It was fate that brought Ashley Blankstein and Taylor Ernst together. Ashley was living in Los Angeles, California and Taylor was living in San Luis Obispo, California. Taylor was invited to speak at a convention and needed to fly through Los Angeles in order to reach his final destination. While at LAX, Taylor had left a dating app open on his phone.
“MY LOVE, IT WAS ON OUR SECOND DATE THAT I KNEW I WOULD SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH YOU.”
Since they were now within the mileage radius of one another, Ashley’s photo and profile popped up. After chatting, they decided to meet the next time Taylor was in LA. Their first date was amazing, and a second date soon followed. There was an electric moment where the connection was astounding; they knew they were meant to be together forever.
The couple’s long distance relationship made them stronger. It was only a matter of time before Taylor proposed. While Ashley and her parents were visiting San Luis Obispo, the couple snuck away to have drinks along the cliffs of Shell Beach, prior to both families getting together for dinner. Taylor wanted to point out his favorite surf spot which could be seen from the cliffs. Among all the rose petals, Taylor got down on one knee and said, “My love, it was on our second date that I knew I would spend the rest of my life with you.” Taylor had hired a photographer to take pictures of the proposal – and it’s a good thing he did, because Ashley was so excited that she couldn’t remember a thing and didn’t even remember him getting down on one knee.
The wedding planning process was so enjoyable. Ashley had been planning her wedding since she was a little girl. She always dreamed of getting married at the Hotel Bel-Air, where her parents were married 36 years prior. After helping many friends plan their weddings, Ashley knew exactly which wedding planners, photographer, dress designer, and band to use. “The girls at Sterling Social made my dreams come true,” she shares. Taylor wanted the day to be everything Ashley ever wanted.
The wedding day was fabulous and began with Taylor and his friends enjoying the day by the pool, while Ashley and the girls enjoyed the pampering process. Ashley looked beautiful in her custom Mark Zunino Atelier gown and Taylor looked as handsome as ever in his tuxedo. Their first look was an unforgettable moment.
The wedding venue had set the tone for a truly elegant affair. Surrounded by loving family and friends, Swan Lake was the perfect intimate and romantic location for the ceremony. The couple exchanged their vows, which directly came from the ketubah (a traditional Jewish marriage contract) they wrote together. After the ceremony, as the ballroom doors opened, beautiful flowers adorned the tables and covered the ceiling. The reception began with the traditional Jewish Hora dance. Great food, dancing and fun was had by all. Ashley and Taylor felt it was the best night of their lives.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Bora Bora – a perfect place to relax and kick start their new life together.
WEDDING TALENT
Location, Caterer and Cake: Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, CA; Rentals: Revelry Event Designers, Los Angeles, CA; Wedding Dress: Mark Zunino
