A Fairytale Backyard Wedding in Los Angeles
A Childhood Treehouse and a Wedding That Felt Like Home
Imagine marrying under your childhood oak tree, wearing your favorite backyard as a dress rehearsal for forever. Deborah and Adam did just that—Deb’s treehouse standing watch, the Hollywood Hills framing their vows, and neighbors’ gardens turning into a secret reception wonderland. It wasn’t just a wedding—it was a homecoming.
That kind of authenticity—that comfortable sweetness—is exactly why I adore photographing weddings like this. It’s not about showy decoration or big production. It’s about heart.
Why a Backyard Wedding Felt So Right
Backyard weddings carry a kind of magic that venue halls simply can’t match. With Deborah and Adam, it meant:
- Intimacy and nostalgia: Deb married where she grew up. The treehouse in the oak tree was more than decoration—it was a piece of her childhood.
- Cozy and local: Their community came together to transform the space—neighbors offered yards, friends hung lanterns, and laughter filled the lawn.
- Budget-wise and meaningful: You get all the elation of a wedding day without venue markups. More budget for great food, thoughtful details, or travel honeymoon memories.
As we walked the lawn that evening, every gust of wind through the leaves and every glowing teacup lit by fairy lights felt like it belonged to their story.
The Whimsical Designer Touches That Made Magic
This was not a cookie-cutter event. Details showcased care and personality:
- Secret garden reception space filled with rose hedges, lantern-light in the trees, and butterflies suspended from low-hanging branches.
- Vintage china place settings and brass lanterns in corners—every spot felt thoughtful, unexpected, and nostalgic.
- Tea lights in the oak tree and butterfly garlands gave the reception glow that whispered “storybook” long into the night.
Deborah and Adam’s vendors helped make sure every detail reflected their vision.
The Vendor Dream Team Behind the Day
- Dress: Dreamers & Lovers – ethereal, personal, and effortlessly romantic.
- Florals: Hidden Garden – lush, wild, secret‑garden bouquets and branches.
- Music: Taylor Ashton – voice and playlist selections that invited tears and delight.
- Videography: Ryan Films – cinematic storytelling as natural and emotive as Teresa’s photography style.
- Cake: Butter Cake Shoppe – soft flavors, pretty icing, and a finishing touch that matched the personal whimsy.
- Catering: Erez Levy – thoughtful, local cuisine that felt like a celebration of home.
- Bridesmaids: Aritzia dresses with a relaxed elegance.
- Shoes: Steve Madden – familiar, stylish, and approachable.
Each vendor wove Deborah & Adam’s personalities into the day—from wardrobe to dessert and every garden-lit moment.
What Made Shooting This Wedding So Memorable
On the photography side, my approach was the same I bring to every wedding: documentary, emotional, and unposed.
- I watched Deborah step into her dress in the early morning light, ghosting around the treehouse where memories lingered.
- I whispered with Adam as he wiped away a tear during their exchange of vows.
- I captured guests as they wandered the secret garden, faces aglow in lantern halos.
- There were hugs and cheers under oak branches, cake cutting among wild florals, and a dance floor that felt like a backyard block party lit by string lights.
Every image looked low-key, beautiful, and honest—because the day felt that way.
Why Backyard Weddings Like This Work Beautifully
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Homemade charm | Your story, your yard, your memories. |
| Intimate vibe | Smaller guest count means less stress and more presence. |
| Nostalgic feel | Childhood spaces carry emotion and familiarity. |
| Local & budget-smart | Fewer lifted dollars on venue = more on meaning and experience. |
| Custom & unique | You control every detail—no generic wedding boxes. |
Final Thoughts: A Wedding That Felt Like Forever
This wedding was pure joy. It wasn’t polished or posed—it was real and rooted. Deborah’s childhood treehouse stood guard, neighbors’ yards became whimsical reception spaces, and every photo felt like a memory in progress.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that feels like home, a lush, intimate backyard celebration in Los Angeles, or a day shaped by nostalgia and personal meaning—let’s talk. That kind of wedding, that kind of story, is exactly what I live to capture.
📸 Inspired by Deborah & Adam’s backyard day and want a wedding that truly reflects you?
Let’s connect and bring your vision to life.
My photography is a blend of art, experience, and instinct, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. It started 22 years ago, the first time I stepped into a darkroom, a moment that sparked a lifelong pull toward capturing the world through a lens. That pull eventually led me into the fine art space, collaborating with artists, managing studios, and working alongside galleries and museums, studying art and photography through both undergraduate and graduate school, where my aesthetic developed under the influence of critical theory and contemporary art. I found myself drawn to the intersection of documentary photography and the spontaneous, unfiltered moments of real life. My goal has always been the same: images that are raw, honest, and deeply human.
I founded Teresa LoJacono Photography in 2013, and started experimenting with wedding photography in 2019, on purpose, and differently than what I’d been trained to expect from the industry. Travel plays a huge role in my creative process too, I find inspiration in the unfamiliar, letting light, movement, and emotion guide my eye. With a camera in hand, everything becomes a canvas and a chance to catch what’s actually happening, not what’s staged for it. If there’s one belief that’s driven all of it, it’s this: have fun, and let it be what it’s going to be. I’ll be there to catch whatever happens.
