An Elegant Seaside Wedding in Malibu, California

Brandon Taubman (29, a baseball economist) first spotted Leah Perry (27, a finance professional) at the Ernst & Young headquarters in New York City. 

Brandon Taubman (29, a baseball economist) first spotted Leah Perry (27, a finance professional) at the Ernst & Young headquarters in New York City.  Her kind demeanor and ear-to-ear smile grabbed his attention. Leah had recently joined the internship program as a senior at University of Pennsylvania. Sadly, he never mustered the courage to approach her that summer.  He did, however, get a second chance one year later when she accepted a full-time offer with EY.  So Brandon pulled out all of his moves - offering technical assistance and Excel tutorials at work, arranging for exclusive lunches (allegedly paid for by their “Peer Mentor Program”). At first Leah was oblivious to Brandon’s efforts, but he had successfully laid the groundwork.  Finally, one Sunday at a post-game happy hour, they kissed for the first time. Brandon and Leah held their wedding ceremony and reception at the beautiful outdoor Cypress Sea Cove. The private estate located deep in Malibu was exactly what the couple were looking for. The house which sits on the grounds gives a Cape Cod vibe,  and is surrounded by expansive breath-taking views of the ocean. They knew we wanted to be on the California coast and make a mini destination wedding out of it, since so many of their guests were from out-of-town and had never been to California. For their wedding and reception, Brandon and Leah wanted to go for a combination of rustic and modern. Think: raw wooden tables and platters, old lace runners, bronze candlesticks and mercury glass lanterns. The main flowers were yellow straw flowers, green succulents and white dahlias. Brandon and Leah also wanted food to be a major focus of their wedding. They provided extensive appetizers and a sit-down dinner, as well as a fully-stocked dessert bar and signature cocktails and teas.

Rustic Invitations
The bride wanted a simple sweetheart ball gown without a lot of embellishment but a lot of volume. She wore a white satin ball gown by Enzoani with gathered details and a train.
The groom went all-out with a custom made tux from Alton Lane. It's had a bold navy houndstooth pattern that really popped in photographs.
Leopard Bridal Shoes
Bride and Groom Rings
The bride carried a yellow, green and white bouquet. The main flowers were yellow straw flowers, green succulents and white dahlias to create a rustic but modern feel.
Bride and Groom First Look
The bride and groom held their wedding ceremony and reception at Cypress Sea Cove. The private estate in Malibu gives a Cape Cod nautical vibe, and is surrounded by expansive breath-taking views of the ocean.
Succulent Decor
Pre-Ceremony Cocktails
Two signature cocktails were served in addition to the full bar. The groom's cocktail was called "Brandon’s “T-Bone," a mix of whiskey and spicy jalapeno.
Two signature cocktails were served in addition to the full bar. The bride's custom cocktail was called a “Fuzzy-P,” and was a lighter peach flavored vodka option.
Ceremony with an Ocean View in Malibu
The bride and groom went for a rustic-meets-modern vibe, with raw wooden tables and platters, old lace runners, bronze candlesticks and mercury glass lanterns.
Photos of Bride and Groom
The bride and groom chose custom unfinished wooden chairs decorated with a lighter wooden ampersand for their oceanside reception to play up their rustic outdoor theme.
Custom Guest Trivia Cards
The bride and groom wanted food to be a major focus of their wedding. They provided extensive appetizers as well as a fully-stocked dessert bar with assorted gourmet treats.
Dessert Bar Creme Brulee
Brownies in Dessert Bar
Custom Cake Topper with Dog
Bride and Groom Cut the Cake
The bride and groom provided an open-air photo booth for their oceanside reception. Guests were allowed to keep one copy and asked to sign another for the bride and groom to keep.
Bride and Groom Grand Exit