Florals to die for and romantics on the doc over the Mission Bay, the only thing that may have topped both of these attributes from Thomas and Ariana’s wedding was having The Office playing all night in front of the sweet heart table. Here’s a look back at our recent wedding at The Pointe in Mission Beach.

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day? 

A: The inspiration for my wedding day was a mix of me and Thomas' style. I wanted to incorporate a really natural simple yet classy style. I love earthy tones and colors and wanted to have a lot of greenery. I wanted it to be more of a earthy/boho wedding style rather than a ballgown  formal one. Me, being full Mexican American, and Thomas being Cahuilla and Mexican, we knew we wanted some cultural meaning for our special day. We incorporated some Native American cultural aspects in our wedding by having a Pendleton blanket wrapped around us after we said our "I do's". This was a representation of our unity as a newly married couple. Thomas also sang "bird songs" with his bird singing group which are called the "TM bird singers." While the men sing, women stand across from them and dance. The songs are traditional gathering songs. Sung to bring people together and celebrate. They are about the history of Cahuilla people. This was especially meaningful for us because of Thomas' appreciation and pride for his cultural background.

Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY? 

A: The location of our wedding was a small, simple yet beautiful one. With nice views of the harbor to grass and palm trees, there was not too much that I had to decorate. I wanted to keep it simple and earthy. The ceremony decorations had one focus which was the big floral arbor. My florist Angeline did an amazing job with this beautiful view of lush eucalyptus leaves and an array of florals. The arbor was really the centerpiece of our ceremony and brought my vision to life. For the reception, our venue provided beautiful wood tables and greenery within the reception building. I wanted the tables to be bare with no cloth covering and decided that eucalyptus garlands would stand out and look natural along with the wood tables. The rest of the decorations were small touches that brought everything together.

What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding? 

A: When it came to florals I wanted the main focus to be more on greenery than flowers but I did incorporate some flowers. The flowers were mainly use to bring in lots of texture to the bouquets to make them appear sort of messy to create sort of a boho chic look. Pampas grass and other dried flowers/leafs added a sharp, almost pointy, texture also. The florals definitely played a big role in the style and look of my wedding overall. I loved every detail my florist added to each piece especially my flower crown. 

Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding? 

A: I relive that the location we picked was really not a traditional style venue but we customized it to our liking. We wanted a place really relaxed and a space with  indoors or outdoors settings. The place itself and the view outside was one of my favorite things about that day. I also really loved how there were tv's inside of the building and we were able to play our favorite show during the whole reception which was "The Office." I think that our guest really enjoyed that  entertainment. I really love everything about that day and it's hard to choose a favorite!

How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal. 

A: We actually met each other in high school and were good friends. After high school we kept in touch and eventually were a couple. The rest is history! After being together for almost 5 years he popped the question on me. It was such a surprise because the day of, I was taking family photos of my whole family. We all met at this really nice outdoor park and while I was busy taking pictures he stands behind me, taps me on the shoulder, and gets down on one knee. As I turn around speechless, my whole family is standing around holding up pictures of me and Thomas as he asks me the question! One of the best days of my life and he was so sweet enough to gather all my family there to witness it all! 

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day? 

A: Thomas and I knew we wanted to get married early on in our relationship and having that day finally come was beyond amazing. The most anticipated and special moment of my wedding day was to finally say "I do." It was the most emotional moment but the best one. I'll always remember that feeling. I also really wanted to celebrate with our family and friends who supported and love us. Everything was so special and worked out just as I planned. 

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day? 

A: If I could give other couples advice it would definitely be to plan, plan, plan. The best thing to do is give yourselves enough time to plan and get everything you want for your special day. I spent a year planning my wedding and it all went by so fast. Finding good reliable vendors takes time and is worth the wait. Also have a wedding planner book/binder so that you stay organized. I will make things much easier to find. And last but not least try not to stress and just enjoy your special day because it will go by so fast.

We say it all the time, but one of the best parts of being a wedding photographer is experiencing all of the different cultures on different couple’s days. Thomas was Native American and had his group come and perform with him during the reception. There was so much tradition and hearing the history of the songs behind it was amazing. It’s such a blessing to get to partake in moments like these, moments that we otherwise never have the chance to experience or see. If you are panning your wedding and have a cultural tradition make sure to incorporate that into your wedding as it’s a special memory you and your family will remember forever.

We are Southern California wedding photographers and videographers based in Pacific Beach San Diego. If you are planning your wedding here in California we’d love to connect and share our favorite places on weddings! From small intimate elopements to large weddings with family and friends there are so many unique ideas when planning your wedding. If you live in the area or visiting from out of town and happen to find yourself down this way we’d love to meet up and grab a drink and meet up! We have met so many cool people throughout the years and contribute it to this amazing journey, hope to talk soon!