Flow & Veil: A Backyard Women’s Circle and Dinner in Los Angeles
There’s something about backyard gatherings that just feels different. They’re intimate, personal, and somehow manage to carry both ceremony and celebration all at once. Recently, I had the chance to photograph the very first Veil & Form event in Los Angeles, hosted by Anika, and it reminded me why I love capturing these kinds of moments so much.
Flow & Veil was envisioned as a seasonal space where the seen and unseen meet, where supper becomes ceremony, and where women can gather in communion, reverence, and quiet revolt. This first gathering unfolded during the opening of the Lion’s Gate portal, under Neptune in Pisces, a time for listening beneath the surface and marking transitions with intention.
If you’ve ever wondered what a women’s healing circle looks like or you’re planning something similar (or even dreaming up an intimate backyard wedding with the same soulful energy), I want to take you behind the scenes of this evening, from the soft soundbath at sunset to the joyful dinner under the stars.
Arriving at Flow & Veil
The invite alone set the tone: “Come adorned in what reveals you. Velvet, shimmer, shadow. Bring a small offering for the altar — a petal, a note, a stone, something that holds a season of you.”
When I arrived, the backyard was already transformed into something magical. Candles, florals, and soft blankets created cozy spaces for everyone to settle in. Guests trickled in carrying small tokens, a poem, a photo, something personal to contribute… and you could feel the anticipation, the hush before ceremony begins. As someone who photographs everything from Los Angeles backyard events to family storytelling sessions, this was one of those moments where you can instantly sense it’s going to be special.
We opened with a soundbath, bowls singing as the sun lowered in the sky. The golden light filtered through the trees, catching on velvet skirts and loose hair. It was soft, slow, and incredibly grounding. Soundbaths are one of my favorite things to capture because they invite people inward. There’s this beautiful stillness, eyes closed, hands resting gently, and yet, as a photographer, I get to notice the details: how someone exhales, how sunlight hits an offering on the altar, how connection exists even in silence.
After the soundbath, we gathered in a circle. Anika invited everyone to share, to name what we rarely get to say aloud, to speak from the heart, to witness each other. Some women read poems. Some offered words or feelings they’d been holding onto. The circle had this mix of softness and quiet strength. It felt ceremonial, but not in a way that was distant or formal. It was raw, human, intimate. As the last shares wrapped up, the sun dipped fully below the horizon, and the vibe began to shift.
Dinner Under the Stars
By the time dinner was served, night had fallen. Fairy lights and candles lit the table, and laughter started bubbling up. This is when I switched to flash photography, and I love how the photos completely transformed. The first half of the evening is soft and magical: warm light, earthy tones, slow moments. The second half? Bold, vibrant, and full of movement, glasses clinking, hugs mid-laughter, people leaning across the table to talk. It almost felt like two events in one, and capturing that contrast is exactly why I love backyard event photography.
Events like Flow & Veil live in this beautiful space between celebration and ceremony. Whether it’s a women’s healing circle, a milestone birthday, or even an intimate backyard wedding in Los Angeles, they share something in common: connection. I want my photos to feel like the memory, soft where it was quiet, bold where it was joyful. I want people to remember the way it felt to sit in that circle, to hear laughter over dinner, to watch candles flicker as the night went on.
If you’re planning something similar, maybe a backyard wedding ceremony, an elopement, or a seasonal gathering, I’d love to help tell your story in a way that feels true to you.
This was the first Flow & Veil gathering, but Annika is hoping to make it a seasonal tradition. If this evening speaks to you, the idea of marking life transitions with ritual, gathering for supper that feels like ceremony, keep an eye out for the next one. And if you’re dreaming up your own gathering or wedding that carries this energy, I’d love to connect. These are exactly the moments I want to capture: the ones where magic and meaning meet, where a backyard transforms into something unforgettable.
Interested in Los Angeles backyard wedding photography or documenting your own intimate event? [Reach out here]— I’d love to help bring your vision to life.
