A wedding comes full circle in this couple’s coffee shop of love

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Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark1214 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Maeraj and Michael met online and their first date lasted twelve and a half hours! Maeraj had a back-up plan in case the date didn't work out, but it obviously wasn't needed. The date started at a coffee shop, and ended up leading them to the Mission Inn in Riverside, California, where they snuck into an empty banquet room and had their first kiss.

About a year and a half later, Michael proposed at that same coffee shop, Back to the Grind. Jenny from Alders Photography tells us that on the day of the wedding, June 26, 2011, they got ready together in a suite at the Mission Inn (one they didn't need to sneak into!). And where were the ceremony and reception held? That same coffee shop!

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark0493 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark0877 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark0189 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark2907 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark2916 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark2918 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark3470 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark3516 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark3810 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark3958 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark4051 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark2943 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark2968 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark3071 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark3182 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark4221 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark4419 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Sheikh Clark Alders Photography clark2870 low alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

If you love this first date venue turned wedding venue wedding, check out the rest of the photos at Alders Photography's blog.

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Comments on A wedding comes full circle in this couple’s coffee shop of love

  1. This is actually awesome!

    Congratulations,Maeraj and Michael. I love the cranes!

    FH and I also met online and had an epic first date that ended in a coffee shop. Two and a half years later we proposed to each other and he put the ring on my finger at the coffee shop where it all began!

  2. I work in Riverside and Back to the Grind is awesome! So cool to see it done up for a wedding! Congratulations! 🙂

  3. Beautiful! I love the bride’s bouquet. I’ve succulents in a bouquet. I love the greens. Thanks for sharing your pics. The coffee shop transformation into wedding/reception space is such an interesting idea. It seems like you really made a little space do a lot. It sounds like this is a neighborhood spot you’ll continue to frequent. And you could rent it out again for big anniversaries.

  4. So adorable! I love the decorations and not to mention the cute story behind it 😀 Digging the coffee shop vibe all over!

  5. Congratulations Maeraj and Michael! I live near Riverside and this is one of my favorite coffee shops. Also, Hobo Jazz is the BEST local band. Perfect combo for a wedding!

  6. I want to live in this wedding! Is that weird? I don’t care. I love absolutely everything I see! wow!

  7. Ahhh, my partner and I also met online and had our first date at our now favourite coffee shop. My absolute dream wedding is for us to marry there too – it’s been a really big part of our lives.

    This wedding is my inspiration. Beautiful!

  8. I love love love that bouquet with the succulents in it. I almost wish I had seen this before my own wedding 😉 Beautiful wedding–I also loved your shoes and all the paper cranes!

  9. Hurrah for paper crane inspiration! I started making them without thinking about what I was going to do with them… This looks gorgeous – and what a romantic story!

  10. I’m loving all the steampunky goodness, oh, that caketop!! The band, the ambiance, total fun and I adore it!

  11. How did I miss this post two years ago?! My husband and I met at the coffee shop where I worked, but sadly not one conducive to a wedding celebration. I did however use my Starbucks coffee bean mark-out perk to decorate our reception. Coffee beans EVERYWHERE! 🙂 It was a blast the few times I got to help couples with their Starbucks proposal in honor of the place where they met as well.

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