We fell in love with Melissa & Mari the second we met them, and we fell in love with their story even more! Melissa met Mari in 2014 when she attended one of her work out classes in San Clemente, CA. After several classes, they started chatting and realized they shared a love for football. Mari is from a small town in Washington called Yakima, so she is by birth a Seahawks fan. Melissa grew up in Orange County with no ties to any football team until college when she became a Steelers fan (although she went to UCSD, the Chargers never won her over). One day as they were gearing up for pre-season football, Mari asked Melissa to go with her to a Seahawks/Chargers game (even though Melissa despised both teams). Decked out in her Steelers gear, Melissa drove with Mari for a weekend trip to San Diego. It was the first time they’d ever hung together outside of the gym. It was on this trip that they learned the most about each other and became instant friends! Over the course of the next three years their friendship blossomed into something more! Through travel adventures, Masters programs and late night talks, Melissa & Mari knew they wanted more out of their friendship. Finally in 2017, Mari decided to share her feelings on a trip to Cancun and they have been together ever since!

According to Melissa, “There have been some major obstacles for us to overcome, mostly because this is both Mari and my first same sex relationship, which was extremely difficult for some people (including family) to accept. But despite these challenges, building a life together has been so easy! And even on our toughest days, what keeps us going is that we love to laugh and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We love to be in the moment and be authentically ourselves! And that is what we are trying to bring to our big day.” As our eyes filled with tears, it was such an honor that they chose us to capture their love on their wedding day. Melissa & Mari decided to host a small 13-person wedding in La Jolla, CA at Windandsea Beach and a small reception on the rooftop of a private residence just walking distance from the ceremony site.

Their style, you ask?  “Tequila and tacos on china!” They wanted to have a balance of casual and elegant all at the same time. They wanted the ceremony and first look to feel intimate and romantic, but they wanted the after party, to be a party! The brides’ DIY’d snacks, signs, music, flowers and flatware. Even Melissa’s wedding ring was a family heirloom with lots of love extended from Mari’s late grandmother. Although Mari’s family did not attend the wedding, the brides were surrounded by so much love and support of friends and family. Fully equipped with a dance off up the makeshift aisle of all the guests in attendance. Everything was pure perfection! Wishing Melissa & Mari a LIFETIME of happiness!

Location: Windansea Beach, Make up Artist: Mobile Beauty Team, Dress Store: David’s Bridal, Dress Designer: BHLDN, Caterer: Gringas Tacos and Catering, Bakery: Churros El Tigre, Specialty Foods: The Martini Agents