Real Wedding: Shannon & Brian

Sure there are vows, flower girls, and tiered cakes, but at the end of the day, a wedding is a party, and Shannon and Brian’s big day at the Rancho San Clemente Tennis & Fitness Club reflected that fun-loving attitude.

The couple first met at a wedding—yes, it happens in real life!—where Brian was the best man and Shannon was the emcee. Having done his homework at the wedding, Brian knew San Diego native Shannon was moving to L.A. in the near future, so he reached out via Facebook two weeks later. (As it turns out, the bride and groom had wanted to set them up two years prior!)

Brian popped the question in Long Beach and when it came time to plan the wedding, both Shannon and Brian knew they wanted a laid-back feel that incorporated the outdoors. As the bride put it, she wanted “a garden wedding with a backyard BBQ reception with a lot of flowers and a touch woodsy.”

The Rancho San Clemente Tennis & Fitness Club wasn’t their first choice but turned out to be the perfect choice, as it was halfway between San Diego and L.A. and a relaxed beach city. To complement the location, the couple went with light pastel hues, cafe lights strung over sweeping trees, and log centerpieces, which the groom’s dad made himself. To top off the laid-back vibe, they even served Phil’s BBQ!

Check out their backyard-style big day below: