http://www.thenouveauromantics.com/

The Nouveau Romantics, 1206 Maple Avenue, Los Angeles, CA (2024)

07/30/2024

When you find the one that fits, you know.⁠
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The dress, the venue, the date.
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Everytime I see couples try to “fit” their desires and wishes into something that seems to work .... there tends to be more friction than necessary.⁠
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Do we trust that the right fit, the best options, the “this or something better” exists, or do we have to settle?⁠
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I can tell from a mile away when things fit, because everything settles into place. There’s excitement, there’s peace, there’s an “ahhhhh”.⁠
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So wait for that, and when you know—you know.⁠
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07/11/2024

The possibilities are endless...⁠
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When we collaborate with clients, we’re always listening to what you’re saying, sometimes what you’re *not* saying, and we especially listen to the small “oh wouldn’t it be fun if...”⁠
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It’s often those small desires, dreams that almost feel a little weird, a little too far fetched, off or difficult to execute are the ones that are absolute ⚡️gold⚡️ ⁠
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These are the ideas that we put in our back pocket and let percolate for a bit, until the right moment when your desires and dreams find a way to weave into the bigger tapestry of your wedding.⁠
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It usually happens in a flash—everything connects and boom! It all comes together.⁠
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Whether it’s a 30 person mariachi band serenading you on the first dance, or a late night onesie surprise dance party, a dramatic red cabaret-speakeasy, or a hidden dance floor in the middle of a desert?⁠
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All of these things have started as tiny flickers in a conversation that came to be by expanding and amplifying those dreams and desires into moments that endure.⁠
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So if you’re looking for permission to do that slightly-weird-or-how-do-we-pull-this-off? We’re your crew, and consider this: permission granted.⁠
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Vendors: noted in each photo⁠
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07/08/2024

Every detail reflects a thoughtful approach, intentional layering and our signature mix of color and texture that brings your vision to life.
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Swipe to see Christi + Alex’s initial inspiration board evolve through the table design process 🎨
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07/02/2024

3 things I wish we would do differently, Wedding Planning Edition:⁠
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📌 Your Little “Random” Dreams & Desires are the Best Ones.⁠
Those little whims, quirky ideas, or “this is way too X” thoughts that pop into your mind? They’re gold.⁠
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After 14 years and thousands of conversations with engaged couples, I’ve seen that those small ideas that almost seem not worth the attention are actually the ideas that turn out to be the very best! (Trust us.)⁠
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📌 Unsolicited Advice is the Thief of Joy⁠
If there was one thing that I could magically erase from our society and culture? It would be unsolicited opinions and advice.⁠
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It’s never intended this way by the giver of said unsolicited advice, however, the IMPACT of these seemingly innocent statements often creates a lot of frustration, stress, and anxiety. (Not to mention it often then has couples second-guessing their decisions.)⁠
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Unless someone asks you for your opinion? Hush. Hush. Hush. (And celebrate them with whatever quirky, offbeat, or vanilla basic they want to be.)⁠
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And if you’re engaged and reading this, when someone does the above, use these words: “Oh, that’s a really interesting idea, we’ll consider it” or “Thank you for your input, we’ll consider it” ... and then do your own thing 😉
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📌 Slow Down. Focus on the Present vs “Wedding Date Tunnel Vision”⁠
What if we shifted our focus from the future wedding date to enjoying the planning process itself? The pressure to constantly be “on track” is often overwhelming, and the wedding media doesn’t help. (The number of conversations I’ve had around this over the years is a data point that tells me this is a thing.)⁠
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We’ve planned 500-person weddings in 3 months at a private estate: trust me, you’re not behind.⁠
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If I could leave you with anything it would be this: all the internal stress and anxiety doesn’t make anything happen faster, and you will, no matter what, get to your wedding date. It will come. Your best vendors, your wedding date, everything will fall into place. I promise.⁠
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The process, on the other hand, is totally up to you 🫶
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(Did I miss any others?)⁠

