Hudson House

Welcome Dinner

South Coast Botanic Garden

Wedding Day

Sonesta Redondo Beach and Marina

Sunday Brunch

Spring

Our Wedding

This is the first image Zach ever saw of Ariel. Can you even find her in this photo? If you zoom way in, you can see that she is smiling her face off. Ariel put this photo in her dating profile as a litmus test for a person who would understand her. Zach understands this airplane quite well.

Zach found Ariel's profile on Hinge

Ariel thought Zach was really cute and very funny. She was charmed by his obsession with breakfast food.

Ariel and Zach start texting

Ariel&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Zach&nbsp;met&nbsp;up&nbsp;at&nbsp;Surfridge&nbsp;Brewery.&nbsp;They&nbsp;talked&nbsp;until&nbsp;the&nbsp;place&nbsp;closed&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;night.&nbsp;Zach&nbsp;asked&nbsp;her&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;second&nbsp;date&nbsp;halfway&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;date.&nbsp;Ariel&nbsp;liked&nbsp;this.

Their First Date

The&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;Zach&nbsp;met&nbsp;Razzy&nbsp;(originally&nbsp;Ariel's&nbsp;cat),&nbsp;Razzy&nbsp;climbed&nbsp;onto&nbsp;his&nbsp;chest&nbsp;and&nbsp;started&nbsp;purring.&nbsp;This&nbsp;is&nbsp;abnormally&nbsp;friendly&nbsp;behavior&nbsp;even&nbsp;for&nbsp;Razzy.

Razzy approves of Zach

Ariel&nbsp;invited&nbsp;Zach&nbsp;to&nbsp;spend&nbsp;a&nbsp;week&nbsp;in&nbsp;Tahoe&nbsp;with&nbsp;her&nbsp;and&nbsp;her&nbsp;family&nbsp;after&nbsp;dating&nbsp;for&nbsp;only&nbsp;seven&nbsp;weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Surprisingly,&nbsp;Zach&nbsp;accepted&nbsp;the&nbsp;invitation,&nbsp;and&nbsp;even&nbsp;let&nbsp;Ariel&nbsp;teach&nbsp;him&nbsp;how&nbsp;to&nbsp;cross-country&nbsp;ski.&nbsp;&nbsp;He&nbsp;fell&nbsp;47&nbsp;times&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;day&nbsp;but&nbsp;only&nbsp;3&nbsp;times&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;second&nbsp;day.&nbsp;&nbsp;More&nbsp;importantly,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Bermans&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;adored&nbsp;Zach&nbsp;and&nbsp;vice&nbsp;versa.

Ariel & Zach take a vacation

Zach got his revenge (just kidding) when he taught Ariel how to downhill ski. She was originally terrified but he made her feel very safe when he comically fell over in the snow to show her it was soft. It took awhile but Zach and Ariel are now competent at each others' favorite snow sport.

Skiing

They went to a conference in Montana

A Wedding in Brooklyn

And met this friendly dinosaur

Zach moved in and Ariel fed him pie

And when they went back to Tahoe, two years later, Zach couldn't really wait any more and asked Ariel to marry him.

The Proposal

And then...

Our Story

Photos

Bride's Party

Ariel's emotional support human. Cat enthusiast and roomate from College, Evann stands up for Ariel when she won't for herself. The most empathetic person Ariel had ever met until Zach showed up.

Evann

Killer of spiders. Extroverted team leader, dragging Ariel into the world when the dorm/apt was the comfiest place. An inspiration to all who know her, Claire has always been Ariels partner in passion for all things that fly, zoom, and go whoosh.

Claire

Their powers combined, Ariel and Julia can build anything; anything from a Passover seder cooked in a dorm kitchen, to a rocket kept aloft by Julia's indescribable hatred for aerospace hardware. You may find a Wild Julia leaping the hills of San Francisco in a single bound, carrying a comically large water bottle.

Julia

"Where is the current going?!"
Was a common refrain between Shannon and Ariel, sisters in electrical tomfoolery. As a professional postcard provisioner, Shannon documents impeccable taste in travel from all her favorite national parks, and her love of nature is something that deeply resonates with Ariel.

