Nearly everyone has a blind date horror story: the person was rude, they monopolized the entire conversation, or they just plain didn’t show up. However, every once in a while, we have the privilege of hearing about that one blind date where everything went right – such is the case with Sarah Schwartz and Aaron Sperling. “A mutual friend [set us up] at Tavern in Brentwood, [a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California],” Sarah recalls of their first meeting. “It was pouring down rain and we were cuddled up at the bar. I knew things were going well when we switched from nervously sipping our hot green tea to [drinking] pinot noir.” Eight months later, Aaron popped the question in the middle of another rainstorm – the perfect homage to their first encounter.

Immediately, the happy pair began looking for a venue that would accommodate their 400 guests. With help from the experts at Tessa Lyn Events, they selected an open location with ample alfresco space. Sarah notes that they were operating under the expectation of plentiful noise coming from their party and the restrictions said volume would require. As far as vendors were concerned, the duo trusted the advice of their planner, as well as that of Aaron’s mother and father. “We also got a lot of vendor recommendations from Aaron’s parents, as they already had a lot of contacts from his sister’s wedding the year before,” she reveals. 

Sarah radiated a graceful energy in her stunning tulle ball gown, which featured a plunging halter neckline, and unique, baby blue high heels that sported butterfly wings jetting off the back of each. The bride met her handsome groom – who donned a deep blue tuxedo and a black bow tie – in a courtyard for their “first look” before partaking in the ketubah signing. The sense of tradition carried over into the couple’s ceremony, performed underneath a chuppah adorned with white, sheer fabrics suspended overhead, flourishing greenery, and countless perennials in shades of blush, ivory, and yellow. “[My] shoulders had to be covered during the ceremony, and I wore the same scarf as all the other women in my husband’s family [had worn on their wedding days],” she says of the custom. 

After the breaking of the glass and the unanimous “Mazel Tov!” from friends and family, the revelers traveled a short distance to the open-air reception. “We built a really cool outdoor living room-style structure in the field at the venue, which was very unique and special – sort of an indoor/outdoor feeling,” describes the bride. Displaying a palette of blush, champagne, off-white, and green, the area cultivated an air of summer simplicity. Both round and rectangular tables were bedecked with low arrangements of foliage and flowers, continuing the aesthetic of the previous service. “[We also used] a ton of marble in smaller details like the paper signage, flower arrangements, hanging flower hoops, marble slabs for escort cards, etc.”

When it came to cuisine and entertainment, the pair wanted to honor their background with modern twists. “The music was a mix of very traditional Israeli music and hipster pop and rock, and the food was [a combination of] Israeli and farm-to-table [meals],” Sarah tells. Though, as with most weddings, not everything went according to plan. “[The cake was] a disaster! It completely melted,” she exclaims. “But in the end, we had to just laugh about it.” After an hour-long horah dance, a quick change, and an evening full of merriment, Sarah reflects on her nuptials with a smile. “Don’t get hung up on the details because things will go wrong,” she advises. “Enjoy the planning together and don’t fight over the small stuff.