After Marissa Krupen and Daniel Shlomi shared their first dinner date, they both knew it was going to be their last first date ever. “I kept thinking about her beautiful smile,” remembers the groom, who admits he went home and told his roommate that he had met his wife. Marissa was also smitten. "We had such an easy time talking to each other and smiled all night long," she affirms. It wasn’t long before Daniel asked Marissa’s parents for their blessing and planned a romantic proposal for his beloved in Paris, France.

When they returned to the states, the affianced couple began planning their nuptials with the help of Bob Gail Events. Since the bride is originally from New York and the groom is from Los Angeles, they had a hard time deciding which coast would host their fête. The couple ultimately chose a gorgeous venue in Pasadena – not far from where they live in Beverly Hills – that accommodated their large guest list and also had an outdoor area for the ceremony, which Marissa and Daniel both desired. “It had a traditional feel, ample outdoor and indoor space, as well as plenty of amenities for our out-of-town guests to enjoy a long weekend,” adds the bride.

On the day of the summer nuptials, 400 attendees found their seats facing the exquisite flower-embellished chuppah on the vast lawn of the property. “We were going for a romantic, elegant, timeless feel,” notes the bride of the décor. “We wanted everything to still look beautiful 50 years from now, so we focused on traditional white and green florals for the ceremony.” Instrumental renditions of popular love songs – including “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, “All of Me” by John Legend, and “Marry You” by Bruno Mars– were played during the processional; however, to keep the special moment as classic as possible, Marissa walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”.

Though Marissa and Daniel had a large celebration in terms of size, the bride made sure to incorporate elements that made the day feel more intimate and personal. To honor their upbringings, photos of past family weddings were displayed at the ceremony and an image of the bride’s late grandparents was tied to her bouquet. The Jewish service included a traditional blessing over the wine using the kiddush cups from the bride and groom’s respective bat and bar mitzvahs. They were also wrapped in Daniel’s father’s tallit, and Marissa used a wedding band that has been passed down through five generations of women in her family during the vow exchange. “Looking into Marissa’s eyes and holding her hands under the chuppah before we each said ‘I do’ was the most memorable moment of the day,” shares Daniel.

As the sun started to set, guests made their way into the ballroom to enjoy a sit-down dinner service to fuel them for the festivities that lasted until after midnight. Tables showcased lush compilations of roses, peonies, spray roses, lisianthus blossoms, delphiniums, and greenery in low, medium, and high arrangements, as well as a floral-runner style that ran the length of long tables and the live band’s stage. “We had the most amazing centerpieces!" confirms Marissa. As an additional way to make each of their guests feel special despite the substantial guest list, each place setting showcased a thank-you note from the couple featuring a watercolor illustration of the venue, which was painted by the bride – who also illustrated the menus, escort cards, invitations, and more.

After the Glatt Kosher meal was enjoyed and speeches were recited, loved ones took to the dance floor to celebrate the newlyweds. "We had an amazing hora!” exclaims the bride of the lively dance that truly got the party started. To keep the energy up throughout the soirée, a live band performed for most of the evening, and a DJ took over for the last hour. “We wanted to make sure that the music was upbeat and everyone danced all night,” muses the groom of the tunes, which featured current hits and Spanish music, as well as songs that honored their Israeli, Persian, and Russian backgrounds. 

After 14 months of planning their dream wedding, Marissa and Daniel were thrilled to sit back, relax, be married, and enjoy the company of so many loved ones.