Shannon

Groom's Party

Zach's oldest friend. They've committed crimes against art, crimes against better judgement, and crimes against self preservation. As an eyewitness to some of Zach's worst ideas and best attempts at making Macaroni and Cheese, no man is more equipped to help Zach make the best decision of his life.

Ben Forde

Zach's sister. It speaks loudly and well to a relationship when siblings who emerge from childhood like feuding gladiators drenched in blood eventually find themselves close and amicable a mere few years later. Jillian has seen Zach grow from a shmuck into a shmuck with excellent taste in fiancées, and Zach is proud to count her among his most trusted and dearest friends.

Jillian Lerner

Zach's best friend from College. Lauren graduated from the same university as Zach and landed on the exact same career progression. Zach has always thought of her as a better and more skilled version of himself at his better moments, while also being a jovial, passionate, and inspirational argument for the better nature of humankind, and the indomitable power of the human spirit.

Lauren Whitehouse

The person without whom Zach would not have ever met Ariel at all. After meeting online in a forum for discussing engineering disasters in a comedic fashion, Zach was struck with the wisdom, strength, and intellect of this astonishing person. After helping talk Zach into leaving his old job in Lancaster, and meeting in person in Connecticut, she finally convinced him that a better future was possible. How right she is.

Cynthia Lupo

Ariel and Zach seldom fight. They fought over who would have Matt by their side at the wedding. A proficient pâtissier, PHD in Pchem, and fellow farmers market fixture, Matt is the person with whom Zach and Ariel share their everyday joys. 

Matt Ashner

Wedding Party

Q + A

Room Block available thru link below!

Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina

Los Angeles International Airport

Travel

Hello, this is Zach, and welcome to Redondo Beach! We have many exquisite things to do around here, and as the person who has lived here the least amount of time of the two of us, I am uniquely (un)qualified to be your tour guide. First of all, if this is your first time staying in the western US coast; GO SEE THE SUNSET OVER THE OCEAN!! Here's my favorite places to do that.

This is tonys on the pier. The food is awful, you are not here to eat the food. What you are here for is the absolutely astonishing view of the sunset and the downright adequate beverages you can get in the UPPER level of the restaurant. 15 to 20 minutes before sunset, go to the upper level and get yourself a Mai Tai. If you lack what doctors and biologists call a "self preservation instinct" then you should get yourself a Fire Chief Mai Tai. They are very tasty, and you can keep the glass they serve it to you in as a souvenir. Make sure you ask them to clean it off for you before you go, so you do not put a sticky and moist glass object in your future fiancees purse. Tip your bartender. (If you go here and it's packed, don't fret!Go to Najas Place a short walk away and get some seafood at the pier; it's all good.)

Tony's on the Pier

If you do not want bad food but do want a good view and great but expensive food, this next one is for you.

If you have money, this place is in the heart of our second home; the Hermosa Beach Pier. The drinks are uniformly good and you're gonna get the Yucca Fries and Kimchi Fried Rice and you'll thank me later.


Ask for a seat outside 20 to 30 minutes before sunset, and BRING A JACKET OR SWEATSHIRT, IT IS WINDY HERE.


If you don't want to spend a lot of money on overpriced drinks and food, just watch the sunset from the end of the Hermosa Beach Pier, shown on google maps below, then walk three minutes to a taco place that I am now foreshadowing the existence of.


If you look hard enough to the south, you can even see the remnants of Pros Air Conditioning which is strategically located in the middle of the ocean for some reason. I've never squinted hard enough to see it.

Vista

But let's say you wanna go to my favorite restaurant on the coast? Like mexican food? Here we go.

45th consecutive winner of the annual "best god damn restaurant website ever made" contest, held entirely within my imagination, this restaurant is a force to be reckoned with.


The burritos, enchiladas, and even the chips and Salsa are to die for, and not pay too much money for. The margaritas are strong and cheap and tasty and the staff are all wonderful people.


Shielded from the ocean by volleyball courts and a lovely dog park, the sunset from the patio of this enchanting place is a spellbinding cacophony of life and everyday humdrum whimsy. I love this place very much.


Tip handsomely, or else. I will find out.

La Playita

But what if you just wanted some damn tacos?

Guisados is a compelling argument that we should just give all of southern California back to Mexico.


Not only do these guys make tacos that are spicy enough for my liking, but every single thing I've had on the menu (which is everything, at least once) is obscenely good.


