And the story goes: “Like all classic love stories, this one begins in the corporate office of a national fast-food chain, Jack in the Box,” tells Morgan Kaminsky of her kismet tale with Sampson Simmons. Though the two interns worked in different departments, fate inevitably took its course and brought the pair together several months after initially meeting. “Thanks to a shortage of desks and a blind eye from the ergonomics department, we were bestowed a shared desk space for the remainder of our senior semester,” Morgan smiles. 

Just prior to Morgan’s college graduation, Sam invited her on a last-minute trip to Paris with his family. After accepting, they embarked on their first date to the City of Love. The fairy tale continued, with Sam proposing a few years later in Venice, Italy, the evening before they boarded a cruise around the Mediterranean. 

The couple’s wedding was originally scheduled for April 2020, and devastating to the betrothed, the Las Vegas Strip shut down three weeks prior. “Planning a wedding during the Covid-19 pandemic and having to postpone our wedding twice was a roller coaster of emotions,” Morgan admits of the challenges and heartache many brides like her had to face. “However, it was so worth the wait, and we are so happy we waited to have the wedding we always wanted.” 

Settling on a site for the celebration was met with ease. “We love Las Vegas, and it’s our home!” shares the bride. “We wanted a location that could host our weekend of events, had luxury accommodations and extraordinary service. The ARIA was an easy choice as the hotel provided this and more, with Sam’s background in gaming being connected to the PokerGO Studio on property.” The venue had plenty of space to accommodate the couple’s group of over 60 rooms, their rehearsal dinner at CATCH restaurant, a 1920s-themed welcome party at the PokerGO Studio, and the wedding in the ballroom. 

Coupled with the expertise of wedding planner and designer Andrea Eppolito of Andrea Eppolito Events, Morgan and Sam sought out a design scheme that was beautifully nontraditional. “My favorite colors are black, gold, and purple, so our planner designed a space that was sexy and chic while making all 200+ guests feel as if they were at a very intimate, private event,” illustrates the bride. 

“I remember looking around the room and being so thankful that everyone could finally come together to celebrate us.”

The ceremony featured a high-gloss black runner leading to a sleek floral-adorned bullion chuppah that showcased the sparkle of the bride’s stunning off-the-shoulder gown, as well as complementing the glow of the collections of candles. Guests took their seats on black velvet chairs, as Morgan made her way down the aisle to “Ave Maria” on the arm of her mother. “After years of anticipation across multiple rescheduled wedding dates, and an anxiety-filled day of preparations beforehand, finally getting to see her in her wedding dress made it all worth it,” confides Sam. 

A personalized service where the couple recited their handwritten vows intermingled both Jewish and Catholic religious traditions. “The wedding was most of our guests’ first time at an event and/or traveling since Covid started, and so many people said that the ceremony felt like ‘a warm hug’ they so longed for,” Morgan muses. 

Luxe ebony draping and carpet along with a top-notch lighting design, gilt chandeliers, as well as impressive candlelight set the tone of the moody, elegant reception. Tablescapes highlighted flower arrangements in a variety of styles and heights crafted from blooms in shades of purple, lavender, and pink, in addition to glistening gold chargers, black velvet personalized menus, and midnight-hued flatware and glassware. 

Another unique element was the presentation of the classic wedding cake. “We opted for a gold-and-crystal tiered cake display featuring 15 mini white round wedding cakes topped with purple hydrangeas,” describes Morgan. 

The couple and their loved ones danced to the lively tunes of a DJ for the remainder of the night. “Being surrounded by so much love from our family and friends was such a memorable feeling after such a crazy wedding-planning experience!” says Morgan. “I remember looking around the room and being so thankful that everyone could finally come together to celebrate us.”

This real wedding was originally published in the Spring 2022 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

To order a copy of the Spring 2022 issue, visit our library of Inside Weddings back issues available for purchase.

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