Robin Sterling and Todd Gordon most certainly know the importance of grace under fire.  Though a rainstorm is probably the most common “disaster” to threaten a wedding, Robin and Todd were faced with a much greater blow when a fire at The Hotel Bel Air ruined their reception site just days before the wedding.   But, rather than bemoaning the unfortunate turn of events, the buoyant couple found an equally swank and historical site, The Sunset Room of The Beverly Hills Hotel, and carried out their dream wedding in full force.

At the beginning of their seventeen-month engagement, Todd recalls that the wedding planning seemed to fall into place rather easily.  The bride and groom made all of the major decisions together, and even had a great time working on all the details.  They chose the Hotel Bel Air, for it’s beautiful Swan Lake ceremony site as well as ballroom and the classically-hip LA vibe that comes with it.  The September date was chosen for its promise of great weather and an ideal sunset as well as for the availability of the couple’s top choice vendors, such as the photographer and the band.  The look of the wedding would center around a traditional black-tie color scheme, with Robin in pure white, Todd in a black tux with a white tie and vest, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen all in black.  Simple white flowers with green accents would complement the lush outdoor scenery of Swan Lake and complete the timeless look.  Chocolate and red roses would be mixed with the whites for the wedding party, garden gazebo and the table centerpieces to provide an unexpected punch of color, particularly in the photographs.  

All was going along according to plan when the couple received the horrible news of the hotel fire, causing quite a lot of stress just two days before the wedding date.  With no chance of keeping the reception at The Hotel Bel Air, Robin and Todd swiftly concocted a “Plan B” and secured the Sunset Room of the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel.  Many of the elements of the reception had to be re-worked to accommodate the change in venue. New hors d’oeuvres and dinner menus had to be selected, additional flowers had to be ordered, and the table arrangements had to be re-done for the new layout.  Somehow, between the sanguine couple and their outstanding team of professionals, the changes were completed in time and the original style and feel of the event was preserved seamlessly.

Todd and Robin were married at sunset in the gardens of Swan Lake, just as they had dreamed of.130 of their friends and family members filled the sentimental ceremony, which included eight bridesmaids, four flower girls, seven groomsmen and two ring bearers.  The couple had chosen a Rabbi who they felt was more spiritual than religious for their Reformed Jewish ceremony.  Family members who are no longer with us were given special honor and gave a very personal touch to the day.  Additionally, the Rabbi blessed the couple with the “Hand Over Heart” custom in which the bride and groom place their hands over the other’s heart, joining it with their own.  

The emotional ceremony was followed by a formal dinner reception in the Sunset Room.  Even with the last-minute changes, the florist had completed Robin and Todd’s vision completely, embellishing the chic ballroom with the same white-and-green color palette with reds and chocolates.  Every detail was handled with care, down to the centerpieces blooming high above the dinner tables to ensure that guests could see each other and that conversation could flow feely.  Though the reception was a high-spirited party atmosphere, it did have its share of romance, too.  One of the most sentimental moments came when Todd read a poem that he had written for Robin three years earlier, when they first started dating.

Having survived their unanticipated ordeal, Robin and Todd pulled out all the stops when it came to enjoying their celebration.  Rather than dancing to a slow, clichéd song, the bride and groom showcased their personalities during their lively First Dance to Barry White’s “My First, My Last, My Everything.”   The rest of the evening was filled with dancing as well as with impromptu entertainment by the joyful newlyweds:  Robin wowed her guests with her “Lady Marmalade” performance and Todd spared no irony with his rendition of “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash.  Many of the couple’s vendors commented that they had never seen a bride and groom have so much fun at their own wedding.  Perhaps the greatest compliment was paid by band-leader Chuck Wainsley himself, when he joined Robin on the dance floor.  Chuck’s shocked band-mates said they had never seen him dance with a bride before in all the years that he has been performing at weddings.

Since his wife handled their unexpected twist of events so gracefully, Todd created a much more pleasant surprise for her with this story for Inside Weddings.  Unbeknownst to Robin, Todd handled all of the details of making this article a reality.  As she reads the story of her wedding, Robin will be reminded once again of the extent of her husband’s love for her…oh, and to expect the unexpected!