• Sweet Life: Los Angeles alums Jerrold Smith II and Cheryl Des Vignes married in an all-black “elegant” and “timeless” wedding in Los Angeles on May 1

• The groom and bride met as teenagers and have been inseparable ever since

• “Our relationship is built on a strong friendship, and above all, we just love spending time together and enjoying each other’s company,” Smith tells PEOPLE

Life couldn’t be sweeter for Jerrold Smith II and Cheryl Des Vignes!

The Sweet Life: Los Angeles duo tied the knot in front of 170 guests on Thursday, May 1, at The Majestic Downtown in Los Angeles.

Fans were introduced to the longtime couple on the Issa Rae-produced reality series, which debuted on Max (then HBO Max) in August 2021. However, their love story began years prior.

“I met Cheryl at a Sweet 16 birthday party for a friend I’ve known since elementary school — who, funny enough, also happens to be her cousin,” recalls Smith. “I spent most of the night working up the nerve to talk to her, and when I finally did, we danced.”

“From the moment we locked eyes, I think we both knew we wanted to talk to each other. Jerrold sent one of my friends over to ask me to dance — although to this day, he swears he did it himself,” Des Vignes playfully retorts. “But after that night, he messaged me on Facebook… and the rest is history.”

After years of dating, the couple got engaged on June 18, 2022. And for the momentous occasion, Smith selected the perfect backdrop.

“I proposed to Cheryl in a private room at Mastro’s in Malibu, overlooking the ocean sunset,” Smith tells PEOPLE. “Cheryl loves the ocean and never wanted anything too flashy, so I tried to keep it simple while still making it somewhat of a big romantic moment because I really wanted to make it a moment. I filled the room with rose petals and candles, and invited our closest family and friends to join us, fully assuming she’d say yes, and it turned into our unofficial engagement party right after the proposal.”

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For their big day, Smith and Des Vignes wanted a mix of simplistic yet distinguished elements. While Des Vignes was inclined to elope and Smith wanted a full-on affair of grandeur, they ultimately settled somewhere in the middle at the “central, yet elevated” Majestic Downtown venue, with catering from one of the couple’s favorite restaurants, Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine in Leimert Park.

Guests followed a black tie, all-black dress code to add to the “elegant” aesthetic. With no plus-ones invited, the room felt intentionally intimate — filled only with the bride and groom’s closest circle.

“When we look back on our day, we wanted everything to fit the aesthetic we had in mind,” says the bride. “The overall vibe is timeless and refined — think classic silhouettes, rich textures, and a moody yet sophisticated atmosphere.”

For Des Vignes’ ceremony attire, she decided on bejeweled Stuart Weitzman high heels and a timeless wedding dress designed by Nicole + Felicia. She knew the strapless all-white ball gown was “the one” when a specific element caught her eye.

“It was the draping that got me,” the bride says. “There was something so dramatic and effortless about it — like quiet luxury in fabric form. It didn’t just fit, it felt like me.”

Des Vignes’ hair was styled down in soft curls by Payton Hopkins. Her makeup was done by Candice Renae and Shelsea Patton. She carried a bouquet she designed herself, and also crafted her bridesmaids’ white florals from Haus & Co.

Smith opted for a custom Brandon Murphy of BMC Studio Tailoring tuxedo: a white double-breasted jacket with shawl lapels, single-pleated black trousers and a pair of Bottega Veneta Astaire loafers.

He walked down the aisle to Luther Vandross’ “If This World Were Mine,” while Des Vignes followed to “Everything (Interlude)” by Kehlani, performed on violin by Jeremy Green.

Their ceremony was officiated by Min. Cherry Smith, Jerrold’s uncle, who also officiated his parents’ wedding. The couple held hands, of which Des Vignes’ was adorned with a sparkling JayKay Jewelers ring, during prayer.

The special day featured a bevy of personal touches with the help of wedding coordinator Ashton Eve. The couple shared their first dance to “My First Love” by Avant featuring Keke Wyatt. The R&B classic ranks as one of their favorite love songs.

Black Love Inc was responsible for behind-the-scenes footage, and Issa Rae’s company Viarae Wines and Hotel Per La were among the sponsors for the bride and groom’s big day.

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Following a scenic honeymoon in Italy and Greece later this year, Smith and Des Vignes are unsure of what the next chapter holds for them. What couldn’t be more clear, though, is their commitment to embark upon the journey together.

“What I admire most about our relationship is that even though life — and love — isn’t always perfect, being with Jerrold just feels easy,” says Des Vignes. “What means the most to me is getting to grow old with someone I’ve known since we were just teenagers. There’s something so special about building a life with a person who’s seen you through it all.”

“It’s important to both of us that we enjoy life as much as we can and take things as they come, knowing that no matter what, we’ll always have each other to lean on,” adds Smith. “Our relationship is built on a strong friendship, and above all, we just love spending time together and enjoying each other’s company. That’s what truly makes our bond so special.”

Additional Credits:

Desserts: Heavenly Sweet Impressions @heavenly.sweet.impressions

Server Staff: Rollin Hero Staffing @rollinhero

Event Planning: Unique Chic Events @uniquechicevents, 3 Little Birds Event Planning @3littlebirdseventplanning

DJ: DJ Myles P @djmylesp_

Photo booth Photographer: Brandon Towns @btaesthetics_

Photo/Video: One Seven Films @oneseven.films

Film Photo: @triciaraesaceda

After-party attire: Dress by Lirika Matoshi @lirika.matoshi and shoes by Jeffrey Campbell

Valet: Black Diamond Valet @blackdiamond_valet

Cake: Briana Maye @brxxzyyy

Read the original article on People