One Couple’s Intimate Autumn Wedding at Junipero Serra Museum in San Diego, California
Kelly Nyland and Angelina Bembry-Nyland first locked eyes across the yard at a mutual friend’s pool party. “It was a crazy road to get to the point that we were actually dating,” they reveal. “But we knew in our first week of being girlfriends that we wanted to get married.” Kelly first proposed to Angelina on a trip to Puerto Vallarta before enjoying a scenic meal, and Angelina proposed right back to Kelly a year later on her 40th birthday. With the pandemic came a long engagement, but the brides didn’t mind a bit.
Their venue choice was crucial to both Kelly and Angelina. “We fell in love with the venue and designed our wedding decor to match the Spanish-style architecture,” Angelina notes. “Kelly’s heritage is part Hispanic, and I’m from San Diego, so that’s where the ideas came from. We are not religious and don’t support colonialism, so we were glad to know that the venue and museum are making an effort to connect with indigenous communities.”
Kelly and Angelina were determined to find vendors that were inclusive and accepting. “Working with Miray at Klein, Epstein and Parker was so great from my first appointments,” says Kelly. “She asked my pronouns and respected how I wanted to express my gender on my wedding day.” Miray helped Kelly find her dream suit, a custom piece made with Italian fabrics and Japanese street style in mind. Kelly’s ensemble was complete with a Rolex watch from her aunt, a bolo tie from a vintage store, and pointy black leather Italian boots by Sartore with a Cuban heel.
Angelina, on the other hand, had a different vision for her wedding day outfit. After a disappointing experience at a bridal shop, she stumbled upon a bridal jumpsuit. It was perfect, the right amount of femininity, and it made her feel comfortable and secure. She added a silk sash and floor-length veil closer to the wedding day to make it more romantic and formal.
When the day arrived, the couple’s nearest and dearest gathered in the intimate museum space facing a simple wooden arch at the end of the aisle. “We loved the minimalism of the space, but also the existing historical elements that made it beautiful,” Angelina explains. “We enhanced that with beautiful flowers and utilized the simple mission-style arch for our altar.” For Angelina, the ceremony included the most anticipated moment of their day for her. “Rounding the corner into the chapel on my father’s arm and seeing all our family and friends was overwhelming and beautiful.”
Following the heartfelt vows, the newlyweds led their family and friends into their reception space. “We also decided to skip the guest book and instead opted for a photo album that we set out with a mini, instant camera for guests to take selfies with, which we were so happy with,” shares Kelly. She also notes that her evening’s highlight came right after their meal. “My 15-year-old niece’s speech that she gave after dinner was amazing. She was so poignant and brave to get up and speak in front of everyone.”
Guests ate at round tables with flowing, neutral-toned linens and low centerpieces with deep-and-light blooms. “We both love flowers and wanted unique elements and greenery like Spanish moss and some lighter hues like pink and orange to go with the darker colors in the wedding,” the brides say. “They just enhanced our venue, outfits and tables—the flowers were the cherry on top.” Attendees enjoyed a surprise flamenco dancer performance before dancing the night away themselves.
The new Mrs. and Mrs. have three key pieces of advice for couples amid planning. “1. We highly recommend using a wedding planner or coordinator throughout the planning process—especially on the big day. 2. While it’s important that your guests and wedding party feel comfortable and happy, you and your partner should make decisions based on what you both truly want. 3. During the planning process, we thought about hiring friends but ultimately concluded that it made more sense for us to hire professionals. You might save a few dollars by hiring friends, but things can get weird or uncomfortable when a friend shows up late or lets you down.”