An Elegant French Garden Inspired Wedding at The Langham in Pasadena, California featuring Eddie Zaratsian and Monique Lhuillier

Emily Turpanjian was 19-years-old and living in Palos Verdes when she first met Souren Ohanian – a 22-year-old living in Germany.

“During one of his visits to Los Angeles, he saw my picture through his cousin’s Facebook feed,” explains Emily. “His cousin happened to be one of my close friends, so she reached out to me and said that he wanted to meet me. We met, but then he went back to Europe. We had an instant connection; however, it wasn’t romantic from the start. It was more like a peculiar feeling that our futures were going to be intertwined. We stayed in touch for about three years after meeting – and then, all of a sudden, we began dating and fell deeply in love.”

Five months into their relationship, Emily received her first marriage proposal. It took place at Hotel Costes in Paris, and Souren said something along the lines of, “I’m not sure about you yet. But when I’m sure, I will propose.” Not knowing what to make of that statement, Emily ignored it. Later that evening, Souren took out an engagement ring, which Emily happily accepted. The second proposal happened in Armenia with Emily’s family present, and she said “Yes” once again.

“Wedding planning was actually easier than I thought it would be,” says Emily. “I had the best wedding planner, which made everything seamless. I enjoyed the process, so everything that had to be done was a pleasure to do. I didn’t become a Bridezilla, I am proud to say! It was important for me to stay relaxed and to be ok with things not going the way I wanted. Plan B can turn out better than Plan A. But come wedding day, we were both nervous. The morning was long and tiring, and the evening was a blur. The ceremony was the best part. It felt so natural, like we were doing what we were meant to do. Walking down the aisle with my father and then being given away to my husband was incredibly emotional.”

The wedding décor theme was a blend of French garden and lounge inspirations. Emily and Souren wanted an elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere that highlighted the beautiful table settings, flowers, and ballroom details.

“The flowers were my favorite,” the bride adds. “I knew we were in good hands with Eddie, so during our meetings I really felt so comfortable with any direction he wanted to go in. He is a true artist! I saw my flowers for the first time when the doors opened to the church and I began walking down the aisle. My dad and I just looked around in amazement at how stunning the arrangements were. It was like sunshine. One of our favorite moments was having Super Sako, a popular Armenian rapper, perform. It was so cool to see everyone’s reactions when he got up on stage. It was like being at a concert.”

For their honeymoon, the newlyweds traveled to Marbella, Spain, where they spent time swimming, laying out in the sun, eating local cuisine, and simply enjoying each other’s company.