Samantha and Chris grew up together in San Diego, and after years of knowing exactly how they felt about each other, they finally made it official — and moved fast once they did. Samantha had actually found her dream venue in La Quinta before the engagement was even official, and it wasn’t long before Bougainvillea Estate was locked in for the big day.
The estate itself is the kind of property that makes a photographer’s job easy. A gated entrance opens onto a long pebbled drive lined with mesquite trees, passing a lily-pad-dotted pond and open grassy fields before looping around a fountain at the home’s grand entrance. Inside, fifteen-foot carved wood doors lead into a private residence with a pool perfect for an intimate reception and a private library that made an unexpectedly elegant spot for showcasing the bridal gown alongside the bridesmaids’ dresses. Add a pool house set up for games and a bar, plus a pillared patio built out as the dance floor, and the whole multi-acre property practically designs the wedding day for you.
Samantha and Chris’s own style — polished, a little glamorous, clearly personal — matched the estate’s mix of natural beauty and architectural detail perfectly. With family and close friends staying on-site for the weekend, it had the easy, unhurried feel of a true destination wedding, even though it was only a short drive from home.
