A Classic Backyard Wedding at a Private Residence in El Dorado Hills, California

With a house and landscaping constructed to host large events, there was plenty of space to fit 180 guests at this classic backyard wedding decked out in a neutral color palette. “I really wanted a classic, romantic feel,” Shawna Smith (28 and a videographer) says of her marriage to Reid McNulty (34 and runs a nonprofit organization). “I wanted our wedding to feel current when we look back at the pictures 20 years from now.” Shawna wore a white lace wedding dress with a sweetheart neckline that was tied with a white sash around the waistline, which her bridesmaids matched by wearing knee-length dresses in different shades of white, captured on camera by Amy Shuman Photography. At the outdoor ceremony, Shawna and Reid stood at the wedding arch made of branches and accented with greenery, which blended nicely with the natural setting of the backyard, thanks to Toni Stackpole Events. Round dining tables dressed in white tablecloths were set with gold plates and champagne-colored napkins, decorated with pink and white flower centerpieces. Guests found their seats by locating the white table numbers accented with gold at the bottom, reflecting the three-tier wedding cake, which was our favorite part. While the bottom layer had a rose swirl textured pattern accented in gold, the two top layers were white and covered with gold on the top. "Reid and I enjoy good food, good drinks and spending time with our friends and family," Shawna says. "While planning our wedding day, we really just wanted to throw an amazing party for our best friends and family. I think we rocked it."