Greg Griffin & Carl Kamb

Set up by mutual friends, the two had their first date in San Francisco where Greg—stylist and founder of the Barber Lounge—was living. After spending most of the weekend together, Carl, an orthopedic surgeon, headed back home to Los Angeles and called Greg to invite him down the very next weekend. “The first night in LA he asked if I would be his boyfriend,” recalls Greg. “I blurted it out,” Carl adds noting how out of character it was for him. “I was so full of emotion and happiness. I felt like a teenager again!” The next night at a Morrissey concert both professed their mutual love for one another.

Weekend visits sustained the two as they courted long distance for more than a year before Carl made the move to the City by the Bay. After several years of dating it was on a trip to Hawaii to celebrate Greg’s birthday where the two exchanged rings as a precursor to their vows later in the month. While the rings weren’t a surprise, what each had chosen to engrave on his ring was. “CK+GG=Kismet” adorns Carl’s and “9•26•2007 L.O.M.L” is engraved on Greg’s to represent the date they met and their shared nickname, “love of my life.”

“We had our little blue boxes, a backpack, a nice bottle of wine and found the perfect quiet spot on the beach at sunset,” says Greg. “The Four Seasons on the Big Island is a gorgeous property and there happened to be three turtles on the beach right where we exchanged rings.”

Back in San Francisco, they turned to Heather Cassady of Exclusive Elopement to plan a small, private and romantic staycation for their wedding weekend. The couple, along with their pair of French bulldogs, Louie and Vito, love to explore the Bay area and wanted to be tourists in the city they love. Maps with dog-friendly cafes and restaurants along with cookies and pillows for the adorable pups everywhere they went ensured their prominent placement in the festivities.

On Saturday, Heather arranged a cake tasting with Top Chef Just Desserts winner Yigit Pura at his new Tout Sweet Pâtisserie. The following day the gentlemen headed to Barber Lounge for hot shaves, haircuts and mani/pedis. An ode to their shared musical interests and the many mixedtapes they made for each other while living apart, they listened to Morrissey, Elton John, The Smiths and more as they prepared to exchange vows at the Mystic Hotel. While Louie and Vito were the only guests at the ceremony, the couple says a reception is to come: “Once we can really make it official we would love to plan a big party for friends and family.”

“There were so many special moments we will never forget,” the bride reflects. “Everything seemed so surreal. We were soaking in every moment of it. We had a choreographed first dance to Andrea Bocelli’s “Con te partirò.” It included Mike lifting me in the air. We practiced it for weeks with our choreographer Emma Mesrobian, and we nailed it. Mike did a two-part mother and son dance. My dance with my father was very emotional. I hugged him while I danced. DJ Sevag knew how to read the crowd and it was a lit party all night long. We danced the night away under the stars to Arabic and Armenian music. When the night was over, no one wanted to go home. Most importantly, we were surrounded by our closest family and friends.”

The newlyweds returned to Cabo for their honeymoon – booking the same hotel they stayed at for their engagement – and filled their days with walks along the beach, plus fine dining experiences at the Waldorf Astoria and Nobu.