Elaine & Wen's LA County Arboretum Wedding

September 20, 2026 · LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Arcadia

An Easygoing Garden Wedding in Arcadia

Elaine and Wen wanted their wedding day to feel easy and relaxed, and the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia gave them the perfect backdrop: a lawn framed by the San Gabriel Mountains, a waterfall, a wooden bridge, a white lattice pergola and, of course, the peacocks. They married on September 20, 2026, with a ceremony on the lawn by the waterfall and a reception on the patio at the Peacock Cafe. Elaine made many of the decorations and flowers herself, from the red paper flowers to the details around the polaroid guestbook. In the evening she changed into a red qipao for a grand entrance, a duet with Wen and a round of table toasts. Here is their Arboretum wedding, photographed by One and Only Production.

Elaine Getting Ready

Elaine got ready at the Hilton Arcadia with her makeup artist Bing, finishing with a low updo, a lace gown and a long veil. Her maid of honor Kathleen, a friend since high school, helped with the final touches before heading to the Arboretum.

Elaine getting ready by the window at the Hilton Arcadia.
Close-up of Elaine's bracelet and the lace on her gown.
Elaine's makeup touch-up, her hair in a low updo.
Elaine's updo and the lace back of her gown.
Elaine in profile with pearl earrings and a lace neckline.
Elaine's veil being placed, seen from behind at the vanity.
Elaine and her maid of honor Kathleen with the bouquets.
Kathleen adjusting Elaine's veil outside.
Elaine looking back over her shoulder in her veil.
Elaine holding her pink and white bouquet in her lace gown.
Close-up of the beaded lace on Elaine's gown, photographed by One and Only Production.

Wen and Henry

Wen got ready alongside his best man Henry, a friend since middle school, who helped him into his cream tuxedo and pinned on his boutonniere. Wen took a quiet moment with his vow book in front of the peacock tile mural before the day got going.

Best man Henry helping Wen into his cream tuxedo jacket.
Henry fixing Wen's boutonniere.
Wen and Henry shaking hands.
Wen buttoning his cream jacket.
Close-up of Wen's watch.
Wen in his cream tuxedo and black bow tie.
Wen with his hands in his pockets outside.
Wen holding his vow book in his cream tuxedo.
Wen sitting on a fountain ledge in front of the peacock tile mural at the Arboretum.
Wen walking across the ceremony lawn, photographed by One and Only Production.

A First Look, Plus a Peacock

Elaine and Wen saw each other for the first time at the Arboretum, all smiles and laughs. Halfway through, one of the Arboretum's famous peacocks strolled right past them and stole a few frames.

Elaine walking up to Wen for their first look.
Elaine and Wen holding hands during the first look.
Elaine laughing during the first look.
Elaine twirling her veil beside Wen.
Elaine and Wen smiling together on the patio.
A peacock strutting past Elaine and Wen.
Elaine and Wen raising their arms into a heart as a peacock walks by.
Elaine and Wen laughing together.
Wen and Elaine cheek to cheek.
Elaine and Wen with her bouquet, photographed by One and Only Production.

Kathleen and Henry

With Kathleen and Henry by their side, the wedding party took photos on the ceremony lawn and under the white lattice pergola, with Kathleen keeping Elaine's train and veil in place the whole time.

Elaine and Kathleen on the ceremony lawn before the wedding.
Kathleen fluffing Elaine's train on the lawn.
Wen and Henry on the lawn with the mountains behind them.
Elaine, Wen, Kathleen and Henry by the ceremony chairs.
The wedding party laughing in a group hug.
The wedding party walking across the lawn.
The wedding party at the white lattice pergola.
Elaine and Wen seated at the pergola with Kathleen and Henry.
Elaine and Wen with Kathleen at the pergola, photographed by One and Only Production.

Portraits Around the Arboretum

Before the ceremony we explored the gardens with Elaine and Wen, from the waterfall and the wooden bridge to the lawns and the pergola, with plenty of laughing in between.

Elaine and Wen smiling in front of the waterfall at the Arboretum.
Elaine leaning on Wen with the waterfall behind them.
Elaine making a heart over Wen's head as their foreheads touch.
Elaine holding her veil over the two of them by the waterfall.
Elaine and Wen at the waterfall from behind, her veil falling.
Wen holding Elaine on the wooden bridge under an oak tree.
Elaine and Wen on the wooden bridge surrounded by greenery.
Elaine and Wen walking on the lawn near the waterfall.
Elaine with her bouquet on the lawn as Wen looks on.
Wen dipping Elaine in front of the white lattice pergola.
Elaine and Wen laughing on a white bench at the pergola.
Elaine and Wen close together at the pergola, photographed by One and Only Production.

