Leah & Wayne
May 4, 2024
How It Started
Their love story started in an old, breezy corner of the Pourhouse American Grille in Fleetwood. Leah was working behind the bar when Wayne walked in the door, visiting the area on a contracting job. Before long, Wayne’s face became a familiar one at the Pourhouse as he visited often over the course of a few months. On his third stop in, Leah took a bold step.
She recalls, “Armed with an old-school approach, I scribbled my number on a piece of paper and playfully slapped it on his tailgate before he drove away. To my delight, he reached out, and thus our journey began.”
Months into the relationship, Wayne asked Leah’s parents for their blessing in proposing.
The Proposal
On their third-month dating anniversary and while they were decorating their first apartment together for Christmas, Wayne got down on one knee and asked Leah to marry him. They recall it was a moment filled with love and joy, perfectly encapsulating their whirlwind romance. Over the next two years, they gathered items and décor in preparation for their wedding day.
The Big Day
Friends and family gathered at Leatherman Farm in Hamburg to watch the couple tie the knot. Leah wore a gown embroidered in floral lace from Dressed In Love, West Reading. The men looked dapper in their tuxedos from Men’s Wearhouse in Wyomissing. Present were the bride’s parents, Todd and Sheri Schaeffer, as well as the groom’s parents, Christine and Wayne Whiteside, Jr. Leah’s sister, Brooke Schaeffer, served as Maid of Honor, and Wayne’s longtime best friend, Mike Simmermon, served as Best Man. Leah’s godfather, Carl Wolfe, got ordained just to marry the bride and groom and was the officiant.
During a special ceremonial bonding, the couple’s best friend, Taylor Zocco, a tattooist at Inked Anatomy in Exeter Township, inked the pair’s initials on their ring fingers.
At the rustic, barn-themed reception, shades of cabernet, black and white prevailed as Leah also acted as her own wedding planner, sourcing her floral arrangements from Sam’s Club and having them beautifully crafted by Lori Davis of Alburtis. Guests enjoyed eats from Mission BBQ, Wyomissing, as well as a red velvet cake baked by Court’s Custom Creations, Leesport. The dessert table was a highlight, featuring red velvet cookies, brownies, Oreo cupcakes, strawberryvanilla cupcakes, cheesecake bites, chocolate-covered pretzels and Rice Krispies treats, all put together by Stay Sweet Treats Co. of Fleetwood, led by Whittany Rouse.
The couple shared their first dance to Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur, and their Polaroid guest book was a hit, as was the opportunity to jot down well wishes on playing cards. The pair are avid Rummy 500 players, after all.
Looking back on it all, for Leah, the highlight was the couple’s first look. She says, “We had been engaged for three years, yet I felt like I was seeing him for the first time as I walked up to tap him on his shoulder. There were so many smiles and love and laughs. It was the best day of my life, aside from my daughter being born.”
That first look was also a standout moment for Wayne. He says, “I hadn’t seen her all day, yet we were so close many times, so it was special to me. I felt lost all morning. Then, when I saw her, the world faded away, and it was just her and I.
The Honeymoon & Future Plans
For their honeymoon, the pair took a trip to the Outer Banks and stayed in Wayne’s parents’ motorhome, situated right on the beach, soaking up the sun and each other’s company. They’re currently saving up for a dream trip to Greece. As for the future, the Blandon couple looks forward to growing their cleaning business, Whiteside Cleaning LLC, and building upon their entrepreneurial skills together.
Details
Hair: Krissi Ekvall of Elevation Beauty Studio Wyomissing
Makeup: Kelsey Raifsnider, Natural Beauty by Kelsey Allentown
DJ: Jumpin’ J Entertainment, led by DJ Jeff George, Blandon
