Real Wedding: Laura & Shawn

Laura Rosenberg, 28, met neighbor Shawn Lindsey, 32, while playing flip-cup at her Memorial Day barbecue in 2009. Shawn, a Combat Search and Rescue Swimmer and Navy Helicopter Airman, joined the festivities. The San Diego natives began to bump into each other at their weekly chicken wing haunt, but she was skeptical about a relationship. “I had the impression he was a bit of a ladies’ man,” says Laura, a student at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She began to see Shawn in a new light after he invited her over for a flip-cup rematch on Labor Day and they began dating. In March 2011, Shawn proposed at The Ritz Carlton in Laguna Beach. Their ceremony took place in a historical church followed by a glamorous rock ‘n’ roll-themed party. “We loved the dichotomy of having a traditional ceremony and an edgy reception.”
—By Archana Ram

[onehalf]

ETHEREAL ELEGANCE

Laura found her “wow” dress, a Maggie Sottero strapless gown with an embellished lace motif and frothy organza skirt.

CLASSIC TOUCH

For her walk down the aisle, the couple chose a string-quartet version of the classical “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel.

ROCK STEADY

Each place setting included a rock candy favor tied with a ribbon that said, “It all starts with a little rock,” as a nod to Laura’s ring and the reception venue.

DIRTY DANCING

Shawn and Laura, a former competitive figure skater, secretly learned a choreographed routine to Brandi Carlile’s “The Story” before the wedding. There were dips, tricks, and even the famous Dirty Dancing lift.

CANDY BARS AND CIGARS

The couple had a candy station and cigar bar stocked with limited-edition cigars from Dubai. Each was dipped in Cognac, Bourbon or Scotch.

[/onehalf][onehalflast]

BITES AND BEVERAGES

Guests nibbled on beef skewers, coconut-crusted shrimp and sesame-ginger halibut. Signature cocktails included Maker’s Mark and ginger ale with an orange peel for the groom and Cosmopolitans with a lemon twist for the bride. Sliders and fries made for a late-night snack.

THEIR FAVORITE MOMENT

During their vows, Laura ad-libbed, “for richer or for poor…but more for richer.”

TRADITIONAL ALTAR

Christ Episcopal, a 119-year-old church on Coronado, set the stage for the ceremony.

GLAM ROCK

The upbeat music and edgy décor of the Hard Rock Hotel provided inspiration for the wedding’s jewel-tone palette.

FANCY FEET

Because Shawn wears Converse sneakers everyday, he and his groomsmen wore the brand’s leather version with fun dress socks.

[/onehalflast]

[box title=”Coronado/Hard Rock Hotel, Photography by Chaz Cruz Photography”][nggallery id=328][/box] [box title=”Get Their Style”]