Kathryn and Christopher’s Intimate Backyard Wedding in Los Angeles by The Drunk Wedding Photographer

Today I have such a brilliant celebration to share with you — a relaxed, joy-filled wedding that took place on a hot summer day in June 2025, kicking off with an intimate backyard ceremony before moving few blocks away to Center for the Arts Eagle Rock in the foothills of North East Los Angeles for a warm evening of food, music, and dancing. All of it captured beautifully on analog 35mm Kodak Gold film by David Cruz The Drunk Wedding Photographer. I just love the laid back vibes of this wedding, the couple are so deeply in love that nothing else really matters, just as a wedding should be!

An Intimate Backyard Wedding in Los Angeles, CA on Kodak 35mm Film by David Cruz The Drunk Wedding Photographer

David tells us all about the day

The decision to document the entire wedding on Kodak Gold film felt especially fitting given the couple’s connection to the movie industry. There’s an honesty to analog photography that aligns beautifully with intimate ceremonies — no endless shutter bursts, no over-direction. Just composed, intentional frames. A documentary approach. Candid moments with family. A handful of lightly guided portraits.

From the very beginning of their nine-month engagement, the vision was clear: keep the ceremony private and meaningful, then throw one incredible party for everyone they love. With just 22 guests gathered in their own backyard, the ceremony felt deeply personal — a space filled with family, homemade lavender lemonade made from lemons grown on their trees, and florals sourced the day before from the Los Angeles Flower Market and arranged by friends. Wildflowers, greenery from their yard, and delicate glass vases created a setting that felt effortless and heartfelt.

The reception at the Center for the Arts Eagle Rock allowed the celebration to expand to 72 guests while still feeling connected to their neighborhood. Choosing a local nonprofit venue with naturally beautiful light and acoustics meant they could keep décor minimal — neutral table runners, wood furniture, electric candlelight — letting the colorful, seasonal flowers shine. Together with an assortment of small glass vases found in local shops around town, and framed pictures of their parents on their own wedding days as a last touch.

In a deeply personal touch, Atta Girl Design Co, created hand-drawn artwork of their beloved dog to feature on the table number cards. They had lost their pup just a few months before the wedding, and incorporating her into the signage felt like a meaningful way to have her present in spirit. Having such an intimate detail designed by someone they love made the gesture all the more special, weaving remembrance seamlessly into the celebration.

The architectural character of the space paired perfectly with the timeless quality of Kodak film photography, which documented the evening with warmth, texture, and a nostalgic depth that digital simply can’t replicate. As a couple working in the movie industry, the decision to hire a photographer who shoots 35mm film was intentional — they wanted candid, personality-driven imagery without stiff posing, and film delivered exactly that.

Food and music were at the heart of the celebration, and this is where they unapologetically splurged. Cocktail hour began with Italian meatballs, honey roasted tomato crostini, crudité, and a generous charcuterie spread before guests moved into a family-style dinner of artisanal pizzas — five different varieties — alongside fresh salads for each table. Dessert skipped the traditional wedding cake in favor of salted caramel brownies, lemon bars, tiramisu, and beautifully decorated wildflower sugar cookies that guests could take home. Later in the evening, as the dance floor filled, tacos were served street-side to keep the party going strong.

The open bar was another highlight, with unforgettable yuzu margaritas that guests are still talking about. A nine-piece live band — complete with a horn section — carried the energy from ceremony to cocktail hour to hours of packed dance floor moments. Additional layers of entertainment, including a photobooth and a caricature artist, added visual interest and gave guests something tactile to take home — a fitting complement to a wedding documented in a tactile medium.

Throughout it all, David Cruz’s 35mm film approach documented the day exactly as it unfolded: relaxed, vibrant, and full of personality. No overly staged window shots, no forced poses — just honest, beautifully composed moments of laughter, music, incredible food, and a community gathered together. The grain of the film, the softness of the light in the arts center, the movement of guests spilling out into the street for late-night tacos — every frame feels cinematic yet completely real.

From a quiet backyard ceremony in Los Angeles to a reception that truly brought the house down, the day was relaxed, fulfilling, and deeply fun — a celebration rooted in intention, community, and doing things entirely their own way.

Supplier Shout Outs

Suit: Indochino
Dress: Tara Lauren
Tacos: The Lime Truck
Pizza: The Urban Oven
Planner: Tasteful Tatters
Photo Booth: Jupiter Booth
Photo Lab: Reformed Film Lab
Bartending: Nomad Cocktail Co.
Venue: Center for the Arts Eagle Rock
Makeup Artist + Hair Stylist: Heather Rose Coleman
Film Photographer: David Cruz The Drunk Wedding Photographer

David Cruz | The Drunk Wedding Photographer

www.thedrunkweddingphotographer.com / www.thedrunkweddingphotographer.com/blog / [email protected] / +1.213.249.1648 / INSTAGRAM / YouTube 

David Cruz The Drunk Wedding Photographer, photographs micro backyard weddings, Beverly Hills Courthouse marriages, and small weddings exclusively on Kodak 35mm film in Los Angeles, CA. His pictures are simple vignettes of a wedding day — some candid, some directed — with a strong sense of place, featuring old-world LA architecture, sun-washed tones, negative space, and an emphasis on quiet human connection.