When actress and singer Briana Cuoco first met singer-songwriter Brian Dales through friends in 2018, the moment was unforgettable – though for reasons that now make them laugh. “Definitely the most memorable thing about our first meeting is how much I didn’t like him,” Briana admits with a laugh.

She of course changed her mind, and years later, their love story came full circle during a surprise proposal. Briana arrived expecting to head to a music event and instead walked in to find Brian and their dog, Joni, standing at a makeshift altar with loved ones gathered behind them.

Once engaged, the couple quickly realized they had two options: “We either were going to go to the courthouse and keep it teeny, tiny with just immediate family – or we were going to do the damn thing,” Briana shares. If they were going to host a real celebration, it had to be in Los Angeles, and for Briana, there was only one venue worthy of a New Year’s Eve wedding.

“Truly, Vibiana was the only place I wanted to do it. I love the architecture of it, [and] the tech that they are able to do is truly beyond.” After seeing the space, Brian declared it perfect for NYE, and within an hour, their planner Kaylen Davidson of Sara Judith Events – who also planned the pair’s bridal shower planned by Kaley Cuoco, the sister of the bride – had secured the date. “It all just felt meant to be,” Briana adds.

Over the next year, the couple planned every detail together, relying heavily on Kaylen, who “helped us with literally anything and everything.” With no wedding party – “We opted out of wedding parties!” the bride notes – they focused on curating an experience filled with energy, personality, and joy. “Music was a huge thing for us because that really sets tone,” Briana describes. “Also lighting, and the exceptional food program the venue offered was a huge selling point.”

Design-wise, Briana envisioned a moody, dramatic palette of deep reds, blacks, and creams against the venue’s soaring white interior. At dinner, low and elongated floral runners adorned the tablescapes accompanied exclusively by taper candles. “I really don’t like high arrangements where you can’t speak to or see the person across from you,” she explains. Throughout the venue, sculptural, abstract floral installations added artful dimension. “Not what you’d consider standard wedding florals – they were absolutely perfect and everything we imagined,” she adds.

“We either were going to go to the courthouse and keep it teeny, tiny with just immediate family – or we were going to do the damn thing.”

The 6:30 p.m. ceremony was officiated by Briana’s sister Kaley, one of many meaningful personal touches woven throughout the day. Walking down the aisle with her father was also a moment she’ll never forget. After the vow exchange, guests flowed into a vibrant cocktail hour, where the soundtrack shifted from classic rock to pop before transitioning into full hip-hop as they entered the reception. “Hip-hop sets a specific tone and energy that Brian and I wanted set,” she notes of the entertainment.

Dinner featured fish, beef, and vegan entrées, followed by a trio of sweets for dessert offered tableside in lieu of a traditional cake – though the couple did enjoy a small gluten-free red vintage-style cake. The modern couple skipped favors entirely – “just Taco Bell for all the guests after midnight,” smiles Briana of the late-night snacks.

The reception, which ran until 2AM, became an all-out New Year’s Eve celebration. Instead of a grand entrance, Briana and Brian personally greeted each guest as they entered – one of the bride’s favorite parts of the night. Their first dance was designed as a communal moment: “We had everyone encircle the dance floor and sing along at the top of their lungs,” Briana remembers of the song, “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith, selected by Brian. “Because everyone knows that song even if they don’t think they do, all 215 people were singing it at the top of their lungs.”

From there, the party never slowed. Their DJ surprised Briana with “Defying Gravity” from Wicked – “he played it and all of us lost it. We all scream sang it together,” she muses. At midnight, fireworks illuminated the ceiling as the room erupted in celebration.

Every aspect of the night reflected who Briana and Brian are as a couple: passionate about music, drawn to moody elegance, and deeply connected to their people. When asked what felt most like them, Briana confirms: “Truly all of it. The music, the design, the moody lighting… The amount of guests who have told me, no matter where they looked or if they knew the person next to them or not, the palpable joy and love that was in that room was unmatched. That was what we wanted everyone to feel that night.”

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