This desert wedding on Rocky Mountain Bride is so inspiring if you’re planning a backyard affair. As Santa Barbara wedding photographers who used to live in New Mexico, we jump at every opportunity to fly back and photograph someone’s special day in the desert. (You’ll most often find us at Los Poblanos, our happy place!) Madie + Matthew had a super chill wedding in their backyard. Getting engaged shortly after they purchased their home, they decided that it just felt right to tie the knot without leaving home. Celebrating with their closest friends and family, they transformed their backyard into a beautiful celebratory space. With tables lining one side of the yard, they transformed the other side into a ceremony space that could be flipped into a dance floor. Genius, right? String lights twinkled in the trees above and the grassy floor was perfect for kicking off shoes and cutting loose. Total foodies, they wanted a backyard picnic feel but with a meal their guests would remember. Street Food Institute fit the bill and parked a food truck in the driveway. This was a total hit with the guests who enjoyed gourmet tacos and champagne. The buzz of conversation mixed with mixed with soft music floating through the yard created such a laid back yet celebratory feel fueling a special energy that night.

Madie’s sleek BHLDN dress worked perfectly with the vibe of the day and she looked like a million bucks as we strolled the neighborhood for photos. In lieu of a traditional bridal party, Madie + Matthew chose their dog to be the flower girl. So cute, right?

With an epic New Mexico sunset to start off the evening, everyone celebrated late into the night under the stars. Give us a desert wedding any day of the week, and thank you to Rocky Mountain Bride for the feature!

P.S. Check out another real wedding featured on 100 Layer Cake.