Ceremony Details

Guests rode the Arboretum trams past the peacock tile mural to the ceremony lawn, where wooden chairs and pink and white florals lined the aisle with the mountains in view. Elaine handmade the red paper flowers and many of the decorations herself.

Peacock tile mural on a brick wall at the LA County Arboretum.
Trams waiting to bring guests through the Arboretum.
The ceremony lawn with wooden chairs, clouds and the mountains.
Aisle lined with pink florals on pedestals and wooden chairs.
Pink and white aisle florals beside a wooden chair.
Handmade red paper flowers that Elaine made herself.
A basket of favors for the guests, photographed by One and Only Production.

Ceremony by the Waterfall

Their friend David officiated the ceremony on the lawn by the waterfall. After the flower girl and ring bearer came down the aisle, Elaine joined Wen at the altar, and the two shared vows and rings before walking back up the aisle as husband and wife, ending with a group photo with family and friends on the lawn.

Wen waiting at the altar with Henry.
The flower girl and ring bearer walking down the aisle as guests film.
Elaine being walked down the aisle.
Wide view of the ceremony on the lawn with trees and pedestal florals.
Elaine and Wen at the altar with their officiant.
Wen reading his vows as officiant David holds the mic.
Elaine smiling as she listens at the altar.
Officiant David leading the ceremony as Wen speaks.
Close-up of the ring exchange.
Wide view of the ceremony from behind the guests under the trees.
Elaine and Wen walking back up the aisle.
Elaine and Wen cheering with their arms up at the end of the aisle.
Elaine and Wen with family and friends on the lawn, photographed by One and Only Production.

Reception at the Peacock Cafe

The reception was set on the patio at the Peacock Cafe under string lights, with red runners, red napkins, a polaroid guestbook and a cake from Porto's next to a red double happiness sign.

Reception tables on the Peacock Cafe patio with red runners and string lights.
Seating chart cards with florals.
Welcome sign and polaroid guestbook station with a white arch.
A cup of pens with one of Elaine's handmade red flowers.
Illustrated cards on display at the reception.
Red napkin and silverware at a place setting.
Wedding cake beside a red double happiness sign and tassels.
Close-up of the cake topper and white florals.
The polaroid guestbook board at night, photographed by One and Only Production.

Grand Entrance and a First Song

Elaine changed into a red qipao and Wen into a black suit for their grand entrance down the stairs, complete with a quick dance. After speeches from Kathleen and Henry, the two skipped the first dance and sang their first song together as a duet.

Elaine in a red qipao and Wen in black making their grand entrance at dusk.
Elaine and Wen dancing into the reception under the string lights.
Elaine and Wen's quick dance at the sweetheart table.
Kathleen giving her maid of honor speech.
A guest cheering during the speeches.
Elaine and Wen at the sweetheart table with the mic.
Elaine and Wen singing their first song together.
Wen singing as Elaine smiles beside him.
Elaine laughing as they finish their duet, photographed by One and Only Production.

Cake and Table Toasts

Elaine and Wen cut the cake and made their way from table to table for toasts with family and friends, then finished the night with a few portraits under the string lights.

Elaine and Wen cutting their cake.
Elaine and Wen laughing at the sweetheart table.
Elaine and Wen raising their glasses with guests during table toasts.
A table toast with the little ones joining in.
Guests toasting under the string lights.
Guests clinking glasses with the couple.
Elaine and Wen laughing with a relative during table toasts.
Elaine and Wen toasting a table of friends.
Elaine and Wen hugging under the string lights.
Elaine and Wen with drinks in hand at night.
Elaine and Wen behind the red double happiness sign, photographed by One and Only Production.

Planning a Wedding at the LA County Arboretum?

The LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia packs a waterfall, a wooden bridge, lawns with mountain views, a white lattice pergola and free-roaming peacocks into one venue, with the Peacock Cafe ready for the reception. One and Only Production is a photo and video team based in West Covina, serving Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. If you are planning a wedding at the Arboretum, we would love to hear your story. You can also see more of our work in our wedding portfolio.

Wedding Vendors

Venue: LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Arcadia
Ceremony: The Waterfall lawn
Reception: Peacock Cafe
Getting Ready: Hilton Arcadia
Photo & Video: @oneandonlyproduction
Day-Of Coordination: The W Event Planning (Nicole Martinez)
Officiant: David Luu
Makeup: Bing
Florals & Decor: Handmade by Elaine
Dessert: Porto's Bakery

Check Your Date