Story
"Where did you two meet?" As Shawn tells it: On July 5, 2020 we met in the parking lot of a Thai restaurant! (There may have been a little cosmic assistance from Bumble, but that's where it all began.) Being that it was in the early days of the pandemic, we'd each quarantined for a week before meeting, and there was an air of anticipation.
She immediately noticed his calm demeanor and fun flamingo shirt, and he noticed her beautiful face and nervous energy. Leah ordered the meal, as the resident Thai aficionado, and we began what would prove to be each of our last first dates.
Once we had our food, we tried eating in the courtyard behind the restaurant. It was July in Texas with no shade, and we were quickly realizing that this wasn't the best idea. Shawn, in a moment of uncharacteristic boldness, suggested we take our food back to his place nearby. Leah, now vindicated, made a decision that was very questionable at the time, and said yes.
A short drive had us there and on the back porch with our dinner. You'll be unsurprised to learn that it was still uncomfortably hot, even in the shade. So, continuing with her increasingly risky decisions and his audaciousness, they moved the meal inside to the sweet embrace of air conditioning. A long and auspicious conversation followed, though neither of us can remember a thing we talked about. Nevertheless, that is how we first met, and how our story began!
And here we are nearly 3 years later- having survived a rough bout of Covid together, sheltering in place through Snowvid 2021, nursing school and a career change apiece- laughing all the way through it and growing more in love each day. We have built a lifetime of memories together already, and are so excited for what our future holds!
Travel
Getting to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is located about 90 miles Northwest of Los Angeles. There are direct flights into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), but you'll find more affordable options flying into Los Angeles (LAX).
Santa Barbara Airbus
The Santa Barbara Airbus is an easy option for those flying into LAX. It is a shuttle bus that picks up at the airport and runs direct to Santa Barbara. You can book roundtrip tickets to get you back to LAX for your flight. Purchase tickets online.
Things to double-check:
- The shuttle has set departure times, so make sure the return shuttle you select will get you back with plenty of time for your return flight. There can be traffic delays.
- Be certain you select "From LAX" when booking tickets
Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn
We have a discounted rate in place with the Pepper Tree Inn. Use the link provided here to book the reservation. This is not a reserved room block, only a group rate discount, so we recommend making a plans for your stay well in advance before things book up.
A note: If you want to look at other options, AirBnBs and VRBOs are very limited in Santa Barbara but there are several other hotels in town, as well as in nearby Goleta.
Our Favorite Santa Barbara Spots
We hope you love this city as much as we do!
Schedule
Friday, October 13, 2023
Welcome Party
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
A gathering for everyone to enjoy. Join us at Municipal Winemakers (aka Muni) in the Funk Zone! We have the place to ourselves, and food will be provided. Wine and beer are on us, so come and mingle with all our family and friends. Don't forget your thinking cap, as we will have a trivia game for everyone.
Come casual, save your nice outfit for the wedding
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Wedding Ceremony
3:30 PM
The ceremony will be in the Mural Room on the second floor of the Santa Barbara Courthouse. There is an elevator for those that need it.
Parking: If driving yourself, please use the parking garage across the street on Anapaca Street.
Cocktail Attire
Reception
5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
The reception will be held at Arnoldi's Cafe. There will be a cocktail hour with a special musical performance by the acclaimed local band, The Salt Martians. Dinner and dancing to follow.
Q & A
We tried to anticipate the questions you may have. If you need to know anything that isn't answered here, please get in touch with us!
Registry
Your presence is enough of a present to us! But for those of you who are stubborn, we've put together a wish-list to help you out.
Get the app
Download Joy and join our app using our event handle shawn-and-leah. View and share photos and stay up-to-date with details on the go.