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06/21/2024

Intimate. Silly. Playful.⁠
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Simple. Elegant. Classy. Fun.⁠
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These are the words from my very first call with Christi about her and Alex’s wedding plans and vision.⁠
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“Gracious hosts” was another phrase that I distinctly remembered talking about on our call, a theme that wove through the planning process and came to life one warm February night at the .⁠
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These key points formed the fabric of Christi and Alex’s wedding. Whatever your version is, these words hold the essence of your own wedding.⁠
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It’s easy to get caught up in trends and worries—wondering if it will be good, fun, pretty, or enough. But your own set of words and phrases, authentic to you, are what truly matter.⁠
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The most genuine, ease-filled, beautiful, magical weddings are grounded in these personal touchstones. They hold the key to unlocking the unique magic of your wedding.⁠
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That’s it, the key. It’s not hard or complicated, but it does require staying true to yourself, your guests, and your bigger vision.⁠
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(I pulled up my original call notes and was delighted to find the words above because they are so very “Christi and Alex” 🫶🏻)⁠
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12/15/2023

I have an idea...

Is anyone else craving more than the usual “it was beautiful, the couple was amazing, there were no dry eyes in the house” as captions and storylines in our social sharing?

Beyond that, what can we share that’s actually informative? Helpful? Entertaining?

I’m craving more depth.

I want to know more about *why* you went with that layout, or how you got that shot, or the challenges that you faced to set up your favorite photo of the night.

Because most of our work is gorgeous. Timeless. Vibrant. Striking.

I remember talking to the mastermind group I hosted in 2020 in early COVID (what a time!) and we were going through blog posts and how to add exactly this—DEPTH—to our writing.

Because it’s obvious that the color palette is shades of green, white, and blush. Or the tent was a Sperry tent.

I’m more interested, and i feel like it’s a way better story, to tell me WHY you suggested they go with the half round altar installation.

Why did you frame that view?

Why did they pick that spot and what was the view of the guests as they entered?

How did you take the soft spring-ish color palette and make it fall appropriate?

THAT’s the stuff that catches my attention.

It gives context and depth and a why behind the decisions which engages me in a way that most of our writing these days don’t.

It also shares with readers your decision making process that is actually really informative, and that may even be applicable beyond pure replication, you know?

So back to this post in question.

Judy is Taiwanese and Prem is Indian, and the color red is significant in both cultures so that became our foundation.

Their ceremony was on rooftop and I intentionally designed all the ceremony pieces—the mandap, the seating—in shades of white *so that* the couple, their family stood out.

A little snippet into these design decisions, and the way things are considered in each step, each moment such that everything just ... works.

Photo:
Planning, Design + Florals

12/08/2023

I was in the middle of watching "Renaissance" by last night, crouched forward in my seat, taking in all the stage details and production design and thought "1. I needed this. and 2. I think tomorrow is TNR's birthday!?".

I was quite proud of myself to be pre-celebrating my 13th year in business with such a needed creative only to realize ... oops ... it was actually yesterday.

You mean I unintentionally celebrated my business with a Beyonce-fueled birthday celebration? Yes please.

Other than my lack of memory around birthdays ( ) what I was reminded of by Ms. Knowles-Carter is value of family, the foundation of community, and what is created when all the pieces of the puzzle are connected and cared for.

That peace comes by putting in the work, and that your 40s (and business teens) comes with wisdom through hardships, tears, failures to create the resilience, awareness and ability to see challenges through different eyes.

This journey has been one of the hardest things I've ever encountered. (entrepreneurship is not for the faint of hear y'all.) The Nouveau Romantics has been the biggest teacher, and I'm reminded that she has her own personality and needs and our relationship has grown as well over the years.

And yet the amount of gratitude that I hold for every single piece of this puzzle is bigger than words.

For every client who trusted us, and allowed us to guide you—thank you.

For every staff member that has walked through these doors and worked even for an hour—thank you for your enthusiasm and dedication.

For every vendor and industry colleague—you inspire me, I respect the hell out of you, and I could not be prouder to be among you.

To my friends and family who have weathered many many busy years and still show up, love, and celebrate alongside me—thank you.

And to The Nouveau Romantics—my own force of nature that I never realized what was happening when I brought her into existence, and the best business partner I could ever ask for—thank you.

What a wild ride, and I wouldn't change a thing.

xo

PS: Formally putting this out there: waiting for the client who wants a Beyonce-inspired dance reception or after party 🪩💃

12/01/2023

The Adolphus Hotel, Dallas—the night before ✨⁠
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C+C's wedding was envisioned to be a rich palette of reds, deep oranges, ochre, mustard and more, so when the family of the groom planned the rehearsal dinner at in their absolutely stunning Governor's Ballroom I knew I wanted to play with the all-white palette and reflect the winter season.⁠
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Bone velvet linens, acrylic chairs (hot tip: if you might have a busy or packed space, these are easy adds to visually simplify what your eye sees and make it look less crowded!), a mix of silvers for the place settings and neutral winter flowers pulled it altogether.⁠
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My design heart loves the opportunity to accent and compliment the space in which the best parts happen—starting the wedding weekend on a festive note, meeting and greeting, toasts, speeches, and at the end (see that last photo)—connection.⁠
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(PS: more winter weddings please, I love them so much ✨)⁠
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11/24/2023

There are just moments that cannot be planned.⁠
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I like to approach your wedding day with a lot of structure, and then a trusting hand that things will shift. Adjust. Flex. ⁠
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There's no controlling nature, or life—this is a lesson that I've learned too many times to count, and it's always present within each and every wedding.⁠
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It's in that relinquishing of control and trust in the process that actually allows magic to unfold. It's the excitement of the unknown and then ....⁠
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Moments like these unfold. ⁠
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They cannot be planned.⁠
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And my wish for every single person getting married to be present, enjoy the moment, and get lost in that magic. Let the timelines be, trust your team, and allow us to guide you through.⁠
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xo⁠
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11/20/2023

A peek behind the curtain 🎨⁠ ⁠ ⁠
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For a long while I've wondered how to share more about my design process and honestly.⁠ ⁠ Most of my best ideas come from being outside, and turning my brain "off" in many ways, so how do you translate that?
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And!⁠ ⁠ ⁠
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This past week I suddenly had the lightbulb go off that there are so many documents, design notes and processes that go into getting from Point A (The Vision) to Point Z (The Reality) and are key points that are definitely help to show our creative process.⁠ (it seems obvious but it clearly wasn’t to me 😂)
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Last Friday’s wedding reception at began with a classic, timeless and neutral palette—playing to the natural beauty and grace of the venue. (Cue the the inspiration board through dinner design pages).⁠
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Guest’s enjoyed the Petite Salon and Grand Salon in this lighter, more neutral palette for cocktails and dinner—it felt like a page out of Grand European Architecture (the architect that designed the mansion was indeed a classically trained French architect).⁠
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The “Ballroom”, in its dramatic red attire, was a different story. We’d always planned on using it for after dinner drinks and desserts a lounge type of style. We went through a couple of design iterations until the bride woke up one morning and said “I want it all red—like this bar” (See slide 6, bottom right).⁠
 And down the design rabbit hole we went. Layering shades of red furniture to create a rich, dramatic, moodily lit space was such a fun adventure. (I also know if any rental company with red furniture on the Eastern seaboard 😂)

And?

The in person experience?   Blew my mind. And the guests’. So much so no one wanted to leave!⁠
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I’m so excited to see how ‘s eye saw it all. A beautiful way to end out tte 2023 season ✨ ⁠
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(And yes, I will outline exactly which chair goes with which side table so that we have *just* the right combinations. Architect brain never stops working!)
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11/06/2023

The best thing I did for my creativity...

Earlier this year in February I remember staying up late working on client’s inspiration boards and being overwhelmingly bored.

Wholly uninspired.
 
Everything looks the same. Same color combinations, same details, same things over and over.
 
Even my go-to the fashion industry blurred together.
 
Is this a reflection of having been in the wedding industry for over a decade now?

Woof. It didn’t feel good.

Also, didn’t bode well for my clients, and honestly - the creative process is the heart of what I love about what I do - bringing clients whispers and words to life in a expansive, exciting, adventurous way.

And my creative battery was dead.

