bridal

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Left to right: Leah Blatnikoff and Jamie Blatnikoff with their mom, Leslee, and Annette with her daughters Randi Rubinstein and Emily Rubinstein

continued from page 56

been very disappointed we couldn’t get
married here. We are lifelong residents,
taxpayers, business owners — we’ve built
a life together, built a house together, but
we were just ‘girlfriends.’ We just wanted
to get married, like every other couple that
loves each other and wants to spend their
lives together.”
Leslee agrees. “We are very involved in
the community,” she says. “Whether you’re
gay or not, the world doesn’t come to an
end if you live a gay lifestyle. We work
really hard; we are self-made people. It just
shouldn’t matter. We wanted what every-
body else had.”
So, in the meantime, Annette, who has
had her own math-tutoring business for 28
years, and Leslee, who co-owns PureRyde
Cycling Studio in Beverly Hills with Dan
Barish, decided they could share a last
name. Because Annette has a brother with

continued on page 60

58 January 28 • 2016

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Leslee pins a boutonniere on her son, Jamie.
The brides were walked down the aisle by their children: Leah and Jamie walked Leslee (left) and Emily and Randi accomapanied Annette
(right).
OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM: Leslee and Annette cut their cake.