Brandon & Julian: A Californian desert elopement

 

julian brandon 0308.jpg

It was a meeting in a Los Angeles coffee shop that brought these two together and two years later in the Californian desert, Brandon and Julian eloped. Their desert wedding ceremony is beaming with beautiful desert vibes and a sophisticated bohemian tone.

Location Joshua Tree, California, USA  |  Photographer Serena Genovese Photography

-

How and when did you meet?
We met two years ago at a coffee shop in Los Angeles. It was a beautiful storybook day and we’ve been inseparable ever since. 

Tell us a little about your relationship...
Ever since we started dating we realised how different we are. You know when they say that opposites attract? Yeah, that’s us. But we work so well! We truly complement and help each other grow. 
We’re more the kind of couple that makes cocktails, a nice dinner and a movie and spend date night in our living room. 

Who proposed and how?
Julian proposed to Brandon one night that almost ended up before it started when Brandon arrived home an hour earlier than he was supposed. Julian had everything planned, from flowers and dinner to the fireplace going and dessert included... to be ready when Brandon was supposed to get home. So when he got home way earlier plans had to be changed a bit. 

When did you get married?
March of 2018 at beautiful Joshua Tree National Park in California. 

Was there a theme to your wedding?
We went with a mix of bohemian and classy desert vibes. 

What was the main influence behind your wedding day?
We wanted everything to be perfect and the way everything just kinda fell into place was marvellous. We found all our suppliers with the help from our wonderful friend and photographer Serena. 
The gorgeous colours of the desert backgrounds, along with the flowers that Jen from Sacred Romance brought for us were key in making the perfect mix. 

Tell us a little about your overall wedding planning experience in regards to being a same-sex couple in a predominantly ‘Bride & Groom’ saturated industry?
Yeah, we definitely saw most of the examples or ideas around being heteronormative, but we worked out a way around it and would just incorporate little bits and pieces of different ideas to make our own. 

Their romantic vows...
Julian: "Brandon, mi vida, the first time I looked you in the eyes, those blue eyes, oh how I liked them –because I’ve always had a thing for bright eyes–, I knew who you were. I knew immediately that you were transparent and pure and that there was nothing I could not see or feel when looking at you. That’s not an easy find. Then you took me on a walk, and our feet touched the ground as if they were in sync. I knew it would be hard for us to trip, but if we did, you’d had the strength needed to catch my humanity in your arms.  

After that, your perfect smile caught my eye. The smile that may be awkward in photographs, but that warms my heart and all my being when it happens naturally. 

From the first moment, without knowing who I was, you took care of me, cuddled me and protected me so much that it seemed too perfect.

One day I called you “Mi Cielo”, like the skies and the heavens, maybe because that’s what you turned into: what I see every day, what covers me, the one thing that is always there. What I see before I fall asleep, and the first thing I see when I wake up. I admire you. In you, I find my home, my peace, my tranquillity and my being. In you I find myself, and I promise to always be there for you when you need help reaching higher when you need an extra step to stand on or a tighter hug to keep you from shadows. 

I love you, I understand you, and I will be there for you... always and in all ways. "

Brandon: "Julito, life is full of uncertainties. Nothing really ever works out the way you think it will, but there is a beauty in that. These unknowns are what make life exciting and worth living. No matter where life takes us, I am elated to know that we will face it together. I am stronger when I hold your hand. I am braver when you are by my side. I am wiser when I listen to you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives growing together. I will always be there for you. Always and in All Ways. "

Venue: The Hi Desert || https://www.thehidesert.com/ Photographer: Serena Genovese || https://www.serenagenovese.com/ Cinematographer: Alessandro Bordoni Florist: Sacred Romance floral || http://www.sacredromancefloral.com/ Makeup & hair: Glamuraii Robes: Rare af Couture Stationery: Inkdrops and Roses Rings: My golden age lab || http://www.mygoldenagelab.com/ Accessories: The grooms day || https://groomsday.com/


Suppliers

Photography Serena Genovese Photography
Florist Sacred Romance Floral
Makeup & Hair Glamuraii
Robes Rare af Couture
Groom's Attire Zara
Stationery Ink Drops and Roses
Rings My golden age lab 
Venue The Hi Desert 
Accessories The Grooms Day
Video Alessandro Bordoni Films