Anna & Shawn's fall Los Angeles wedding spanned across not one, not two, but three locations! The day began at a cozy airbnb with with lots of laughs and natural lighting that perfectly accommodated the getting ready and detail shots. The couple wanted to have their first look and all portraits including bridal party and family done at a nearby park, so next we all headed over to Penn Park in Whittier, CA! Finally, the ceremony and the rest of the party took place at an absolute gem of a venue - the Secret House of Ivy in Downey. This was my first time here, and the location seriously lives up to its name. With its hidden entrance, gorgeous ivy covered arched pathway and architecture walls, this place is the perfect hidden venue in the middle of busy Los Angeles for smaller weddings! This wedding had about 70 guests and the atmosphere was perfect for this sized party.

getting ready

Anna in her breathtaking gown, Shawn in his elegant suit, and a few details to capture the essence of the morning.

first look

Although Penn Park appears pretty small on the map, it turned out to have quite a few hidden locations for us to choose from! Anna wanted the first look to be pretty private, but still photographed. We found a cute path behind a small creek, which was perfect for what she wanted! It allowed me to stay back behind the creek while Anna walked down a winding path towards Shawn, which was definitely a movie princess moment. The scene was a picture perfect with her gown flowing behind her and the trees, creek and foliage framing the first look location.

A black and white wedding photo series showing a couple sitting on a stone wall in a garden setting.

A couple in wedding attire dance together on a stone-walled garden path surrounded by lush greenery.

Couple in wedding attire poses against rustic stone wall in garden setting at dusk.

A couple in wedding attire sits together on a rustic stone wall surrounded by lush greenery in a garden setting.

Some of my favorite images are those captured in the in between. When you're purely in the moment and don't realize you're being photographed, that's when the magic usually happens. Just like these two photos! Shawn holding the train of Anna's wedding dress and the two smiling as they walk back up the path. I absolutely adore these photos.

A couple in wedding attire walks along a rustic stone path in a garden setting.

A couple in wedding attire playfully pose on a stone retaining wall in a wooded park setting.

Family & Friends

After the first look, it was time for some quick family, friends and bridal party shots. Anna surprised the girls with some parasols and now I think I never want take bridal party shots without them! The pictures seriously came straight out of a movie. Taking these photos here at the park, instead of later at the venue, had several advantages. First, parks have a lot of empty space, making it easy to take large group pictures with enough distance for me to make those creamy backgrounds. Second, without having to stick around for pictures after the ceremony, everyone could head straight for the fun at cocktail hour!

Couples portraits

This park was filled with little bridges! I counted three, but I'm sure there were even more. I'm not sure what it is about bridges, but they just add so much romance to the scene! So, for the couples portraits we made our way through two of them for some extra romantic feels.

A couple in wedding attire share romantic moments on a pathway with green fencing and trees in the background.

A couple shares romantic moments on a rustic wooden bridge surrounded by lush greenery in a garden setting.

Close-up view of a bride in white lace dress and groom in navy suit standing together on a wooden bridge.

A couple in wedding attire poses together on a wooden bridge surrounded by lush greenery in a garden setting.

~ Also lets just take moment for these black and whites ~

venue portraits

Oh. My Gosh. This venue. The arch as the entrance to the ceremony space, the vines framing the walkway, the candles at every step, the cutest lanterns, and even butterflies! The attention at to detail at The Secret House of Ivy is just impeccable. I truly don't have words, so here are a three thousand of them :)

Couple shares romantic moments in a garden setting with hanging lanterns and lush greenery creating an enchanted atmosphere.

A couple in formal attire poses with white parasols in a lush garden archway with vintage lanterns.

A bride in a flowing white wedding gown poses gracefully in a garden setting with vintage lamp posts and greenery.

VENUE Details

This wedding had everything. A harpist, a guest audiobook, tiny little parasols for the sun-filled ceremony, and even the cutest little labels for the guests of honor. I'll let the photos say the rest!

Outdoor wedding ceremony setup with wooden cross-back chairs arranged on grass lawn with ivy-covered walls and white umbrellas.

A series of images showing someone playing a classical pedal harp against a green hedge background.

Vintage white ornate rotary telephone with decorative metallic details sits elegantly on a curved metal table.

Woven basket filled with white plastic utensils and paper napkins sits next to scattered papers on an outdoor table.

Ceremony

Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for! The ceremony took place under the beautifully intricate iron gazebo that is the centerpiece of The Secret House of Ivy. Pink and white florals along with, of course, more ivy, wrapped around the pillars, framing the couple. I absolutely love when venues have built in arches, gazebos or other elements made specifically for ceremonies.

Wedding guests gather outdoors at a garden ceremony with brick walls and ivy creating an elegant backdrop.

A series of candid moments captured at an outdoor wedding ceremony with guests seated in white chairs.

A series of close-up shots showing hands holding an elegant white wedding invitation with text details.

A wedding ceremony under a beautiful floral arch with pink and white roses and greenery.

Wedding guests seated in wooden crossback chairs watch outdoor ceremony under floral arch in black and white.

A romantic wedding ceremony moment under an ornate metal gazebo adorned with pink and white floral arrangements.

A romantic wedding couple shares a dip kiss in a garden setting with floral decorations and lanterns.

Cocktail Hour

While the ceremony space was being converted into the reception area by the venue team, the party headed to cocktail hour. Guests left messages on the audio guest book, took lots of photo ops along the ivy walls, and enjoyed some delicious sandwiches and desserts from Porto's Bakery. I 100% recommend having Porto's for cocktail hour, ESPECIALLY their Besito cookies!

A group of people gather at an outdoor garden party with an arched entryway and green hedges in the background.

A series of black and white photos showing someone in a white dress laughing joyfully against a light background.

Three women in elegant dresses of yellow, pink and teal stand together laughing against a leafy green backdrop.

Rows of fresh raw chicken breasts displayed in a butcher shop or meat counter.

Chocolate-colored deer-shaped cookies with decorative antlers displayed on a white plate against a dark background.

Reception

An ornate golden cart for the three tiered cake covered in florals and a beautifully choreographed and executed first dance, the perfect ingredients for a memorable reception.