Kelle and Weston said “I do” at Malibu Phoenix, a beautiful hidden estate in Latigo Canyon, well hidden in the hills of Malibu. Their main goal when planning their wedding was to focus on the lasting commitment they were making to one another. Their ceremony was small and intimate, but they opted for larger reception with all their family and friends. With the help of their families, Kelle and Weston transformed Kelle’s Uncle’s backyard into their dream venue: a DIY bar, wooden initial decorations, strands of white lights, and everyone that they love together in one place. Photographer Richard Cao was on-scene capturing all the fun and love from their big day.

The Couple:

Kelle and Weston

The Wedding:

Malibu Phoenix, Malibu, California

From the Groom: The most memorable part of the wedding for me was seeing Kelle come down the aisle. I didn’t expect to be so transfixed but with her walking toward me and the music playing, I was overwhelmed with happiness.

From the Bride: For me, the most memorable part of the wedding day was hearing the vows Weston had written for me! He put so much care and thought into every word. I will cherish those sentiments and the way he looked at me while he was saying them for the rest of my life.

Our main goal throughout the planning process was to keep things stress free. We dated for almost eight years before getting married, so we wanted our wedding day to be focused on our relationship and the commitment we were making, not necessarily on lots of guests, or the details of the party.

Our whole reception was pretty much a giant DIY project since we pieced the whole thing together in the backyard. Kelle’s mom made our incredible cake. Her dad made our entire bar out of pallets! He also made our wooden initials, hung the lights, made our table numbers, and he and Kelle worked together on the hanging, wooden seating chart. It was definitely a family affair.

Processional – When She Laughs  by Bibio
Recessional – In My Life  by The Beatles
First Dance – Makin’ Out by Pomplamoose

We had our reception in Kelle’s uncle’s backyard. The house was formerly owned by her grandparents. It’s the home where her mom grew up and where Kelle spent many afternoons as a child, playing with cousins and spending time with her grandparents. It was super cool to be able to make one of life’s greatest memories in a place that already means so much.

Many thanks to photographer Richard Cao for sharing Kelle and Weston’s Malibu Phoenix wedding with Junebug. For more DIY wedding inspiration, take a look at this quirky, vintage, and metallic Port of Burlington wedding.