Ajai and Jonathan’s romantic wedding at Fullerton Arboretum was inspired by the sultry vibes of the groom’s New Orleans roots and the couple’s adventurous engagement photo session in Joshua Tree. The arboretum, a sprawling botanical garden bursting with life, was the perfect setting for a seriously romantic garden wedding complete with a bespoke marquee from Create A Party hung with chandeliers and twinkling lights. The bride, a party planner and designer in her own right, DIY’d loads of the amazingly details but created the most beautiful floral arrangements from the eucalyptus gardens at the reception to the elegant bridal bouquets and flower crowns of mint, roses, and baby’s breath. Kayci Decker Photography recreated the magic from the couple’s desert engagement session, encouraging them to climb boulders and adventure in their formal attire on their wedding day for some unforgettable couple portraits.
The Couple:
Ajai and Jonathan
The Wedding:
Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, California
The most memorable part of the day was our first look. We were overwhelmed with so much emotion and the anticipation of seeing one another for the first time before we said “I do.”
Kayci was truly a gift from God. She kept us so calm and helped to regulate so many things. She certainly kept smiles on the faces of all our guests, and even danced with us at our reception. We were so comfortable with her the entire day. Kayci is now like family to us. We love her.
The most important think to us was creating an environment that was so romantic and so magical that by the end of the night everyone was left inspired and reminded that love still exists.
Try not to get so caught up with every single detail. Just remember that day is to celebrate the love you have for one another.
Our favorite photo was taken while standing on top of a boulder in the Fullerton Arboretum’s warm weather Eco system, and we had a blast climbing up the rocks to take those photos on our special day. We had taken a similar photo during our engagement photo shoot in Joshua Tree with our photographer, Kayci; And during this shoot, we were both so nervous climbing the boulders in our formal attire. Kayci told us to trust her, so we let go of our our worries, and the photos came out absolutely amazing – same as the adventurous photos we took on our wedding day.
Jonathan‘s family is from New Orleans. We wanted our wedding to convey a sultry and romantic vibe. We felt like the Arboretum was the perfect place and it exuded just that. We loved the ponds in the arboretum, and the arbor where our ceremony was held was breathtaking.
I DIY’ed almost everything, but my favorite DIY was the floral arrangements. My bouquet, the bridemaids bouquets, and the boutonnieres for my groom and the groomsmen. I went the the flower district the day before and handpicked my favorites: eucalyptus, mint, roses, baby’s breath, and a few more beauties.
Processional – Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud
Recessional – Jagged Edge: Let’s Get Married
First Dance Song – Johnnyswim: Take The World
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Kayci Decker Photography
Venue – Fullerton Arboretum
Floral Design – Ajai Guyot
Catering – Gaby’s Express Mediterranean
Invitations – Julia Elle
Wedding Dress – Calla Blanche
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – JJs House
Groom’s Apparel – Friar Tux Shop
Rentals – Create A Party
Favors – In the Mix Events
Congratulations to Ajai and Jonathan and special thanks to Kayci Decker Photography for sharing this stunning wedding with Junebug! For more garden wedding inspiration, check out this tropical garden elopement inspiration at Coqui Coqui Valladolid!