A Beautiful Backyard Wedding in California

After Layne Marr and Bucky Moore got engaged in Kona, Hawaii, on New Year’s Eve of 2014 (mid-firework show, swoon!), they didn’t have to look far to find the perfect place to tie the knot. “I have always known I wanted to get married at my childhood home in California,” says Layne. “I was lucky enough to grow up in the most beautiful setting, and my mom’s love for flowers means our home is surrounded by a stunning garden!”

To let the location really shine, the pair kept their wedding design clean, classic, and minimalist, turning to Jenna Lam Events to add a little edge to their gray and white palette. She paired all-white flowers with Lucite, marble, and concrete elements that resulted in a modern contrast to the romantic garden setting. On July 16, 200 guests gathered in the Marr family’s backyard for a heartfelt—and totally chic—celebration of love, photographed by Meg Smith Photography.

Keep reading to see why we love this beautiful backyard wedding!

For her bridal look, Layne went with a statement ponytail (so fun!) and one-shoulder, architectural Romona Keveza gown. “I wanted something classic, but a little bit different,” says the bride about the one-shoulder design. “I never had an ‘aha!’ moment, but after 20 more dresses, I came back to this one," she says.

The bride paired her sleek dress and accessories with a modern bouquet of anemones, peonies, and orchids.

The ceremony took place on the lawn, with two lush trees framing the altar. The aisle was lined with white hydrangeas in concrete vessels, adding a little grit to the natural setting.

The bride walked down the hydrangea-lined aisle with her father to “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The couple exchanged vows they'd written themselves. “Over a year later, people are still telling us how much they loved the vows Bucky and I wrote,” says Layne. “I snuck a Justin Bieber quote into mine, which gave the emotional moment some comic relief!”

During the backyard wedding's cocktail hour, guests grabbed "his" and "hers" cocktails (a Whiskey Smash and a Campari-based Cielo Rosso) from the bar decorated with vibrant peach dahlias and peonies, a bright spot in the otherwise cool color palette.

As guests headed toward the clear-top tent pitched over the tennis court, they found their table assignments handwritten on a white capiz chandelier.

The newlyweds snuck into the reception tent during cocktail hour, where they celebrated with their first cocktail. "We got to witness the beauty of the room before the party began," says the bride.

Beneath the tent, a cluster of Moroccan-inspired lanterns lit the space. A mix of rectangular concrete and linen-covered tables were decorated with pillar candles and low arrangements of white blooms. Marble chargers were layered with silver napkins, and each guest's name was written on piece of Lucite for yet another modern touch.

“We are total foodies, and wanted our guests to be well-fed,” says Layne. She and Bucky chose to have a French service, with family style platters served by waitstaff that allowed guests to choose what looked good and eat as much of the dish as they wanted. The menu included a fresh peach salad with shaved Parmesan and basil purée and roasted leg of Sonoma lamb with grilled figs.

“We’re huge fans of Juan MacLean’s music and DJ'ing,” says Layne. “Having him there was a highlight of the night!”

When the dancing got underway, Layne and Bucky were blown away by the energy. “There’s no better dance party than the one at your own wedding,” she says.

At the end of the night, the bride changed into a colorful floral mini just in time to cut into their marbled wedding cake. “It sounds weird, but we had a banana cake, and it was the most delicious cake we’ve ever had,” says the bride.

Layne and Bucky were in great hands throughout the process, but still had bouts of pre-wedding stress. “Just remind yourselves that all of the planning and decisions, while difficult at times, are a small price to pay for the best day of your lives!” says the bride.