During their final undergraduate year at the University of Southern California, Alissa Ohanesian and Arin Pezeshkian were casually introduced by a mutual friend; however, they didn’t cross paths again until much later in the school year. “It turned out his parking spot was right next to mine, and then our paths kept aligning,” remembers Alissa of the first moments with her future husband. 

It wasn’t long before Alissa and Arin began dating, and four years later, Arin proposed to Alissa at a luxury resort on his birthday. “Our parents, siblings, and cousins were hiding in a room watching the whole thing unfold… It was so special to share this intimate moment with everyone together,” reminisces the bride. 

When hiring their wedding team, the couple paid special attention to how well they bonded with each vendor on a personal level, as everyone they interviewed has a wonderful reputation in the industry. “Out of everyone I spoke to for initial consultations, International Event Company made me feel the most secure,” confirms Alissa. “Though you plan every aspect of the wedding day so far in advance, you won’t truly know how the venue will look and the entire day will pan out until the day of. You really have to have a team and support system you really trust.” 

The day began with the traditional hars haksenel, where close family and friends of the bride arrive to the bride’s house to help her get ready, and vice versa for the groom, before he goes to the bride’s house – in this case, the bride’s grandparents’ home – to get her for the ceremony. “It was particularly meaningful to leave from my grandparents’ home as it was the same home my mom and aunt both left from on their wedding days,” shares the bride. Keeping with her family’s traditions, the ceremony was also held at the same Armenian church where the bride’s parents were married. 

Alissa was gorgeous in a sparkling designer gown from Panache Bridal of Beverly Hills and carried an elegant white glamelia bouquet of petals designed to look like one large, single rose. “It was exceptional,” she confirms. In addition to honoring the couple’s shared Armenian heritage by having a traditional ceremony at the church, their wedding cards were also written in both English and Armenian. A monogram designed by Arin’s grandfather, who sadly passed away before the wedding, was also showcased and appeared on various paper goods throughout the nuptials. 

“I knew I wanted something very clean, elegant, and timeless, but also a touch modern.”

Following the vow exchange, an iconic luxury hotel in Beverly Hills served as the site for the pair’s opulent reception, as its large two-level ballroom could accommodate their 500-person guest list and the resort team was incredibly helpful throughout the planning process. “They even allowed us to put up a customized flag in front of the hotel with our initials, which flew alongside the other flags,” shares the bride of the sentimental addition to the property’s famous façade. 

When designing the day, “I knew I wanted something very clean, elegant, and timeless, but also a touch modern,” shares Alissa, adding that she likes structured and crisp lines. “There is something so elegant about fresh white florals and the natural greenery of topiaries and boxwood hedges,” so the look was incorporated throughout the ballroom. To add a modern touch, clear crystal candles, boucle chairs, and serpentine-style tables around the dance floor added interest. 

Centerpieces highlighted various designs including low arrangements of boxwood balls, tall floral arrangements featuring cascading roses, and boxwood ball-topiaries paired with fragrant “floating” gardenias. The showstopper of the sensational space, however, was the 28-by-40-foot ceiling treatment above the dance floor comprised of fresh smilax greens and white roses that was also adorned with twinkling lights. “It was such an amazing focal point and tied together our theme so perfectly,” describes the bride. 

With their guests’ experience at the forefront of their minds, everything was impeccably well-thought-out to ensure everyone an exceptional time. “We wanted to make sure the service was top notch – from valet to dinner service to minimal wait times at the bar to clean restrooms,” she adds. “We hired extra staff throughout the hotel to make sure all of these were incredibly well taken care of.” 

The couple also hoped their guests would feel as though they were receiving special attention like they might at a high-end restaurant, so guests were able to order specialty cocktails to their table and even select their main course tableside, instead of ahead of time. Friends and family hit the dance floor to celebrate the happy couple to the sounds of a live band who performed songs from the groom’s Persian Armenian heritage and the bride’s Lebanese American background with Greek ties, creating a beautiful blend of cultures with interesting and unique rhythms. 

The new Mr. and Mrs. danced on stage with the band, played drums in the crowd of loved ones, and passed out neon lights to friends and family on the dance floor, which was full until 2AM. “Looking at the twinkling lights and roses above us and all of our friends and family in those moments on the dance floor really made us feel so special and grateful for our blessings of good friends and family,” smiles the bride of their perfect day.