Photos from the backyard wedding of rocker Gene Simmons’ daughter Sophie Simmons showed the bride looking stunning in a billowing white dress.
The 30-year-old beauty, whose mother is model Shannon Tweed-Simmons, married her longtime love, James Henderson, in her mother’s Malibu yard in an intimate ceremony in front of about 50 guests on Wednesday.
It comes just seven months after she became engaged, and prior to the evening ceremony the couple tied the knot at the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
‘We couldn’t be prouder of our daughter,’ Gene and Shannon told People. ‘James is a solid young man, and Sophie can do anything she puts her mind to. We wish them a lifetime of love and happiness. If they are even half as happy as we are, they will last long.’
Gene and Shannon were together for 28 years before tying the knot in 2011.
Wow! Photos from the backyard wedding of rocker Gene Simmons ‘ daughter Sophie Simmons show the bride looking stunning in a billowing white dress
The 30-year-old beauty, whose mother is model Shannon Tweed-Simmons, married her longtime love, James Henderson in her mother’s Malibu yard
The festivities got underway at 4:30pm with cocktails and appetizers. When the sun began to set, the ceremony got underway.
The couple eschewed a religious ceremony and had a judge officiate their wedding.
Sophie wore a blush-colored gown by Lahav and a Maria Elena Bridal headpiece and walked down the aisle to Band of Horses’ No One’s Gonna Love You.’
And while that song may seem like an odd choice for a wedding, it does have special meaning for the newlyweds.
‘When my fiancé and I first started dating nine years ago, he took me to a Band of Horses concert,’ the bride told People. ‘I was so tired from filming our reality show Shannon and Sophie back then, I fell asleep on his shoulder.’
‘We were way too early in the dating phase for me to do that,’ she added. ‘Luckily, he thought it was cute, and he woke me up for that one song.’
And her mother’s backyard was a dream setting for her nuptials.
‘The view truly can’t be beat and I love that it is intimate and family oriented,’ she said. ‘James and I never wanted a big wedding so this is the perfect space for us.’
Fresh take: The couple had thoroughly modern wedding vows that eliminated all the stuff about the wife obeying her husband
Famous family: The musician is the daughter of model Shannon Tweed and KISS rocker Gene Simmons
The couple also had thoroughly modern wedding vows that eliminated all the stuff about the wife obeying her husband.
‘We wanted it to be super equal, because our partnership is really equal,’ Sophie said.
Sophie’s bridal party consisted of her older brother Nick Simmons, 34, and a few cousins and friends. James had his two brothers and two best friends standing up for him.
The couple wrote their own vows and Sophie practiced hers over and over again in her car in an effort to not cry on her wedding day.
‘I’ve been practicing in the car because I’m like, “I am not going to cry,”‘ she said. ‘But I am so going to cry. I cry in the car, and then come in the house and James will be like, “Are you crying?” I’m like, “No, I’m fine!” Even though we’ve said all these things to each other before, it’s emotional.’
And she worried that her husband might decide to deliver vows full of inside jokes.
‘I have no idea what his vows are, but he’s really funny, and he’s kept a 10-year-long running list of all the stupid things I’ve ever said,’ she recalls.
‘I had to tell him, “They’re vows — they’re not supposed to be funny. That’s what your speech is for!” Neither of us have been married before, but I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to roast your fiancée at the altar.’
Special moment: Gene and Sophie shared plenty of sweet father-daughter moments at the event
Statement from her parents: ‘We couldn’t be prouder of our daughter,’ Gene and Shannon told People
Festive: Gene and Sophie shared a sentimental dance as a live band played for the party
Newlyweds: Sophie and James married in an intimate backyard ceremony at the bride’s mother’s house
‘We wanted it to be super equal, because our partnership is really equal,’ Sophie said.
Sophie’s bridal party consisted of her older brother Nick Simmons, 34, and a few cousins and friends. James had his two brothers and two best friends standing up for him.
The couple wrote their own vows and Sophie practiced hers over and over again in her car in an effort to not cry on her wedding day.
‘I’ve been practicing in the car because I’m like, “I am not going to cry,”‘ she said. ‘But I am so going to cry. I cry in the car, and then come in the house and James will be like, “Are you crying?” I’m like, “No, I’m fine!” Even though we’ve said all these things to each other before, it’s emotional.’
And she worried that her husband might decide to deliver vows full of inside jokes.
‘I have no idea what his vows are, but he’s really funny, and he’s kept a 10-year-long running list of all the stupid things I’ve ever said,’ she recalls.
‘I had to tell him, “They’re vows — they’re not supposed to be funny. That’s what your speech is for!” Neither of us have been married before, but I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to roast your fiancée at the altar.’
Fashionable: The then-bride-to-be donned a one-shoulder accordian pleated dress for her rehearsal
Happy: Sophie beamed as she held her rockstar father’s hand prior to her nuptials
Reflective moment: Gene had a quiet and pensive minute during his daughter’s rehearsal dinner
