1. Real Weddings

A Simple, Rustic Wedding at Jardines De San Juan in San Juan Bautista, California

Early on in their relationship, Cecilia Manzo (29 and an administrative clerk) and Joel Melero (30 and in a production line) shared great memories exp

Early on in their relationship, Cecilia Manzo (29 and an administrative clerk) and Joel Melero (30 and in a production line) shared great memories exploring the area of San Juan Bautista, California. So for a wedding venue, it made sense to hold their simple, rustic wedding in the town where they fell in love. The ceremony took place at Old Mission San Juan Bautista in San Juan Bautista, California, with an ornate interior that needed little additional decor, captured by Red Eye Collection. The reception that followed took place in the same town at Jardines De San Juan, where the garden-inspired color palette of navy blue, gray and pink took over the space. Expressions Florist created flower arrangements with pops of fuchsia through chrysanthemums and roses—from the round bridesmaid bouquets to the topping on the three-tier white wedding cake. Not only did the decor at the wedding embody the classic color palette with a pop of color, but so did the wedding party attire. Bridesmaids wore floor-length navy blue dresses in a strapless style, with the exception of the maid of honor wearing a one-shoulder piece. Groomsmen matched Joel's charcoal gray suit but in a lighter shade, along with navy ties to match the bridesmaid dresses. As an added touch, all the wedding-party members had a fuchsia floral accent, whether it was the boutonniere or bouquet. Although the group as a whole embodied an eye-catching look, we couldn't stop looking at Cecilia's beautiful dress—a strapless ivory wedding dress with a sweetheart cut that was accented entirely in lace. What else did we love from this wedding? The subtle Spanish theme that the couple incorporated into the wedding day through the succulents in their arrangements, small Mexican bites served during the cocktail hour and, of course, the lively Mariachi Band! Check out some other inspirational details, below.

“Joel proposed by surprising me with a ukulele singer, who serenaded me with the song 'Marry Me' in front of both our families,” Cecilia says. “I received a beautiful double shank, halo diamond in a cushion setting for my engagement ring.”
Cecilia wore a simple silver necklace with a teardrop-gem accent dangling down the middle, creating an elegant touch that complemented her silver floral headband embellished with crystals.
Cecilia chose ivory open-toe shoes to wear on her wedding day, which were accented with a circular crystal accent on the top of the toes. The shoes were designed by Nina, and matched well with her ivory wedding dress accented in lace.
Cecilia wore a medium-length tulle veil, which blended in nicely with her ivory strapless dress accented in lace with a long train in the back.
The ring bearer held a small square box made of wood, which contained the wedding rings that would be exchanged by the couple at the ceremony. The box had the couple’s initials carved in white on the top of the box.
“The bridesmaids wore a strapless navy floor-length dress, and my maid of honor chose a one-shoulder strap design to set her apart from the rest,” Cecilia says. “The guys wore gray suits and navy blue ties with fun socks to add some personalized touches.”
Cecilia wore an A-line ivory strapless dress on the wedding day, which had a sweetheart cut and was entirely accented in lace. The dress had a long elegant train that draped down in the back.
Joel had a boutonniere of a single ivory rose and green succulent pinned to his gray vest, which matched with his pants and suit jacket chosen for the wedding day. He wore a white collared dress shirt underneath his vest and jacket, along with an ivory tie that matched Cecilia’s wedding dress.
The three-tier ivory wedding cake had a navy blue band wrapped around the base of each layer and was decorated with a subtle textured pattern. The top of the cake was decorated in an assortment of fresh flowers in a shade of fuchsia.
Floral Silver Headband Embellished in Crystals