Allison & Bobby

Allison Lees & Bobby Drought on July 14, 2019

For surf shop owners Allison Lees and Bobby Drought, matrimony turned out to be what surfers call a “clean wave” — smooth and free of turmoil. The Salve Regina graduates met in February 2016 at the Fifth Element restaurant and immediately clicked. “Once we started talking, we realized how much we had in common!” recalls Allison. In the months that followed, the pair shared fish tacos at Diego’s, went ice skating downtown and attended Newport’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Two years after their meeting, a stroll along Cliff Walk ended at the lawn behind Ochre Court, where Bobby got down on one knee and proposed. Afterward, he suggested they mark the occasion by going to the site of their first date. As they entered the Fifth Element, Allison found both of their families waiting to celebrate the good news.  [By Fred Albert, Published in Newport Life magazine]

“We wanted to have our wedding in Newport since the two of us went to college in Newport and met in Newport.” 

A Class Act

Since Salve Regina had played such a big role in their lives, the couple decided to tie the knot at the university’s Our Lady of Mercy Chapel. Allison wore a versatile jersey maxi dress and a floral crown, while Bobby looked dashing in a black suit. The pair limited the wedding party to just a maid of honor (Allison’s 12-year-old sister) and a best man (Bobby’s dad). Allison, a schoolteacher in Tiverton, invited her entire fourth-grade class to the ceremony. The students reciprocated by creating a book for the couple called Words of Wisdom for the Bride & Groom, which included such sentiments as “A good wife always does the dishes, but sometimes makes her husband do it.”

Surf and Sundaes

After the ceremony, the couple hopped aboard a powder-blue 1967 Cadillac and headed to the reception at the Newport Beach House, which appealed to them because of its location directly on the beach. There, guests signed a surfboard in lieu of a guestbook, and enjoyed a buffet instead of plated meals. “We wanted our wedding to have a laid-back, party feel,” says Allison, who also eschewed a formal cake in favor of an ice cream sundae bar.

Where Are They Now?

After a honeymoon in Aruba, the couple settled in Newport, where Allison juggles her teaching duties with a summertime role as beach manager/surf school director at Rhody Surf, the shop that Bobby owns.

Featured Vendors

Photographer: Maria Burton Photography
Bridal Gown, Bridesmaid Dress: BHLDN (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
Suits: Jos. A. Bank
Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, Salve Regina University
Reception Venue, Caterer: Newport Beach House
Planner: Olivia Smith, Newport Beach House
Nails: Nailz Etc. (Westport, Mass.)
Flowers: Homegrown Blooms (Westport, Mass.)
Rings: Harmony Winters Jewelry (Westport, Mass.)
Bridal Party Transportation: Leisure Limousine
Reception entertainment: Music Mixers Entertainment
Officiant: Father Kris von Maluski, St. Mary’s Church
Ceremony Music: Organist Matthew Kelley, Cantor Madeline Key
Reception Music: Sean Rivers
DJ: DJ Bells
Sundae Bar: Ben & Jerry’s
Favors: Newport Sea Salt Co.