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 It took me a couple of days until I realized that my mindless scrolling was perpetuating these feelings. … and then I did what I always do when I need a big change.
 
Quit cold turkey.

(Okay, not really).
 
But I muted *almost everything* on instagram.
 
I went ham on my social channels and muted so much of the content that was contributing to the “same same same” feeling.

It took a little bit of time, but my creative pings and imagery flashes started to come back.
 
First it was a floor tile design.

 Then it was lighting installation.

And sure enough, the creative connections in my brain came back online.

Those weddings have come and gone, and I now know to protect what I’m allowing in my mind in order to allow the SPACE to create something that has … yet to come to life.

The key?  

SPACE.
 
S P A C E

S P A C E.

Creativity and ideas and newness and opportunity and all those good delicious things live in the world that necessitates a level of spaciousness that our world of 2405983486 things a minute doesn’t always allow for.

How does that translate in my life?  I know when I start to get stressed or overwhelmed or tightly wound ( ) that I need to book some time into a “cell-phone-free” zone / activity. Hiking / nature / drives are my go-tos.  Travel often also encourages this as it allows for new perspectives. (Literally).

I book time *away* from my computer because honestly … my best ideas happen outside of technology.

(Cont in comments)

06/23/2023

"The Relevance of the Beautiful"⁠
⁠..is a short book of essays by Hans-Georg Gadamer that I read as part of some architectural history work and something I go back to, especially with wedding planning.⁠
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In the main essay he speaks of the critical role that art, literature and *beauty* had in ancient Greek and Roman times as a way to impact humans emotionally, and how that was a vital part of their lives. The value of beauty and its central role to our lives. ⁠
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As a wedding planner and a designer at heart, my most favorite part of things is not necessarily the checklists or the timelines, but the creative process of working alongside our clients to bring their innate preferences and dreams to life.⁠
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Nothing gives me more joy than to bring their words and casual mentions to life in a way that both I, and them, often never anticipated. It's pure magic.⁠
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And now, almost 13 years into the wedding industry I've come to a place where I'm starting to think through "do we really *need* this? Is it critical or is it just fluff or noise?" and I find myself simplifying some of the elements that perhaps, years ago, I would have recommended differently. ⁠
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There's a power in the deliberate selection, of including design pieces that really have the power (as an individual item like a menu, or a collection like a whole place setting) and perhaps selecting the impact designs over other pieces---because at the end of the day, everyone has a budget. ⁠
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It's easy to fall into a judgement trap of someone else's definition of beauty, or think that our own designs "aren't good enough" based on the comparison game. ⁠
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At the end of the day, every one of us has a difference definition of what is beautiful, what's possible within our own parameters. ⁠
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However, what continue to stand is the very role and importance of beauty in our worlds, our lives, (and that includes weddings!) as a way to connect to and create rich emotional experiences for us all.⁠
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Food for thought ☺️
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06/15/2023

✨When all your weird and wonderful design dreams come true for an even more gracious, fun-loving, incredible clients.⁠
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Lesson: invest in a team that co-collaborates and dreams up with you, and then watch the magic unfold.⁠
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This wedding was beyond my wildest dreams and probably not in the way that you'd (or I!) expected. ⁠
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But then again? That's often the whole point. You can't know how the future will unfold.⁠
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Yay? Nay? Have you ever experienced this?⁠
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Dream Team:⁠
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Balloon Magic: ⁠
Dance Floor + Mirror Stage: ⁠
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03/23/2023

Calling all modern-architecture-nature-loving couples looking for an epic getaway or intimate wedding venue? ⁠
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I've got something for you, friend.⁠
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in Todos Santos has been in my orbit for a while, ever since my fav Leisure Athlete visionary went there last year? TBD.⁠
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Either way, the second I saw these gorgeous, minimal concrete lines, simplistic yet impactful in its design, my architect's brain was *on it*.⁠
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Cue some additional research, travel community cross referencing and I wanted to finally put this in the feed in case, for some reason, you haven't been targeted by the algorithm yet. 🫠 (They had me pegged from the beginning!)⁠
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Designed by architects Ruben Valdez and Yashar Yektajo, with interiors by Guadalajara studio B Huber, the 35 suite hotel is a testament to the power of a well placed view, allowing the rooms and spaces to compliment nature rather than compete with it. ⁠
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"Understanding the surrounding nature as the most important element of the project, the property is organised along the perimeter of the plot, so that each suite and some of the common areas have an unobstructed view of the surroundings," the architects said.⁠
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As far as weddings go, it’s perfectly situated for 50-70 guests and is a mix between rustic minimal and a luxe experience.

