Our Backyard Wedding
photos by Clarence Chan
One year ago | July 26, 2025
When we were planning our wedding, I would discover the most beautiful wedding venues, only to realize they were backyards in private homes. Little did I know, we would have our own opportunity to get married in the backyard. Less than a month after we legally tied the knot at our local courthouse, we got married in our second celebration at Dan’s parents’ home in the Hamptons.
It was a beautiful July summer day, marrying each other in the place where I’ve taught countless yoga classes and cartwheeled in the grass and soaked up the sun with Grover and played in the pool with Dan. We celebrated with just our immediate family.
I began the day with a morning swim in the bay, a dream come true. I said goodbye to Dan, and had lunch and got ready for the day at my family’s Airbnb. We picked up our bouquet, then made our way to Dan’s family’s home.
After a flurry of last minute preparations, we began with first looks with my dad and then with Dan. I cried during both. Walking towards Dan while he stood waiting will be a memory I hold onto for the rest of my life.
We wrote joint vows and read them together in front of our families. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears flowed after the ceremony at this monumental occasion.
From then on, it was only laughter and joy for the rest of the night, as we took family photos, couple photos at the beach, ate dinner, cut our wedding cake, and enjoyed this special time with our families.
It was an intimate gathering filled with laughter, tears, heartfelt connection, and sweet celebration.
