Grooms Matt and Matt (playfully referred to as “the Matts”) planned their wedding at the beautiful Bel Air Bay Club, one of southern California’s premier wedding venues. Located in Pacific Palisades, California just a few miles from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Malibu, this venue boasts panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from the ceremony site. With numerous locations around the estate for portraits, Bel Air Bay Club is one of the best venues for timeless and elegant wedding photos. The stunning mix of classic Spanish architecture, elegant decor, and impeccable views makes Bel Air Bay Club the ideal venue for a classic and refined affair!

Cathy O’Connell and her team at COJ Events planned and designed the Matts’ big day, taking cues from the couple’s East Coast meets West Coast love story. Having both went to school on the East Coast, where one of the grooms is from, they now call the West Coast home! A mix of white floral including roses and prominently featured blue hydrangeas, a nod to Cape Cod, were paired with soft neutral accents to create a timeless effect. The grooms sported classic black tie attire for the ceremony and chose to get ready together, something we see frequently with our LGBTQ+ couples. This private and intimate time preparing for the wedding always makes for great photos! Their mixed-gender wedding party consisted of close friends and the grooms’ siblings, all donning elegant blues and greys to accent the grooms’ timeless looks.

The ceremony site at Bel Air Bay Club boasts a generous green manicured lawn with towering palms overlooking an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica, and Malibu beaches. The grooms walked down the aisle, accompanied by their mothers, to an elegant floral arch. The ceremony included personalized readings from close family and friends as well as a reading from the landmark Obergefell Supreme Court case which made same-sex marriage the law of the land in 2015. After their I Do’s, the grooms were whisked away and changed into white coat tuxedos for the reception—the perfect opportunity for to take sunset portraits around the venue. The reception mirrored the timeless elegance of the ceremony with gold-rimmed white china, linens and pillar candles, but with a few fun twists! Namely, a giant disco ball and wedding cake designed with a playful rainbow motif and two adorable groom figurines on top. Behind the grooms’ table was a beautiful green wall adorned with abundant floral arrangements and a neon sign that read “M&M.” After a night of festivities, the grooms ended the night with dancing amongst their loved ones.

We loved photographing this wedding and and excited to some of the images—we hope you enjoy!

Bel Air Bay Club LGBT Same-sex wedding featuring two grooms

This timeless LGBTQ+ wedding was photographed at Bel Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

Planning & Design: COJ Events | @cojweddings
Venue & Catering: Bel Air Bay Club | @belairbayclub
Photography: Todd Danforth Photography | @toddthephotographer
Tuxedos: The Black Tux | @theblacktux
Rings: Kay Jewelers | @kayjewelers
Officiant: Father Jon Feuss of St. James Episcopal Church | @stjamesla
Florals: The Flower Lab | @theflowerlab
DJ, Lighting, & Photobooth: Hey Mister DJ | @heymisterdjlee
Cake: Susie Cakes Bakery | @susiecakesbakery

Palm Springs wedding photographer Todd Danforth Photography is an LGBTQ+ and POC-owned wedding photography team specializing in capturing joyful and candid moments. As storytellers and craftspeople, we believe in the power of visual narratives. Our mission is to create honest and authentic photographs you can share with your loved ones for generations to come.