In the time I spent with Melissa and Mario, it was very apparent from the beginning that their bond was strong.
They got married in the same desert they got engaged in. Both natives to California, they wanted to celebrate their family’s heritage, which is all mostly from Mexico. As you’ll see in the details, this wedding truly brought the guests home to the country that they love.
A few notable things from the day:
• Marigolds (significant to Mexican culture) and pampas grass were prominently used in all floral arrangements. There were even little marigold pom poms scattered about on all the tables.
• Since Melissa + Mario both come from families of ranchers, they always had horseshoes hanging on their front doors. As gifts to guests, Melissa and her girls got together and yarned horeshoes. I was also there, we ate pizza and drank wine. 🙂
• Being a school teacher, Melissa arranged for a school bus to be the guest’s shuttle to their desert ceremony spot.
• When we got to the ceremony area, there was a large group of Marines who were leaving after a full day of climbing the rocks.
• The getaway vehicle was Mario’s uncle’s 1966 candy apple red Ford Mustang convertible.
• Each table at the reception was labeled a city in Mexico that family were from. Mario made all of the signs at the reception.
• There was a four-piece mariachi band that serenaded guests at the reception.
• A taco truck with modern Mexican dishes satiated everyone’s appetite.
• In lieu of a champagne toast, there was a tequila toast.
Photographer: Kim Newmoney (Second: Lindsey Warren)
Venue: Mojave Sands
Dress: Rue De Seine
Makeup + Hair: Alyssa Gonzalez
Flowers: New Rose
Obligatory behind the scenes photographs. 🙂
I was very lucky to be able to fly my dear friend Lindsey out from North Carolina to shoot this one with me. 🙂
Kim Newmoney Photography 