These two had such a low-key and unique wedding. That’s true for most of my couples, especially those who are planning everything themselves (as Ariana and Caleb were doing), but this one had a one-of-a-kind vibe. It was a Greek wedding; it was an atheist wedding held at a Catholic center; it was planned entirely by Ariana’s brother, who had no experience with event planning but had it all running like clockwork; there was a live jazz band and Caleb (and several family members) popped in to play along with the band. There were giant chess sets. I sat at a table with a couple of physicists and mathematicians. Yes, really.

It was clear that Ariana and Caleb were intelligent and driven, but I was intrigued to find that it was true of everyone there at the wedding. The wedding activities included word puzzles and trivia, and the giant chess games got competitive! But there’s a bigger fact that emerged from this wedding day: Ariana and Caleb were more than brainy, they’re also warm and loving. And, it became clear, their community is the same.

On this day, a low-key venue near an oceanside cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes was transformed. It was a celebration of these two, how far they’ve come together, how much they’ve learned, and most of all, all the love that surrounds them.