Although they grew up close to each other, Leia in Shingle Springs and Clint in Folsom, the two wouldn’t meet until many years later. “I worked at the Folsom REI store and Clint was a customer,” says Leia. “He came in to return a jacket and SOMEHOW walked out with my number.”
The couple would eventually take a three-week trek in Nepal. “We were doing what we love to do—exploring and hiking and experiencing life. We had stopped in a little town called Manang to acclimate to the elevation before the final push to 18,500 feet,” remembers Leia. “It was the only day on the trek that I had a shower. We were doing a small hike to help our bodies adjust to the elevation and I ran up to this small hill to check out the amazing views up and down the valley. He popped the question on one knee while a stranger took photos.” Even more special, Clint’s cousin had made her ring, something Clint carried for half the trip in a sock.
Leia says she knew exactly how she wanted to exchange vows with Clint: barefoot, outside and with flowers in her hair.
“Clint wanted a great band and great beer, and we both wanted to be the last people to leave the party,” shares the bride. “Since we had a camping wedding, we didn’t leave the party until noon the next day!”
The couple did the entire planning in only six months. “I couldn’t have done it without my mother,” says Leia. “She really handled all of the little details so I got to enjoy everything fully. What an amazing gift.”
While a friend married the couple, Leia and Clint were surrounded by long-term friends. “We also walked down the aisle to some of our favorite reggae jams and walked back to Daft Punk,” the bride says. “The whole thing was very ‘us’ and I loved every moment of it. Seeing Clint standing there when I walked down the aisle was just perfect. It was the culmination of five-plus years of love, laughter and kick-ass adventures.” OO— Darren Elms
