Kimya and Brian’s Wedding

Kimya and Brian were so incredibly happy and…well, why don’t you see for yourself!

Extravagant, luxurious and truly incredible are three words that can be used to describe Brian Kurilla and Kimya Gharib’s wedding at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C., which brought together more than 400 family and friends last May. The exotic and rich colors, combined with flawless décor and stunning accents provided by Philippa Tarrant set the backdrop for a perfect evening.

The couple’s love story began several years prior when they met at a Washington, D.C., bar. “Brian was sitting at the bar and let me in to get a drink,” says Kimya. “We started talking and it’s all history from there!”

Their proposal came shortly after New Year’s in 2010 on a trip to Park City, Utah, recalls Kimya. “It was our first day of skiing that season at Park City Mountain Resort and I wanted Brian to take it easy on the slopes,” she says. “However, he had other ideas and after only a couple warm-up runs, he veered towards a more difficult slope.” Brian remembers: “Kimya protested, even stopping dead in my tracks and refusing to follow,” but he continued on and Kimya had no choice but to follow him. “He said he wanted to take a picture and so he instructed me to get out my camera,” smiles Kimya. “As I tried to get it out of my pocket, he took off his skis, and after falling into the knee deep power, made his way over and got down on one knee.”

Park City has a particular importance for Kimya having learned to ski there when she was only 8-years old and spending every winter and spring break following there. “I even joined some of my former instructors teaching skiing for two years after college,” says Kimya. “Even though Brian had not skied much before meeting me, he has also grown to love the mountains and looks forward to our annual trip out there,” making it the perfect place to propose.

For their wedding, a multicultural ceremony took place outside in the main courtyard. The couple began by exchanging vows in front of a gazebo wrapped with garlands of white and green hydrangea where a Catholic Priest presided over the ceremony for the groom and a Sofreh Aghd was held for the Bride.

Upon entering the reception, guests walked through a lavishly-draped hallway of copper and purple fabric leading to the hotel’s ballroom. The decor included a color palette of emerald green, dark purple and gold spread across chic bars, lounge seating areas and a custom painted 48-by-48-foot dance floor.

Midway through the evening, it was time for the couple to cut their wedding cake and it was one of those moments that took your breath away. A dazzling reveal included six custom wedding cakes. Their planner, Jodi Moraru of EVOKE, came up with the concept to turn cake-cutting into “something extraordinary,” says Kimya, describing the memorable moment when the curtains were drawn back to reveal the couple amongst the incredible display.

When all was said and done, “Our wedding was the most incredible day of our lives,” shares Kimya. “We had our closest family and friends surrounding us for a unique wedding ceremony and a fantastic party afterwards.” “It was amazing to see how Jodi, and the team at Evoke, brought to life the vision that Kimya had,” says Brian. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was blown away when I stepped into the ballroom for the first time.” Kimya agrees: “It was more amazing than I could have ever dreamed; the colors, the details, everything was perfect. We had so much fun and couldn’t believe it when it was over.”

After their grand soiree, the twosoome escaped to the Maldives, where they stayed at the Beach House Maldives and celebrated the start of their lives together. “Brian is incredibly thoughtful, caring and loyal,” say Kimya, who looks forward to sharing many family-filled days with Brian. “He makes me laugh and knows what to say when I’m down. He is my best friend and number one supporter.” Brian shares the same sentiment: “Kimya is loving, honest and family oriented. She is optimistic and adventurous and always open to new things. She is a good listener and a great friend.”

Beautiful photography by www.hollandphotoarts.com