This Couple's Wedding Portraits Will Convince You to Rent a Vintage Land Rover on Your Big Day

When David spotted Shaina during a square dancing lesson in their middle school gym class, he convinced four of his friends to switch in line so that he could pair up with her. His first words to her were, “Howdy, I’m David,” which Shaina will never forget. The two became fast friends and dated on and off while they were young, but took the plunge and committed to their relationship during their sophomore year of college; they've been going strong (even dating long distance) ever since.

In October 2020, David planned a surprise beach picnic proposal in Laguna Beach, but when the professional photographer he hired came down with Covid, and the hotel discontinued the beach picnic service they offered at the last minute, he had to improvise. He enlisted his mom to create a DIY engagement sign, bought fake flowers and a beach blanket, and used a cup and his backpack as a tripod to take photos. “Luckily, we were able to capture the moment just as the sun set, although Shaina saw it coming from a mile away,” David says.

The couple wanted to host their wedding—Shaina envisioned a rustic, coastal celebration in a barn—on the California central coast, where it would be easiest for their grandparents to make the trip to celebrate with them. They hosted a small rehearsal dinner and a larger welcome party on September 1, and a wedding celebration on September 2, 2023, which was attended by 175 guests at Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, California. They enlisted Vanessa Noel Events to help them pull off a West-Coast-meets-East-Coast black-tie affair. Check out all the photos captured by Brandon Kidd.

The day before their wedding, Shaina and David held their rehearsal dinner at Greengate Ranch and Vineyard. The bride-to-be wore an off-the-shoulder mid-length Cult Gaia dress with ruffle sleeves paired with Vince slip on square toe sandals. David chose a striped button down from Zara paired with white pants, a brown belt, and brown shoes.

The couple’s closest loved ones dined together at one long table with views of the California hills. The table was covered in floor-length linens, decorated with vibrant floral centerpieces and citrus fruits, and paired with wooden garden chairs. Shaina and David hired Emily Baird Design to create custom menus, which were placed on top of stoneware plates and chargers. “Shaina loves natural stone, rustic pottery, and the overall aesthetic of the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, so we leaned into each of those elements,” says Vanessa, the couple's planner.

In addition to beer and wine, Shaina and David served two signature cocktails at the rehearsal dinner: David’s family’s mint julep recipe, along with a gin and tonic with creme de cacao, lime, basil syrup, and celery bitters. Some of the couple’s closest friends and family gave speeches and David’s brother, Wes, played “A Postcard to Henry Purcell,” a song from Pride & Prejudice, Shaina and David’s favorite movie.

Later that evening, the couple invited the rest of their guests to join them at the venue for their welcome party. Tables were decorated with patterned linens and ceramic vases filled with palmetto palms and grapes. They added bistro lighting and hung rattan lamps over each table, which tied in with the rattan details on the guest’s chairs.

Shaina and David went for a Hawaiian-themed menu as a nod to their trip to Maui to celebrate their engagement. They served tropical rum cocktails, including the “Blues Cruise,” which was served with gin, white rum, blue curaçao, lemon, passion fruit, and mint. They brought in a food truck, which offered up short ribs, grilled chicken with pineapple salsa, and poke bowls for dinner.

The couple’s invitation suite set the tone for their wedding day, which was meant to have a more sophisticated, formal feel. They teamed up with Emily Baird Design again to customize their paper set with a custom monogram, a subtle wave design, peacock envelope liners, and wax seals. They went with a neutral color palette, which matched the wedding day’s décor scheme.

Shaina worked with bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz to curate a timeless look for the wedding. Armed with a list of wedding dress options that fit her vision, she went shopping with her stepmom, maid of honor, and close friends. Gabrielle insisted the Giselle by Lihi Hod would be the one, so Shaina tried the strapless satin gown on first. “I had that moment where I stood in front of the mirror and could see myself getting married in that dress,” she says. “The day went off without a hitch, and I ended it with my perfect dress.”

She accessorized with pearl pleated heels from Loeffler Randall and her stepmom’s David Yurman drop earrings as her something borrowed. “I look up to my stepmom so much and to be able to wear such an incredible piece on my wedding all thanks to her was truly something I’ll never forget,” she says.

Shaina wanted her hair and makeup look to feel natural, but elevated. “Marla used Glam Seamless extensions in my hair and they were incredible,” Shaina says, “It felt like my hair but fuller.” Shaina’s bridesmaids wore black floor-length dresses of their choice. The ladies all held small white floral bouquets with greenery.

David wore a black tuxedo with a shawl lapel from State and Liberty paired with a black bow tie, french cuff shirt, and patent leather shoes. He finished his look with a stainless steel Omega watch and Mont Blanc cufflinks for a James Bond vibe.

