Ralynn Brann & Berti Barokas
Dec. 13, 2025 | Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock | Swearingen Weddings
Ralynn and Berti met for the first time on Coffee Meets Bagel right in the middle of the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. They were living in Dallas at the time, and quickly realized they only lived three blocks away from one another. They’ve been together ever since!
Berti planned a sweet proposal around Christmas 2024. They had gone out to pick out a tree, and then got dinner at Kemuri in Hillcrest. When they got back to their house, he had set up roses and pictures of the two of them all over the place with lights around the tree. He got down on one knee, and it was the perfect intimate proposal!
WEDDING PROFESSIONALS WE LOVE
Venue, catering and bar: Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Florist: Tanarah Luxe Floral
HMUA: LB Bridal
Wedding gown: Low’s Bridal
MORE WEDDING PROFESSIONALS
Planning and design: Bella Baxter Events; Photographer: Swearingen Weddings; Rentals: Eventology, BBJ Linen and Us2You Creations; Music, cold sparklers and floral rigging: Crown Entertainment; Wedding cake: Sweets by Logan; Strings: Arkansas Capital String Quartet; Transportation: Capital Car; Group block and getting ready suite: The Capital Hotel; Stationery: Mrs. Post Stationery
Q: Favorite moment of the day?
A: “Since Bertis’ family is from out of the country (he immigrated from Istanbul in 2010), it was the first time his family got to meet mine,” Ralynn said. “So a lot of the memories have cherished most are our families getting to spend time together when we became one family.”
Q: What advice do you have for other couples planning their wedding day?
A: “Try to enjoy the day as much as possible and focus on enjoying time with family and friends instead of the nerves,” Ralynn said.
Q: Was there something about your day that felt very unique to you guys?
A: “We loved the live quartet playing modern versions of songs,” Ralynn said. “I walked down the aisle to Fake Plastic Trees-Radiohead, and lovers and friends were playing when the guests were walking in.”
Q: Is there an underrated wedding vendor for the big day you recommend to all Arkansas couples?
A: “I couldn’t have done it without my planner, Kathryn from Bella Baxter,” Ralynn said. “We would have been completely lost without her help.”
WORK OF ART
“AMFA is so gorgeous, I felt we were able to rely on the venue mainly for inspiration for decorations,” Ralynn said. “My main goal for the experience of the wedding was for everyone to have as much fun as possible and for it to feel like a true party.”
Photo Credit: Swearingen Weddings
HOLIDAY SOIRÉE
“We wanted to have a slight nod to the holidays with the green and red florals without it feeling overly Christmas,” Ralynn said. “The team at Tanarah did a great job showing us how things would look and coming up with little touches like the bud vases that were up and down the steps that I never would have thought of.”
