There is something especially personal about celebrating a wedding at home. For Monica and Ricardo, their Del Mar wedding brought friends and family together at the bride’s mother’s home for a relaxed summer celebration filled with beautiful flowers, incredible food, live music, and one unforgettable coastal sunset.

Guests traveled from near and far to celebrate with the couple—and their adorable six-month-old baby—making the day feel as much like a joyful family gathering as a wedding.

Getting Ready at Home

Monica’s bridal style felt perfectly suited to a summer wedding in Del Mar. She wore a Cult Gaia Finley knit dress, a beautifully simple silhouette finished with pearl straps. Her Larroudé sandals featured dimensional leather daisies, a playful detail that tied beautifully into the garden setting and floral design.

She carried a bouquet of crisp white orchids, keeping her bridal flowers modern and understated. Even the smallest details reflected the day’s relaxed sophistication, from her jewelry to the floral-inspired shoes.

Of course, one of the sweetest parts of the morning was having the couple’s six-month-old daughter there for it all.

Ricardo wore a blue plaid suit, adding a little pattern and personality while still feeling classic for the occasion.

A Garden Wedding Ceremony in Del Mar

The ceremony took place on the lawn in front of the home, where rows of white garden bistro chairs faced a lush floral installation by Societe Fine Flowers. Cream, soft yellow, peach and touches of greenery complemented the surrounding gardens without feeling overly formal. One of Ricardo’s close friends officiated the ceremony, making the exchange of vows feel even more personal.

Cocktails, Colorful Flowers & an Open-Air Dinner

Following the ceremony, guests flowed through the house and into the backyard for cocktails and dinner. The private-home setting allowed each part of the celebration to feel connected while still revealing something new as guests moved from the front garden to the back of the property.

Colorful summer flowers filled the tables in shades of cream, butter yellow, peach and green. Soft linens, woven chairs and warm metallic details gave the dinner tables a coastal California feel that was polished without being overly formal.

A simple two-tiered white wedding cake by Peggy Liao Cakes was finished with a small arrangement of yellow, peach and cream flowers, echoing the floral palette used throughout the day.

MIHO Catering prepared dinner on site, including a spectacular pan of paella cooked in front of the guests. Filled with shrimp and mussels, it became part of the experience rather than simply a meal served from behind the scenes. Live musicians from West Coast Music added to the easy summer atmosphere throughout the celebration.

A Del Mar Sunset Along the Coast

As dinner approached, the sky gave Monica and Ricardo one of those incredible Southern California sunsets that seems almost too colorful to be real!

Monica and Ricardo’s wedding was a beautiful example of how a private home wedding in Del Mar can feel both elevated and deeply personal. Rather than transforming the home into something unrecognizable, the design embraced the gardens, coastal setting and comfortable flow of the property. From their garden ceremony to paella prepared outdoors and dinner beneath the lights, the celebration felt unmistakably like summer in Del Mar.

Del Mar Wedding Vendors

Wedding Planner: Elle Events

Photographer: Mirelle Carmichael

Beauty: Emily Lynn & Co

Catering: MIHO Catering

Floral Design: Societe Fine Flowers

Rentals: Folklore Event Rentals

Rentals: Abbey Rentals

Linens: BBJ La Tavola

Lighting: Brilliant Event Lighting

Musicians: West Coast Music

Cake: Peggy Liao Cakes

Valet: Preferred Valet Parking

Mirelle Carmichael is an award-winning fine art photographer based in San Diego and Santa Barbara County. She specializes in high-quality publication-worthy photography for weddings, special events, and editorials. Mirelle Carmichael Photography also offers year-round family photography and portraits throughout Southern California.