A Classic Backyard Wedding at a Private Residence in Garden Grove, California

For Nick Mazza and Thomas Madden, planning a wedding that reflected who they are as a couple was a must. The pair decided to host the celebration at their home in Garden Grove, California—which had once belonged to Nick’s grandparents—and spent a year remodeling their backyard in preparation for the event. Their efforts paid off: The intimate setting evoked a relaxed, welcoming tone for the festivities. The couple looked to succulents (grown by Nick’s mother, no less) and eucalyptus to give the décor a sophisticated, natural feel, then wove in personalized details for a decidedly Nick-and-Thomas twist. In addition to Disney-inspired place settings—a nod to their monthly date nights at Disneyland—the couple put their signature on the menu, serving up their favorite cocktails and desserts, which included treats such as Reese’s, homemade peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies, and Joe's Italian Ice, which is where they had their first date. For their pictures, Nick and Thomas decided to make stops at a few special spots they both had grown up visiting, including Angels Stadium and Old Town Garden Grove. “We also wrote our own vows,” Thomas says. “Seeing Nick’s response to me reading them was very powerful. I snuck a copy of them in his luggage to find on our honeymoon too.”