Saira & Matthew at The Athenaeum

April 25, 2025 · The Athenaeum at Caltech, Pasadena

An Athenaeum Wedding in Pasadena

Saira and Matthew are happiest doing things together: board games, escape rooms, puzzles, video games, crafting and, most of all, eating good food. Matthew calls Saira caring, funny and intelligent, and Saira calls Matthew patient, kind and loyal. After their Greystone Mansion engagement session, they married on Friday, April 25, 2025, at The Athenaeum at Caltech in Pasadena. They did a lot of it themselves, from their own makeup and blush and white florals to a self officiated ceremony on the East Patio. The day moved from a first look to portraits in the arches and library, then a private first dance and a reception on the West Patio. Here is their Athenaeum wedding, photographed by One and Only Production.

The Details

Saira and Matthew's details came together in blush and white roses: an invitation suite on a dark green envelope, their rings, a gold key and a little purple Happily Ever After button. Matthew's black shoes and bow tie sat on a card with his name.

Saira and Matthew's wedding details styled with blush and white roses, a ring box and soft tulle

A purple Happily Ever After button and a gold key among pearls and blush roses

Saira's engagement ring resting on a card lettered with her name

Matthew's black dress shoes, bow tie, wedding band and a white rose on a card with his name

The invitation suite laid out on a dark green envelope with blush and white roses

A close look at the invitation with its lettered names and a blush rose

Their wedding rings resting on the invitation and a dark green envelope

Saira Gets Ready in the Mezzanine at The Athenaeum

Saira started the morning in pajamas next to her wedding dress in the Mezzanine, the bridal suite upstairs at The Athenaeum. She got herself ready, then stepped into her sweetheart neckline gown and out under the arches.

Saira in her pajamas beside her wedding dress hanging in the Mezzanine at The Athenaeum

Saira reaching for her wedding dress in a satin robe

A close up of Saira's earring and engagement ring as she finishes getting ready

Saira in her pajamas in soft window light before putting on her dress

Saira's sweetheart neckline wedding dress hanging on a wooden hanger by the window

Saira in her wedding dress looking over her shoulder in the bridal suite

Saira fastening her earring in her wedding dress by the window

Saira framed by an arched loggia at The Athenaeum at Caltech

Saira on the steps below the arches and columns of The Athenaeum, photographed by One and Only Production

Matthew in His Tuxedo

Matthew wore a classic black tuxedo with a bow tie. He was relaxed and smiling the whole way through, with a jacket over the shoulder moment by the vines.

Matthew buttoning his black tuxedo jacket

Matthew smiling in his tuxedo in a bright room at The Athenaeum

Matthew tying his dress shoes in an upholstered armchair

A black and white portrait of Matthew relaxing in an armchair

Matthew with his tuxedo jacket over his shoulder in front of green vines

Matthew adjusting his bow tie on the lawn, photographed by One and Only Production

First Look at The Athenaeum

Around two in the afternoon, Saira walked up behind Matthew in a quiet courtyard for their first look. Then they took a slow walk across the lawn, holding hands, before the portraits started.

Saira walking up behind Matthew for their first look in an Athenaeum courtyard

Matthew turning around to see Saira for the first time

Saira and Matthew hugging during their first look

Saira and Matthew holding hands after the first look

Saira and Matthew walking across the Athenaeum lawn toward the building

A close up of Saira and Matthew holding hands on the grass

Saira and Matthew standing together on the lawn in front of The Athenaeum

Matthew holding Saira's hand as she carries her blush rose bouquet, photographed by One and Only Production

Portraits at the Athenaeum Entrance

The arched entrance of The Athenaeum, with its carved stone doorway, white roses and lattice walls, gave us a lot to work with. Saira and Matthew kept each other laughing, which is how they like it: being goofy together.

Saira and Matthew in front of the arched entrance of The Athenaeum at Caltech in Pasadena

Matthew dipping in for a kiss under the carved stone archway at the entrance

Saira seated in front of white roses near the Athenaeum entrance

Saira and Matthew sitting together with her gown spread across the entrance walkway

Matthew leaning in toward Saira beside the white roses at the entrance

Saira and Matthew sitting close on a low wall in front of the entrance

Saira lifting her skirt in front of a carved lattice wall

Saira and Matthew laughing together in front of the lattice wall

Saira resting her hand on Matthew's shoulder, photographed by One and Only Production

Arches and Columns at The Athenaeum in Pasadena

Saira loved the columns in the arches, so we spent time in the long arcade with its hanging lanterns, on the front steps, and under the trees of the Caltech campus. The Mediterranean Revival building opened in 1930, and it shows its best side in soft afternoon light.

Saira and Matthew on the steps beneath the columns of The Athenaeum

A black and white wide view of Saira and Matthew on the steps in front of the arcade

Saira and Matthew touching foreheads under the trees on the Caltech campus

Saira and Matthew sharing a kiss behind her blush rose bouquet

Matthew grinning with Saira's arms around him on the lawn

A black and white portrait of Saira and Matthew forehead to forehead

Saira and Matthew walking through a tiled corridor at The Athenaeum

Saira and Matthew laughing in the long arcade of columns and lanterns

A black and white view of Saira and Matthew standing between the arches

Saira and Matthew walking hand in hand down the arcade

Saira and Matthew looking out through a pair of arched windows, photographed by One and Only Production

The Library at The Athenaeum

The library was one of Saira and Matthew's favorite spots. Wood paneling, tall bookshelves and a painted vaulted ceiling made for some of the most classic portraits of the day.

