A wedding should be two things: romantic & fun, and Melanie and Andrew absolutely nailed both! These two had such a beautiful, emotional San Juan Capistrano, CA wedding at Franciscan Gardens.  The day was lovely from start to finish and I so enjoyed getting to meet this couple and their amazing families!  

San Juan Capistrano Wedding

Franciscan Gardens is such a fantastic venue  choice for couples seeking a more private, elegant setting.  Their ceremony was held in the outdoor courtyard at the venue. It features tons of charm and ambiance from string lights hung overhead on the beautiful wooden pergola.  This ceremony was intimate, fun, and full of little surprises! The decor was beautifully curated and equally as elegant as the venue. Classic white floral arrangements next to the fresh greenery growing in the courtyard gave everything a very fresh, lively feel and it matched the mood of the evening.

Joy radiated through every moment of the day between Melanie & Andrew.  They stole little glances and smiles at each other all day! It was impossible not to join them in their happiness.  It was so much fun to get to be a fly on the wall for such a romantic day in their relationship. Andrew displayed such vulnerability and teared up a couple of times during the day, including as Melanie walked down the aisle.  Who could blame him?  These two are so in love and Melanie was the picture of bridal beauty.  Their smiles were their best accessories!

Bridal Portraits 

We snuck away for bridal portraits next door at The Mission San Juan Capistrano which allowed them time with just the two of them during the hustle and bustle of the day.  If you’re holding your wedding at Franciscan Gardens, I highly suggest utilizing The Mission for bridal portraits of your own. It is a 200+ year-old chapel and former community, as well as the birthplace of Orange County.  This historic landmark is the perfect locale for unique photos on your big day and I love the shots I got of Melanie and Andrew while we were there!  Special, individualized touches like this can help make your day even more memorable. 

Unique Wedding Traditions

Speaking of memorable, their friends and family were just as much fun as these two! The night was full of little surprises and unique traditions I hadn’t seen at any other wedding before this one.  Melanie Ice’d Andrew by secretly hiding a Smirnoff ice in the cake. He discovered the bottle as they were cutting into it and you can see from the photos how much fun they had with it!  A bit later in the evening,  they announced it was “toe time” and I was surprised by what came next. All the men in the family (and I mean all ages) took their socks off to display green toes as a means of celebrating the newlyweds.  It was definitely a fun tradition that made the night unforgettable! 

Melanie & Andrew, I hope that you two experience as much happiness in your marriage as I saw displayed on your wedding day.  Thank you so much for entrusting me with the photos of your big day.  Congratulations!  

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Vendor Team for Melanie and Andrew’s Wedding
Photographer : Alaina Elizabeth Photography
Venue : Franciscan Gardens
Wedding Coordinator : Details Darling
Florist : Florals by Jenny
Hair and Makeup : Flawless Faces
Dress : Mon Amie Bridal Salon
Groom’s Suit : Men’s Wearhouse
Officiant : Joe Schmaltz
Rentals : Archive Rentals