Erika and Melissa’s Garden Wedding at Botanica in Oceanside, California 

Erika Beursken (she/her) and Melissa Brodsky (she/her) married at Botanica in Oceanside, California, on a summer afternoon surrounded by lush greenery and sunset-hued florals in shades of orange, pink, purple and white. The ceremony included a tequila shot, a nod to the Supreme Court and handwritten cards for every single guest.

The Sunset Palette: Botanica’s Gardens in Bloom

Floral designer By Georgia Douglas crafted a floral world that felt native to Southern California, threading warm oranges, deep pinks, soft purples and clean whites through every arrangement. The palette drew from the kinds of blooms Erika and Melissa passed on their regular walks through their Long Beach neighborhood, a life already lived outdoors that translated naturally into a wedding rooted in plant life.

Peonies, roses, ranunculus, snapdragons and cosmos appeared across the ceremony and reception spaces in that signature sunset range. Nothing felt hothouse-precious. The arrangements had the loose, gathered quality of flowers that belong where they’re placed, spilling and curving rather than standing at attention. Botanica’s own gardens provided a splendid natural backdrop for the garden wedding’s bright floral design..

Two Proposals, One Couple

Erika proposed to Melissa on July 14, 2022, in Seal Beach after executing what the couple describes as an elaborate plan to keep Melissa from finding out what was happening. Melissa, apparently not one to be outdone, proposed to Erika just seven weeks later, on September 4, 2022, during a surprise photoshoot in Joshua Tree National Park. Two engagements. Two rings. One two-year runway to Botanica.

The Ceremony

Erika and Melissa came down the aisle to a violinist, with Ben Hoyt Violin providing the kind of live accompaniment that made the walk feel unhurried. The ceremony itself stayed secular, but the couple made one deliberate pause to acknowledge something larger than the day itself.

“We did take a moment to honor the 2015 Supreme Court decision that allows us to be legally married in all 50 states and those who came before us and fought to make that decision possible,” Erika says. “We felt that honoring this legacy was important to share with our guests.”

That acknowledgment carried real weight in a room full of people who had gathered to watch two women marry in California, in a garden, on a summer afternoon, because the law finally caught up to what was always true. The couple closed the ceremony by taking a tequila shot together at the altar.

How They Made It Theirs

The seating chart is worth its own paragraph. Erika and Melissa designed and built it themselves, writing individual cards for each guest by hand. But the cards weren’t just table assignments.

“On each of the cards, we shared with our guests that we had made a donation on their behalf to an organization near and dear to our hearts, called Project Endo,” Erika says. “Both of us have endometriosis and are passionate about raising awareness and improving education on the disease. It was very meaningful to be able to share that with our guests on our big day.”

Project Endo is a nonprofit dedicated to endometriosis education and advocacy, and folding it into the wedding’s fabric, quietly, through a card each guest held in their hands, was a genuinely personal move. It turned a logistical element into something guests would carry home.

The tequila shot during the ceremony added a different kind of punctuation: irreverent, specific to these two people and completely committed.

The Looks

Erika wore a custom suit from Sharpe Suiting. Melissa wore a gown by By Lillian West, sourced through Mon Amie Bridal Salon, and changed into a second look from Rosie Etienne Bridal for the reception. Custom cuff links, shoes from Aldo and hair and makeup by Touch of Rose’s Brittney Blake and Artistry by Samantha Rae, respectively, completed the picture.

The Reception

DJ Keelez ran the reception, and Erika and Melissa opened the dancing with “Way After Forever” by vaultboy. A live wedding painter, Nicolette Martin Art, captured the scene in real time while guests cycled through the Designed By Love Photobus photo booth. Desserts came from Mili’s Sweets. Catering was handled by Trademark Venues’ Morgan Costa. The whole evening moved with the kind of energy that happens when a couple has actually thought through what their guests will do, eat, see and feel across every hour. ❤️

Featured LGBTQ+ Inclusive and Queer Affirming Wedding Vendors

Photographer and videographer: Pamela Tatz Photography
Wedding Ceremony and Reception Venue: Botanica
Florist: By Georgia Douglas
Planner/Coordinator: Trademark Venues
DJ: DJ Keelez
Invitation Designer: Truly Engaging
Attire for Erika Beursken: Sharpe Suiting
Attire for Melissa Brodsky: By Lillian West
Second Dress for Melissa Brodsky: Rosie Etienne Bridal
Catering: Trademark Venues (Morgan Costa)
Live Wedding Painter: Nicolette Martin Art
Violinist: Ben Hoyt Violin
Desserts: Mili’s Sweets
Photo Booth: Designed By Love Photobus
Transportation: San Diego Charter
Hair: Touch of Rose/Brittney Blake
Makeup: Artistry by Samantha Rae
Dress Boutique: Mon Amie Bridal Salon
Custom Cuff Links: Etsy
Shoes: Aldo
Dance Lessons: Bella Ballroom Dance Studio
Hotel and Welcome Party Location: Cape Rey Resort
Day After Sunset Cruise: City Experiences