They met several years ago around this time of year. She was working in retail during the holidays when one of her swim students (her favorite by far even though she would have never admitted it) came in to do a little shopping. She spent some time with Darian and her mom – talking and showing them shoes. They left without buying anything. Later, Darian’s cousin came back to the store to buy the shoes for her. While he was paying for them, he asked for her number and neither one have looked back ever since.
Weddings are a celebration of love filled with laughter and some tears but always surrounded by those who matter most, so for Divali and Jabari having their sons by their side along with all of their family and friends to witness their devotion to one another couldn’t have made their wedding any more special. Choosing a location with roots was important for their exchange of vows. Having both grown up in South Central LA, they turned to their own “backyard” and searched within the neighborhoods of their childhood. They chose Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook for its sweeping views of Los Angeles from the Pacific to downtown. They had dreamed of building their dream home in that area and getting married there someday, so it was time to complete half of the story with the ceremony.
To complete the rest of their wedding story, they worked with FireFly LA to create a reception space that would capture all of the elements of Los York (Divali’s word for both LA and New York). They held the reception at Smashbox Studios around the corner from Baldwin Hills and home to the scrumptious kitchen of Michael Whitehouse’s Whitehouse Dish. They put together the perfect celebration that was a true reflection of themselves – easy going, full of surprises, lounge-y, and a real party from start to finish.
From Divali: “There are so many memorable moments from the precision behind the coordination to all the symbolism woven into the evening to the delicious menu to the heartfelt speeches to the Best Man emceeing with humor and charism to DJ Hapa spinning great music keeping us dancing all night including the kids who escaped from their play tent to the projections of our life stories that have now become one. The best part of the wedding was the euphoric energy and all the love that was overflowing from everyone. It was just absolutely perfect!”
Photography: Hardy Wilson & Anthony Kurtz
Venue: Smashbox Studios
Ceremony: Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
Lighting: FireFly LA
Catering: Whitehouse Dish
DJ: DJ Hapa
Cake: Janna Mickelson of Susina Bakery
Florist: Heather Pando of Little World Design
Makeup: Allie Paronelli
Hair: Alberto Gonzales
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