Unless my spice tolerance is comparable to yours, do NOT assume that the things on this menu labeled "spicy" are only kind of spicy. They are properly spicy in the best way possible. If you are too white to appreciate such a thing, do not get anything that has a pepper on it; you literally cannot go wrong. 

Guisados

But I hear you asking; "ZACH! I JUST FLEW IN FROM EAST ARMPIT, AND BOY ARE MY ARMS TIRED; WHERE CAN A MAN GET A DRINK AROUND HERE?" and I'm glad you asked. I PRESENT TO YOU, ZACHS PANTHEON OF TIKI BARS, STARTING WITH THE ROCK SOLID AND SLIGHTLY FAMOUS, AND ENDING WITH THE BEST TIKI BAR IN THE SOUTH BAY.

DO NOT DRIVE HERE. TAKE A TAXI OR AN UBER OR LIFT OR SOMETHING.


If you can ignore the extremely juvenile and passively misogynist decor on the ceiling, the drinks here are strong and cheap, and this bar is famous among tiki bar enthusiasts.


This place was first recommended to me back when I lived in Lancaster, 2 hours north of here, when a tight lipped government dude that looks like he hasn't smiled in 300 years walks up to me and asks "Son, have you ever been to this place called the Purple Orchid? It's wonderful you must find it." and this was seven years ago when I first moved to California. So anyway flash forward to 2022, I'm driving around El Segundo scouting what the city is like, contemplating the job I just applied to in the area when I see it, slam on the brakes, scream "HOLY SHIT IT'S REAL" and almost get rear ended. Good times.


Anyway get the Navy Grog or the Funky Monkey or the Curious George or the Singapore Sling or the Coconut Kiss. Don't drink more than five things here or you will regret it.


TIP YOUR BARTENDER.

Purple Orchid

DO NOT DRIVE HERE, IT IS IN TORRANCE. TORRANCE IS LIKE A PARKING LOT RULED BY LANDLORDS AND CAR DEALERSHIP OWNERS. TAKE A RIDESHARE. I don't know how a place this good is allowed to exist outside of the christian conception of heaven. The entire human species has evolved for the sole purpose of learning that this place exists and going to it. There is not a single bad thing on this menu. There is not a single average thing on this menu. There is not a single thing on this menu that would not be the best thing at most other bars. Half the menu is always custom drinks invented by the staff and the menu rolls over every four months, and they're all artfully crafted masterpieces of mixology. If doctors ever invented immortality, my first response would be concern over how much busier this place would get if it were impossible to drink oneself to death.

The Hula Hula Room

But okay, let's say you went out drinking, it's morning, and you're hungry. Good news! I have opinions about breakfast places too!

THAT'S RIGHT BABY, MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IS ALSO MY FAVORITE BREAKFAST PLACE!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT CHILAQUILES ARE?! TIME TO FIND OUT! Half of La Playitas menu is breakfast food, and you can get a pitcher of Guava Mimosas for like 17 bucks. All of it is good, the vibes are even BETTER in the morning when it's nice and quiet and the dogs are out for a walk and are all playing in the park. My favorite is the Caribbean Breakfast. Wonderful experience, 10/10.

Now, don't tell anybody this.This is forbidden information.I'm confident it breaks all kinds of laws doing what I'm about to tell you that this next place does. Are you ready? ... ... This next place makes bagels in California... that TASTE good!*GASP*I know, I know, calm down, calm down.This is Tommy And Atticus.

This place is so good that it makes Californians get out of bed prior to 9am to get in line.


The pastries, bread, and everything else they make are sublime; probably the best in LA if all the critics are to be believed.


But the critics don't talk about the most important thing; the Bagels.


I don't mean to get political, but there's only like three good Bagel places I've encountered around here. There's Uncle Steveys in El Segundo, Southwest Bread in El Segundo, and here.


Uncle Steveys bagels are solid; good crumb on 'em, the skins thick but not quite thick enough, and they're too small.


Southwest Bread is doing something fancy with their bagels and I like it a lot, probably the best raw bagels overall of the three, but it's not a dense enough crumb, and they're too small.


