is fun, sentimental + just so sweet! It also features the largest bridal party we’ve shared here on GWS – 24 people! :) The location for their wedding was one of their biggest inspirations for the day. Jessica’s family owned and rode horses for most of her childhood. She spent many days + weekends on trail rides, at horse shows, and training in the backyard. It’s for those reasons that her parents’ backyard is a very special place for her and was the perfect location for their wedding. Big thanks to Sara Lucero for the photos and congrats to Jessica + Mike!

knitted tie

first look

first look


Love the bright yellow knitted ties!

bride

wedding party

wedding party


Our biggest desire for our wedding day was to invite people into those parts of our lives and to make sure that each person knew the special ways that they have shaped us to be who we are as individuals so that we could be who we are now as a husband and wife.

bridesmaids

white and yellow bouquet

ring bearer

ceremony

hanging ribbon on poles

ceremony program

ceremony program

ceremony

here comes the bride sign

here comes the bride sign

bride and groom

bride and groom

bunting banner

backyard wedding

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

It was so amazing to sit at the head table under the massive pine tree that my mom planted when I was toddler and to watch people from all different seasons and stages of our lives in one special place. They were sitting at tables eating and laughing where our old horse arena was. They were shooting arrows where I would play hide and seek as a young kid. They were playing horseshoes where our horse pens used to be – it was an unbelievably touching moment.

yarn wrapped bottles

i spy wedding game

thumbprint guest book

bow and arrows

bow and arrows

dessert table

candy bar


And their wedding film by Fruitful Films!

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Planning the wedding was not the most stressful part of this transition by any means. I didn't realize that September 1 was our wedding, yes, but the week leading up to it was more than last minute wedding details. We were moving into our condo AND trying to plan and prepare for a 10 day vacation all at the same time. Any of those things alone could be stressful, but for them to be happening all at the same time was something else! Tangibly speaking, I would say to balance and prepare for those three things better than I did. Other than that, set yourself up really well to be able to just sit back and relax and watch the planning play itself out on your wedding day!

photography: Sara Lucero // venue name: Murieta Equestrian Center, + Bride's Backyard // hair stylist: Emily Barton // makeup artist: Emily Barton // paper goods: Mike McGowan // music: Jeremy Ricci of Dj Pro's // groom: H&M // groomsmen suits: H&M // veil: Gilded Shadows // garter: KrumpetsDesigns // sash: BeSomethingNew // flowers: Lori Fischer // cinematography: Fruitful Films

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