Amy & Kurt in Santa Monica, CA

A beach wedding suited Amy and Kurt’s personalities to perfection, so they planned their tropical theme celebration to coincide just before sunset at The Beach Club in Santa Monica. THE BRIDE Amy Miller THE GROOM Kurt Zech THE DATE August 7 It was the winter of 1998 when Amy went to a friend’s home in Lake Tahoe to snowboard and ring in the New Year. While there, she met Kurt, who was the house’s winter caretaker at the time. Turns out, it wasn’t just the calendar that would have a fresh start: After getting to know each other, Amy, a 28-year-old who works in film production, and Kurt, a 28-year-old real estate investor, began a relationship that lasted more than five years—several of which were spent long-distance. In the summer of 2001, Kurt made the move to be with Amy in Santa Monica. By September of 2003, the pair was thrilled to have more time together, and decided to take a trip to Costa Rica. On the third day of their vacation, the couple woke up early so that Kurt could go surfing. When they returned to the hotel, Amy was astonished to see their hotel room blanketed with tropical flowers. The stage was set: She went out to the balcony, where a romantic breakfast was waiting, and Kurt proposed as they looked out over the ocean.