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the Pittman residence, traversing from front-yard ceremony to the backyard garden reception then back to the front- yard after-party, the property's lush gardens remained a focal point. Lemons and cumquats were snipped from citrus trees; cut roses were arranged with lavender and bougainvillea from the garden; and the ceremony arch was covered in stunning yellow solidago, a native California wildflower. Even the potpourri tossed on the bride and groom during their departure was collected from the garden: dried rosemary, lavender, and rose petals. "You didn't know where the garden stopped and the wedding started," Egan says. Because the wedding was hosted at home, the details all had an air of beautiful authenticity. "People get caught up in what you're supposed to do as a bride, rather than feeling comfortable in your own skin and doing what you want to do," Egan says. "The truth is, you don't have to get caught up in all the rules." Indeed, rules need not apply to Ashley and Taylor. There was no long line of bridesmaids or groomsmen, and the officiant was a friend of the couple, Edward McPherson, which brought an emotional, personal bent to the ceremony. And Ashley's choice to switch gowns last minute was a testament to her personal style — a lesson in letting instincts, not expectations, lead. "I had chosen a beautiful dress originally," she says. "But the longer I looked at it, the less it felt like me." During a shopping trip to Neiman Marcus just prior to the wedding day, Ashley's mom spotted a nontraditional caped Oscar de la Renta column gown. "It was absolutely perfect," Ashley says. "Kind of a meant- to-be find." 51 Ashley Pittman and Taylor Hamra