Tommy and Atticus'es bagels are very very good, crumb is great, skin is great, and they're only slightly too small. But here's the trick. Tommy and Atticus sells bagel sandwiches correctly, OPEN FACED.


IF YOU CAN CLEANLY EAT A BAGEL SANDWICH CLOSED FACED, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STUFF ON IT.


And the arrangement, the material selection, the presentation, it's all perfect.


If you want a bagel sandwich with the works; an everything bagel with flaky salt and olive oil and lox and a red onion over fresh cream cheese with a tomato that looks like it was picked ten minutes ago and capers, short of hijacking the SR-71 out of a museum and flying it to NYC, ditching it in the hudson, and swimming to shore in search of bagels, this your next best option.

Tommy and Atticus

But okay, you don't want bagels, and you don't want to eat at the restaurant you ate at last night. I got you.

This is Marthas.
It's very good, if it's busy see if there's seating at the counter.
The white corn scramble is very very good, you have to trust me on that.

Martha’s Hermosa Beach

This is Ocean Diner; the best greasy spoon Diner I've found within five miles of my home. Everything on the menu is good, get the coffee cake.

Ocean Diner

This is Tatas Cafe, the only place I've been to with passable Chicken and Waffles. Everything on the menu is good, get a hot Matcha Latte. My favorite thing here is the Enfrijoladas, and the thing in the image is the Chilaquiles, which are also incredibly delicious.

Tata's Cafe

DO YOU WANT TO SPEND A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE BEST SUSHI MEAL I'VE EVER HAD? Before you do this, make sure you do not have ANY seafood allergies of any kind, and are okay eating literally any kind of fish that is put in front of you.

Finding this place is like searching for lost treasure in an abandoned mall. You step into this place and it doesn't even sit 20 people. Look at the greeter and say "One for Sushi Omokase please" and he will have you sit down at the counter (the "sushi and sashimi omokase" is spectacular too if you'd prefer that and know what you are doing) What you will then experience, for between 160 and 220 dollars, is a tranquil 5-10 course meal starting with pleasant and mealy and mouth forward fish at the start and ending with the best cuts of tuna you can possibly get followed by a Chawanmushi and a spot of matcha ice cream. If you ask the host if he has a Sake he recommends, it's always a good idea. This decadent and blatantly bourgeois luxury is the best dining experience I have ever had in my life, and now you know where it is and what to do. Please tip generously, there's like three to five people who run this place and they're all wonderful and not a lot of people drop by here. It's a very well kept secret and I love it very much.

Sushi Go 55

But I hear you asking; "ZACH, DON'T YOU DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN EAT DRINK?" Not really, but that shouldn't stop you from doing things other than eat and drink! Here's some stuff to do that's just fun!

BIKE ALL THE WAY PAST LOS ANGELES AND BACK AGAIN IN A FEW HOURS ON THE BEACH!!!

Did you know that Los Angeles has one of the best bike paths in the entire country? Did you know that we are one of many cities that chose not to ruin its seafront properties with freeways?Behold! The Marvin Braude Bike Trail!

This lovely bike path is not only how many of us beach cities shmucks get to work, but it is also among the most lovely things you can possibly hope to do in this part of the world! Go down to Marina Bike Rentals in Redondo Beach and rent a bike for the day and go all the way from Redondo Beach to Santa Monica and back in a few hours. See the entirety of the LA coastline like nobody in a car could ever hope to. It's one of my favorite things to do.

Drive down to Dockweiler Beach and watch the airplanes from LAX take off!

You can pay a small fee to get into Dockweiler Beach and sit right under the airplanes while they take off!
 
This is a pretty cool experience, and although I don't fully see the appeal, having spent more than my fair share of time around airplanes, a lot of people who don't love to do this and I don't blame them!
 
Another alternative to this in the same vein is to go to the In'N'Out Burger right across from the taxiway and watch them from there, but parking is a bit difficult and can be a little bit loud, and it's also a restaurant which I've given you a lot of already.

The address for the shown In'N'Out is 9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
 
If you're a fan of plane watching and don't wanna pay to get into Dockweiler beach in a car, this is the move for you.

Ariel & Zach

Ariel & Zach

Registry

Your presence at our wedding is the best gift! If you feel you must get us a physical gift, we are registered at Crate & Barrel and West Elm, but we are also using Zola for gifts from other places!