LeAnn and Joseph’s Intimate Beach Wedding in California

Since LeAnn and Joseph are both law school students, they spend a lot of time together in class. They began their relationship as study partners but they quickly realized they share a much deeper connection. Just three months from the day they met, Joseph asked LeAnn to marry him.

Read all about LeAnn and Joseph’s whirlwind romance as well as their intimate beach wedding in California.

Bride & Groom: LeAnn & Joseph
Occupations: Law Students
Wedding date: August 12th, 2017
Wedding location: Manhattan Beach, CA

Tell us how you met and all about the proposal. Joe and I met our second year of law school at the University of Arizona in Tucson. When we realized we had all of the same classes, we became study buddies. A few weeks later we started dating and 3 months from the day we met, Joe asked me to marry him and of course I said yes!

What was wedding shopping like for you? Although my wedding was on the beach, I wanted a dress my guests wouldn’t forget. I am a tomboy and rarely wear dresses so I wanted to wow my family and friends. The first time dress shopping, I went with my sisters and 8 of my closest friends. I picked a beautiful Hayley Paige ball gown with the approval of my entourage. I slept on it before making the purchase and the next morning I decided it was not the dress. I went to several other salons with just my sisters and eventually purchased a dress that I didn’t love. A few weeks later, knowing the uneasiness I was feeling about my dress, my planner told me about the Monique Lhuillier sample sale happening that weekend. With my fiance, I stood in line for 3 hours to enter the doors of the sample sale. The second dress I tried on was a beautiful mermaid dress with a dramatic bottom. I knew I had found my dress and Joe loved it too!

Bridesmaid & Groomsmen gifts: The bridesmaids received robes and the groomsmen received bow ties and socks.

Favorite item on the menu: We loved the herb crusted salmon. Our guests are still talking about it!

First dance song: “Love” by Kendrick Lamar

What is your best memory from your wedding? Our ceremony was beautiful! I loved that we asked my cousin to officiate our wedding. It made the ceremony fun and personal. Having the beach as our backdrop was simply breathtaking.

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Have the wedding you and your fiance want! When we first started planning, our guest list was 300 people long and our wedding was going to be held in a concert hall. My fiance and I are both laid back people and we wanted the essence of our wedding to be about love, the love we have for each other and the love we have for our beautiful family and friends. We broke the news to our parents that we wanted to do something smaller and more intimate and instead of them being disappointed, they were quite supportive. I always wanted to get married on the beach so we had an intimate affair with 90 people.

Vendors:
Photography – Katee Grace Photography 
Planner – Leslie Marie Events
Reception Venue – Tin Roof Bistro
Ceremony Rentals – Opus Event Rentals
Reception Rentals – MTB Event Rentals
Cake – Bliss and Butter
Hair –  Hair by Tamari
Make-up – Drini
Florist – Bloomeria Floral Design
Band – Acoustic Soul
DJ – DJ Fresko
Stationary – Wedding Paper Divas
Ceremony Location – Manhattan Beach
Bridesmaids Dresses – Adrianna Papell
Bride’s Dress – Monique Lhuillier