Zaena & Sergio's intimate backyard wedding felt like a breath of fresh air after a long hiatus from photographing weddings in 2020. Like most couples, their original wedding plans were turned upside down due to the pandemic. With a little creative thinking they were able to pull off a memorable and safe day so that their closest family could celebrate their union together.

Zaena chose a beautiful bohemian style Justin Alexander wedding gown and paired it with a pair of elegant heels from Bella Belle. Her pastel bridal bouquet had a gorgeous combination of white, lavender, and pink roses along with pink and white ranunculus, a variety of other spring florals, and lush greenery.

After helping her get dressed, Zaena's mother took a moment to take it all in and admire her stunning bridal look. I love this candid photograph where you can see the two of them practically glowing with joy!

After she was dressed and ready, I took a few minutes with Zaena for some bridal portraits before we headed out to meet her husband to be for their first look. This is one of my favorite parts of a wedding day because in addition to creating beautiful portraits of my bride, it also gives her a chance to take a deep breath and have a quiet and reflective moment before all the action of the day begins!

The talented Karinna from KBM Glam did a wonderful job creating this simple and classic bridal makeup look for Zaena that highlighted her beauty without being overpowering.

While I was photographing Zaena, my second shooter was over at Sergio's parent's home to document the family as they helped him get ready for the big day. Sergio chose a classic navy suit with black lapels and a black bowtie for his wedding day style. To compliment Zaena's bouquet, the florist created an understated boutonniere with a white ranunculus for Sergio.

The couple chose to schedule a first look at the Cerritos Sculpture Garden before the ceremony so that they could savor the first moment they saw each other on their wedding day. You can practically feel the anticipation rising in their photos below!

They both had such great reactions to the first look, I'm glad my second shooter was able to capture Zaena's reaction at the same time that I photographed Sergio's smile when he first saw his bride to be.

After they shared a few moments alone, we started their portrait session. One of the great benefits of having a first look before the ceremony is that you have way more time to capture lots of photos and you'll have more time after the ceremony to spend on pictures with your family, or relaxing for a few minutes before the reception.

Once we finished up with portraits it was time to head to the family home to make it official! Rental Props by Rojas did a great job dressing up this backyard wedding ceremony site with drapery, great signage, florals and more!

A sign of the times, I feel like we're going to see sanitation stations and masks at weddings for the foreseeable future, but at least there are creative ways to make it cute!

These two couldn't stop smiling during their ceremony, who could blame them?

Introducing the new Mr and Mrs!

After the ceremony the couple provided dinner for their families and Rental Props by Rojas did a great job transforming the space into a beautiful backyard wedding reception with white florals, a gorgeous sweetheart table and an awesome giant LOVE sign.

Before we headed out for the night, I asked the couple if I could steal them away for a few minutes to create some dramatic portraits with them. It was a great way to wrap up such a special day!

Here's what Zaena had to say about her photography experience:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Belinda is a superstar behind the camera. She captured our wedding day during the pandemic (March 2021). I am so grateful to her, she made sure everything went smoothly and was prepared for anything. I would recommend her services to anyone looking for a fantastic photographer to capture their event."

Vendors for this wedding:
Photography: Belinda Philleo
Florals: The Bloom of Time
MUA: KBM Glam
Gown Boutique: Garnet and Grace Bridal Boutique
Gown Designer: Justin Alexander
Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes
Tux: Clint's Tux Shop
Signage: RF Vinyl
Rentals: Rental Props by Rojas
Cake: Cinderella Cakes
Catering: Caliente Event Co.
Hair: Sola Salons - Jazmin

Planning an intimate backyard wedding for your special day? I'd love to chat with you about your photography! Fill out my contact form for availability and a custom quote.