Real Weddings: Angineh & Hambeik’s Sparkling Family-Filled Nuptials

People always say you should marry your best friend – someone who knows you inside and out. When Angineh and Hambeik tied the knot at Brandview Ballroom in February, they gave a whole new meaning to the term “best friends.”

Bride and groom sharing an intimate moment on an ornate stone balcony

The gorgeous couple has known each since early childhood, sharing everything from sandboxes and birthdays to vacations and family gatherings. During adolescence and into their teens, the two fell out of touch but later reconvened when Angineh was 16. Her cousin had been dating his best friend and it was only a matter of time before Angineh and Hambeik went on their first date.

Illuminated monogram wall display with the couple's names at a wedding reception

Last New Years Eve, Hambeik solidified their role in each others’ lives when he asked for her hand in marriage. And true to form, he got down on one knee in front of all of their family and friends during the midnight countdown. Of course, she said yes.

Close-up of a bride's hand wearing an engagement ring resting on the groom's arm

When it came to her dress, Angineh started planning early. Several years ago she’d been watching the film “Bride Wars” and upon seeing Kate Hudson’s Vera Wang dress, Angineh immediately knew she’d found The One. As she says, “It was love at first sight!” and she saved an image on her phone for safekeeping. 8 years later when Angineh embarked on her wedding dress hunt, she pulled out the photo and contacted Vera Wang. She booked the next appointment and tried on the dress she’d fell in love with nearly a decade earlier. The stunning design was just as elegant as she’d remembered it

Wedding dress hanging in a sunlit window before the ceremony

Bride holding her bouquet while getting ready in a bedroom

Since Angineh and Hambeik are both Armenian and family plays such a strong role in their lives, they incorporated several Armenian traditions into the big day. Hambeik’s sister performed the ceremony and the couple exchanged their outdoor “I do’s” in front of 370 guests. During the reception, family and friends dined on succulent Armenian dishes from Anoush Catering, like revamped versions of her classic favorites such as beef kebabs, meatballs and salmon.

Reception ballroom set with round tables and pink uplighting

Five-tier white wedding cake decorated with sugar flowers

Just like her dress and their love story, Angineh wanted the wedding to embrace elements of a fairytale romance. With an abundance of flowers everywhere, provided by Petals LA, the reception was reminiscent of a royal floral garden. The most impressive part? A fragrant collection of garlands surrounding the head table, fit for a matrimonial king and queen.

Close-up of a pink rose centerpiece arrangement on the reception table

Floral-covered sweetheart table backdrop with pink and white blooms

Bride and groom smiling at their flower-framed sweetheart table

As they reveled in their status as newlyweds, the happy couple enjoyed their first dance to “A Thousand Years” by Christine Perry, a song that Angineh says “we fell in love with the moment we heard it.”

Bride and groom dancing together on a dance floor lit with purple uplighting

After the wedding whirlwind wound down, Angineh and Hambeik needed some relaxation. They packed their suitcases and soaked up the sun in Hawaii, where they toasted the beginning of their new life together over tropical cocktails.