1. Real Weddings

Josette & Seth: An Outdoor Wedding in Temecula, CA

Seth likes to say that he and Josette went fishing off the company pier. In other words, the two worked together as colleagues for several years befor

Seth likes to say that he and Josette went fishing off the company pier. In other words, the two worked together as colleagues for several years before getting better acquainted during late-night deadline crunches on a fast-track project. THE BRIDE Josette Murphy, 35, an interior designer THE GROOM Seth Sakamoto, 52, an architect THE DATE October 26 When it came time to plan the wedding, many things fell nicely into place. Josette's sister, Nita, lives on a five-acre farm that butts up against a California nature preserve. The home, situated near Temecula, is surrounded by old oak trees and overlooks a natural creek bed. For the couple, it seemed almost natural that they would be married there. We loved the raw, untouched beauty of the area and planned the event's layout to take advantage of the views, Josette says. We wanted to strike a dramatic contrast between a dressy all-white wedding and the wild landscape beyond.

They toiled for two years to get the lay of the land on the property just right, changing elevations and adding flowerbeds. The last skip loader left in a cloud of dust at 3 p.m. on the day before the wedding! Josette recalls. But the evening wedding went off without a hitch. The ceremony was held in an open meadow that looks out upon a valley. Josette and Seth laid an aisle runner made of cotton tarp and exchanged their vows under a natural wooden arch. Each chair held a paper parasol, and the oaks nearby were hung with bamboo wind chimes.
The Flower Girl
The Reception
The Couple
The Bridal Bouquet
It was the cake, though, that took guests' breath away: a French creme-filled confection with a jacket of white chocolate surrounding four tiers was made to look like a stack of origami boxes. A friend of the couple's designed and created the unique cake.