Saira seated in the wood paneled library at The Athenaeum

Saira in front of the library bookshelves

Matthew standing behind Saira by a desk lamp in the library

Saira and Matthew under the painted vaulted ceiling of the Athenaeum library

Saira and Matthew among the tall bookshelves of the library, photographed by One and Only Production

Ceremony Details on the East Patio

The ceremony was set on the East Patio, under draped fabric and crystal chandeliers, with gold chairs and an arch of blush and white roses that the couple arranged themselves. A gold framed program and card box greeted guests at the door.

The arched loggia and steps leading to the East Patio at The Athenaeum

A gold frame program and a gold card box beside blush flowers at the ceremony entrance

A close look at the blush and white rose arch for the ceremony

The ceremony aisle set with gold chairs between the columns of the East Patio

Draped fabric ceilings and crystal chandeliers over the ceremony seating

The rose arch at the front of the aisle under a chandelier, photographed by One and Only Production

The Ceremony on the East Patio at The Athenaeum

Saira and Matthew married themselves, with no officiant, in front of about 29 of their closest family and friends. Matthew read his vows from a card and laughed his way through a few lines, and then they walked back up the aisle as a married couple.

Matthew walking down the stone stairs toward the ceremony

Saira coming down the steps holding her blush rose bouquet

Saira walking down the aisle toward the rose arch as guests stand

Matthew and Saira under the rose arch at the start of their self officiated ceremony

A wide view of Saira and Matthew under the rose arch on the East Patio

Saira and Matthew facing their guests under the chandeliers

Matthew reading his vows to Saira from a card

Matthew laughing as he reads his vows to Saira

Saira and Matthew walking back up the aisle as a married couple

Matthew and Saira smiling as they head up the aisle

Saira hugging a guest after the ceremony, photographed by One and Only Production

Family, Friends and Welcome Hour

After a big group photo on the lawn, everyone moved out to the patio for the welcome hour. Saira and Matthew made time for every guest and stopped by the bar for a drink.

Saira and Matthew with their family and friends on the lawn in front of The Athenaeum

Saira and Matthew greeting a guest during the welcome hour

Guests mingling with drinks on the patio during the welcome hour

Friends talking and laughing on the patio

Saira and Matthew getting drinks at the bar

Saira and Matthew chatting with friends on the patio

Saira sharing a laugh with friends, photographed by One and Only Production

Reception Details on the West Patio at The Athenaeum

The West Patio was set with round tables, white linens and gold chairs under draped fabric and chandeliers. Blush rose centerpieces, calligraphy name cards, a framed seating chart and an instant camera guest book were all part of the plan, with dessert on a tiered stand.

Round tables with white linens and gold chairs set on the West Patio at The Athenaeum

The seating chart in a gold frame on an easel beside green hedges

Calligraphy name cards tucked among blush roses

A view of the reception tables through the rose arch

The West Patio reception under draped fabric and chandeliers

A blush rose centerpiece with a gold framed table card

A pink instant camera and a photo guest book on a white table

A plate of fried chicken and fresh fruit at the reception

A dessert stand stacked with mousse cups and small pastries, photographed by One and Only Production

A Private First Dance

Before guests came in, Saira and Matthew had the whole West Patio to themselves for a private first dance. It was quiet, sweet and completely theirs.

Saira and Matthew starting their private first dance on the empty West Patio

Matthew spinning Saira in front of the rose arch

A view through the rose arch of Saira and Matthew dancing alone

A wide view of their private first dance under the draped ceiling

Saira and Matthew laughing during their first dance

Matthew and Saira dancing between the reception tables

Saira and Matthew twirling in the middle of the empty room

Saira and Matthew holding each other at the end of their first dance, photographed by One and Only Production

Reception on the West Patio

Dinner brought everyone back together on the West Patio, where guests signed the guest book and Saira and Matthew stopped by every table. Good food with everyone was the part they were most excited about, and before the dancing started all of their guests squeezed in for one big photo.

Guests seated for dinner on the West Patio

The reception filling up beneath the draped ceiling

Saira and Matthew adding to the guest book

Saira and Matthew greeting tables during dinner

A guest smiling at her table during the reception

Saira and Matthew with a group of friends on the dance floor

Saira and Matthew posing with friends under the chandeliers

Saira and Matthew with all of their guests on the West Patio

Guests cheering around Saira and Matthew, photographed by One and Only Production

Dancing and a Late Night Snack

With no DJ to wait on, the dance floor filled up fast and stayed that way. The night wound down with a late night snack, and Saira was right there in line with everyone else.

Guests dancing on the wood floor of the West Patio

Saira dancing with guests in front of the projector screen

Two guests dancing together beside the tables

Saira and Matthew dancing with their guests late in the night

Saira at the late night snack station, photographed by One and Only Production

Planning an Athenaeum Wedding?

The Athenaeum at Caltech has a lot for photos in one place: a Mediterranean Revival building with arched loggias and a long arcade of columns, a wood paneled library under a painted ceiling, front steps and lawns under old trees, and two patios that can hold a ceremony and a 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. We would love to hear your story. Take a look at our wedding portfolio, then check your date with us.

Wedding Vendors

Venue: The Athenaeum at Caltech
Day of Coordinator: Amy Rocchio @amyface23
Wedding Dress: Couture Bridal of Maryland @couturebridalmd
Gown Designer: Essence of Australia
Groom Attire: Men's Wearhouse
Hair and Makeup: the couple
Florals: the couple
Officiant: none, the couple married themselves
Photo and Video: One and Only Production @oneandonlyproduction