Courtney Keating and Gary Christenson's wedding festivities began on a sun-filled autumn afternoon, as guests made their way to the bluff overlooking Dana Point Harbor. The couple created a wedding altar that blended seamlessly with nature using a vibrant color palette of red, orange and yellow inspired by the bride’s favorite flower, the sunset rose. “I'm not one for structure, so I wanted the florals to appear like bunches of wild flowers,” she says. “They were incredibly beautiful!” The casually elegant outdoor event perfectly captured Courtney and Gary’s easygoing spirit and organic sense of style. 

Courtney was a beautiful bride in a strapless silk gown. Her mother designed a long chiffon veil beaded with pearls and Swarovski crystals to perfectly complement the simplicity of the dress. Gary’s proposal song played once again as Courtney was escorted by her father down the grassy aisle. Her bridesmaids were given the choice to wear their own personally styled dresses. “That was one of my favorite ideas—they looked stunning and their individual selections really reflected who they are,” says Courtney.

The couple held hands beneath an idyllic arch and Courtney’s father, an ordained pastor, presided over the spiritual service filling the fall air with loving warmth. As the sun set in the distance, the group headed toward the park’s amphitheater, aglow with the soft light of paper lanterns and candlelight. Courtney credits her new husband with the artistic touch to their special day. “Gary has a great eye for color and layout. He got me through those frustrating moments when I was lacking creativity!” she says. The groom designed the wedding stationery and an impressive web site to acquaint guests with the Southern California destination. 

“We wanted our day to be bright, colorful and full of life,” says Courtney. “Gary and I both agreed that the reception needed to be a rocking party!” They liked the idea of providing their own music and compiled their favorite songs onto an iPod for the entertainment. The celebration was a festive blend of good food, laughter, and nonstop dancing. As a mentor and dear friend of the groom, photographer David Hessemer of Hawaiian Images traveled from Maui to capture the lighthearted occasion. The bride concludes, “The entire wedding was a generous and wonderful gift from our families. It would not have been possible without their support!”