The winners of the OC Fair’s “Love is in the Fair” wedding contest were Leslie Leong, a veterinary assistant and nursing student from Buena Park and her fiancé Michael Nguyen, a behavior analyst for children with autism from West Covina. They said “I do” in front of 20 of their guests—plus the entire OC Fair—on August 10. OC Fair staff sat down with them shortly before their ceremony.
How/when did you meet?
Approximately 2002, we met online in a music chat room, where Michael was trying to promote his high school band. We were internet friends for a long time. We didn’t meet in person until college. We lost touch for a while but reconnected through social media and started dating four years ago.
What do you like to do as a couple?
Camping, traveling, visiting national parks and laughing uncontrollably.
Tell us about your engagement.
Michael: I had several plans since January of this year, but our vacation plans kept getting cancelled for various reasons. On July 1, the day before our fourth anniversary, I decided I didn’t want to keep postponing it because it didn’t matter if we were on a mountain or by the ocean, as long as we were together. I cooked her dinner. Afterward, I let her “open her anniversary gift” early. Leslie collects rocks and crystals, so I hid the ring inside of a geode. After a short engagement, we finally got to take a short camping vacation. When we got reception, we learned we had won the contest!
Why is the OC Fair special to the two of you?
Our anniversary is July, so the OC Fair was one of the first public places we attended as a couple. We’ve been every year since 2015.
What are your favorite things to do at the Fair?
Leslie: The butterfly exhibit, petting zoo and the cookies.
Michael: Watching the pig races, shopping for gadgets and Teriyaki Chicken Pineapple bowl.
What did you say to each other when you learned that you would be getting married at the OC Fair?
We were camping in the forest without cell service when the Fair picked us. When we drove down the mountain, our phones were buzzing and beeping as over 50 messages came through from friends and family trying to contact us. We were silent for some time and our first words spoken were, “Hurry, message the Fair back!”
What was it like trying to pull this all together in just a week?
Michael: Vows are “til death do us part” and we managed to not kill each other.
Leslie: It’s been stressful trying to get everything put together in a week; there’s so much to do and so many phone calls to make!
If you had not won the contest, what would your wedding have been like?
Outdoors, maybe at a national park or a farm. We even considered eloping on a train. We’re really happy to be getting married in front of Millennium Barn.
What do your friends and families think of this unusual wedding?
Our family is more traditional so they think we’re crazy. Our friends say it’s a perfect fit.
What are you most looking forward to about your wedding?
Leslie: Getting married to each other of course! Michael has always been a great friend for all these years. I’m glad that now I can say he is my best friend and I get to spend the rest of my life with him.
Michael: In general, Leslie and I are pretty quiet. So I’m really excited we get the opportunity to celebrate in this big, loud, grand spectacle.
