Lisa Braudis & Jeff Roper

They met through mutual friends seven years and two days prior to their wedding date. They met for drinks at a local restaurant as Lisa was sitting at the bar waiting for Jeff when she got a text saying he would be there soon and he was wearing cut off jean shorts and a tank top.  

However, he arrived in a nice business suit.  Lisa said, “I’ve been laughing ever since!”  Lisa thought Jeff was hysterical. They were set to have drinks, but after about two minutes, they decided to go for a full dinner. She had never met someone who was so witty, intelligent and thoughtful. They have been inseparable ever since.

Lisa had been talking about marriage after year two which was when she turned 30. So, at year six, she was not certain it would ever happen. They headed to Santa Barbara for her little sister’s wedding in May of 2012, but before arriving to the wedding, Jeff and Lisa took some time to hang out in Los Angeles and on the west coast.  While touring Yosemite National Park, Jeff convinced a hiker near them to film a proposal under a waterfall. She was surprised to say the least.  

Wedding planning started that summer. After meeting and hiring Kristin Ashley Events, they worked together to pick a venue and colors. Lisa and her planner became the best of friends as they prioritized each aspect of the wedding. They started out with a “tent” wedding and ended in a ballroom of the Four Seasons.

The wedding day was absolutely perfect. “You know how people say, “things will go wrong,” well nothing ever did,” Lisa said. Jeff’s best man was his son, Christopher, as Jeff became a father at the age of 16 so his son was 22 years old. Christopher blew everyone away with his speech as they have the most unbelievable bond. 

During Jeff’s speech, he said that he never thought someone like Lisa would date someone like him, but she felt he was the perfect match for her.  Jeff surprised Lisa with a performance by hip hop artist, Nelly. Then, Lisa and Nelly sang a duet which was hilarious. The guests had a blast singing to Nelly’s latest tunes! For the décor, they built 15’ lamps to help bring the ceiling down and add some atmosphere to the space. They had three separate table settings, complete with separate linens and décor for each table.  

At the end of the wedding, all that was felt was LOVE. Of course there was love amongst Jeff and Lisa, but also with Jeff’s grandma who was ailing and still able to attend. Jeff thanked and welcomed everyone which was such a memorable emotional speech.