A Modern Desert Wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley, California

For their September wedding, Ife Cooper-White and John McMichael brought New York autumn to Simi Valley, California. Their décor and flowers complemented the Spanish Colonial architecture of the venue, the natural desert surroundings and the color palette of burgundy, ivory, gold and green. The ceremony took place in a garden anchored with two pampas grass floor arrangements measuring five feet tall, while the reception was on the venue's lush grounds. Ife stunned in a beaded and embroidered ball gown with horsehair trim, while John went with a pink suit. "A wedding is the one day couples don't usually take fashion risks, but I wanted my personality to shine through—and to do so with a little flair," John says. "Because my mom passed away in 2008 from breast cancer, I decided to go with a pink suit." The groom rounded out his look with velvet loafers with "love" emblazoned across the toe, a concealed button front dress shirt and a black velvet bow tie. "Love was the thread that tied everything together, and it just so happens to be the meaning of my wife's name," the groom says. Personal touches included an illustrated guest book and Tupac enamel pins as the wedding favors. Our favorite #MakeTradition moment: "One cultural component that we incorporated was jumping the broom. The broom was designed by one of our family members," the couple says.