Cecilia and Anthony’s Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden wedding was a vibrant celebration that perfectly captured their love for vintage fashion and the spirit of Santa Fe. They embraced a unique disco-Western theme and encouraged their guests to get creative with bold, expressive outfits. As a florist, Cecilia took full advantage of the opportunity to design her own floral arrangements, adding a personal and artistic touch to every detail. With sparkling disco balls, lush flowers, and custom decor, the couple transformed their big day into a truly one-of-a-kind celebration.

Inspired by their dream of living part-time in Santa Fe, Cecilia and Anthony chose their friends’ cactus garden as the perfect setting for their ceremony. With the cacti as their backdrop, they exchanged vows surrounded by loved ones, creating an intimate and enchanting atmosphere. For the reception, they transformed Anthony’s restaurant, Popoca, into a culinary extravaganza. The result was a celebration that felt both personal and unforgettable.

Adding to the charm of their unique setting, the couple’s fashion choices set the tone for their celebration. Cecilia stunned in a modern take on a Vietnamese dress, while Anthony complemented her perfectly with a vintage suit jacket and bolo tie. Every detail, from the outfits to the decor, reflected their personality and style. Take a closer look at all the unforgettable moments and dreamy details captured beautifully by Monique Yvette—these breathtaking photographs are sure to inspire.

The Couple:

Cecilia and Anthony

The Wedding:

Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden, Oakland, California, United States

An Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden Wedding That Defies Tradition

It’s your wedding, so make it your own! We didn’t follow many traditions—instead, we put our twist on things. Even our “tea ceremony” was done with rum and was much more playful than usual. The bride didn’t wear white, and there was no walking down the aisle. Instead, we had a catwalk where everyone could show off their outfits, and we even handed out trophies. Our goal was to throw a fun party that everyone would enjoy. We made sure our personalities, style, and passions shone through, and when we look back at the photos, it feels truly unique. Our friends and family helped so much, and it made us feel incredibly loved.

Planning with Precision Through Spreadsheets, Balancing DIY Projects, and Help From Loved Ones

I’m all about spreadsheets, so we made a plan for what we wanted to stick to and kept updating the sheet along the way. We sourced a lot of our decor from friends (special thanks to Marissa for the disco balls and Nisha for lending her wedding parasols). We were also realistic about what we could DIY and what we didn’t want to stress over. We ensured our friends and family didn’t have to run big errands for us, so we invested in things that would keep everything running smoothly.

Prioritizing Food and Photography While Keeping Things Meaningful at Their Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden Wedding

We initially planned for a budget of $10,500, but we ended up spending closer to $13,000. Most of it went to food and photography because we wanted amazing photos to remember the day and for the food to be something people would talk about long after. We held the reception at Anthony’s first restaurant, Popoca, which meant a lot to us since so much heart and community support went into it. Plus, it was a bonus that it was free for us! It was also a happy coincidence that the restaurant made Bon Appetit’s list for the best new restaurant of 2024 that same week.

Empowering Their Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden Wedding Guests to Express Their Style with a Pinterest Board

There was a whole Pinterest board we shared with our guests. We love fashion, and it was this fun exploration of disco metallics and Southwestern flair. We didn’t want it to be fully gaudy. We liked the mash-up so people could pick and choose what fun clothes to wear.

Congratulations to Cecilia and Anthony on their eclectic, disco-western Altana Marie’s Cactus Garden wedding. A huge thank you to Monique Yvette for beautifully capturing all the details that made this celebration truly inspiring. Like this couple, don’t hesitate to add your own twist to traditions or infuse your special day with your own unique style.