The groomsmen donned black shawl lapel tuxedos. On the morning of the wedding day, the guys got up early to get the venue set up for the after-party. By 11 a.m., they were playing 2000s hits, steaming their tuxes, sharing stories, and drinking a bottle of David’s favorite Scotch!

Shaina and David’s ceremony took place on the grand lawn, where Vanessa aimed to create a meadow-like atmosphere. “Jenn Sanchez brought in potted plants and trees instead of relying solely on arranged pieces,” she says. “This and the textural pottery pieces gave the ceremony a more wild and lived-in feeling.” Chairs were set up in a slight arch so guests had the best view of the couple as they exchanged their vows.

David accompanied his mother and Shaina’s stepmom down the aisle to a recording of Daniel Jang’s violin cover of “Grow As We Go.” The couple’s bulldog, Lucy, also made her grand entrance at the ceremony.

Shaina’s dad, Doug, walked her down the aisle to Daniel Jang’s violin cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” “My dad is my hero, and someone I respect and love deeply,” Shaina says. “It was a very emotional and cathartic moment.”

At the altar, Shaina and Daniel exchanged vows they wrote for each other, which included tons of memories and inside jokes from middle school, college, and law school. “While I may not be as much of a wordsmith as David, my vows were simple and from the heart,” the bride says. They celebrated back down the aisle to Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted.”

Shaina wanted to have her wedding at a venue with a barn, but she didn’t want to host all of the day’s events inside it. Greengate Ranch’s rustic backdrop was perfect for their cocktail hour. They brought in a large green bar and potted plants to elevate the space; escort cards were set up on trays of pebbles and displayed on a round black table with an oversized potted plant that took center stage.

While guests mingled with each other, Shaina and David took the opportunity to snap a few portraits in their getaway car, a 1997 NAS Land Rover Defender in British Green.

The reception's vibe was a departure from the rustic décor seen at the ceremony and cocktail hour. Instead, guests moved to the property's The Stables area, where the couple's vendor team transformed the space to feel like an urban restaurant. “We brought in white banquettes and warm velvet draping to warm up the stark white space and modern floor lamps that created a glow along the sides of the walls that felt so warm and inviting,” Vanessa says. More potted plants were added throughout to create fullness.

Reception tables included a mix of long wooden and round stations with textured tablecloths. Place settings included stoneware plates, linen napkins, custom menus, and enamel handle flatware. The centerpieces included mostly white floral arrangements in a variety of sizes with tea candles scattered throughout.

For dessert, Shaina and David had a cookies and cream wedding cake that was decorated with flowers and a polymer figurine of their dog, Lucy. They also had a dessert table full of tasty treats like cupcakes, macarons, and cookies.

Shaina and David made sure their DJ played hits from the '70s through the 2010s. They chose “You and Me” by Lighthouse for their first dance because it was the first song they slowly danced to in middle school! “No matter what, dating or not, we would always find ourselves on the dance floor when this song played, and we would always end up slow dancing together,” Shaina says. “It was the perfect first dance song to take us full circle to where we are now.”

As for the duo's reception highlights? All of them revolved around family. The couple was ecstatic that David’s 105-year-old grandmother, who they each had taken a lot of advice from over the years, was able to join them at the wedding. “She sipped Champagne, was able to meet all of our friends and family she hadn’t yet, and enjoyed in all of the splendor,” Shaina says. Shaina’s Grandpa Bruce, a classically trained opera singer, wowed the crowd with his rendition of “Love Me Tender” by Elvis.

The next day, the couple invited their guests back to the venue for an al fresco brunch on the lawn. Round dining tables and high tops were covered with geometric patterned tablecloths and simple white floral centerpieces. They added a lounge area full of comfy seating and pillows and set up striped umbrellas to create pockets of shade.

Guests visited the bar for cocktails and had a buffet of brunch options, including pastries, oatmeal, and fruit.

Now on the other side of their nuptials, the pair has this advice for couples currently planning their own weddings. "Open communication and teamwork are key. Make sure you work together on this event and share the burden and load as a team," they say. Part of that balance, they continue, involves surrounding yourself with the best team. "Find the most amazing planner, and put your trust in them. They are the subject matter experts, and they will have all of your best interests and ideas at heart (we love you Vanessa!)," explains the bride. "Also, don’t leave your veil at home, but if you do, make it a fashion statement! Lastly, give all your groomsmen and bridesmaids roles for the wedding weekend. It sets clear expectations but also pulls on the strengths of each of your most favorite people."