If your people are expecting the Ritz? This isn't your spot.

If your people are game for an adventure and still want luxe experience? Give her a whirl.⁠
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Located 20 minutes from the beach, they offer outdoor activities like yoga, bicycles, hiking, and more---in addition to their gorgeous pool and spa. The property is aimed to get you out of your room and exploring the beauty and possibilities of Todos Santos.⁠
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Okay okay, but what I really want to know: who's in?
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03/09/2023

Tented weddings: the perfect blank canvas, in my opinion.⁠ 👩‍🏫
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Over the years we've created weddings for really big guest counts of over 500 all the way down to petite and intimate weddings of 30. ⁠
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More often than not, they're on private property which gives us a lot of leeway in terms of timing and design opportunities. ⁠
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Load-ins are easier, we can do trial runs of lighting design, and troubleshoot anything well in advance of your wedding day.⁠
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The other side of it is that there will be team members on site for days or even weeks in advance, and there is an inevitable wear and tear on the land / property that we like to be upfront about and plan accordingly. ⁠
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That being said, the pros outweigh the cons, and tented weddings continue to be one of my absolute favorite ways of creating something custom and unique, based on the season, location, and natural beauty of the surrounding. ⁠
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(And they're super flexible to guest count, which is a bonus!)⁠
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Thank you to all of our amazing couples and their families' that have allowed us to move in for a couple of days (or more!) to make magic in their backyards.⁠
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Photographers:⁠
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03/06/2023

🙆‍♀️ Here's a PSA for anyone feeling a bit stressed on the wedding planning front:⁠
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No one is going to notice any detail that wasn't there.⁠
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I repeat, no one is going to notice that you *didn't* include any petals to toss at the end of the ceremony.⁠
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No one will be aghast that you didn't have milk and cookies at the end of the night.⁠
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They will remember how the sun came out right as the ceremony started.
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They will remember how much they laughed at the speeches during dinner.⁠
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They will remember what *IS* there, full stop.⁠
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The pressure to have the ultimate "most personalized memorable wedding EVER" is a thief of joy, stress-inducing monster who is a total buzzkill.⁠
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I remember seeing this image that took an thinking how stunning it is. Messy, half filled glasses of wine, random menus astrewn. I *knew* these guests were out on the dance floor, busting it up with the bride. ⁠
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This, for me, represents the best "details". The ones that can't be planned, and instead infer to what was happening at that moment: you, your guests celebrating, and being IN the moment. ⁠
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Let the magic of the unknown unfold.⁠
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And don't worry about the details. Include the ones that matter, and edit the sh*t out of the ones that don't. ⁠
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Be ruthless with your stress list. Our days are too short, and life is far too magical to spend them worrying or stressing. ⁠
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What do you think? Are you Team Details? Or Team Schmetails or even ... Team Limited, Meaningful Details? (I'm kinda the latter tbh).⁠
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Vendor Team:⁠
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02/21/2023

🪩 Let us be your party people
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'Nuff said.⁠
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Dance parties are my jam and I take them very very seriously, and thus take our music recommendations equally seriously. My intention is that I want YOUR wedding to have this kind of energy, enthusiasm, and total abandon. ⁠
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Because luke warm dance parties are NOT on yours / ours / anyone's bingo card for the year, yeah?⁠
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Yeah!⁠
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Photographers:⁠
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02/10/2023

Who doesn't love a good transformation? 👀⁠

(Check out what we started with!)
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While I will wait for the day where all hotels have beautiful, neutral carpet (which makes my job so much easier)...⁠
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There is something so incredible when we get to totally transform a space into something that feels dramatically different.⁠
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Design Hack: if something feels dark, or small, go opposite with lighter tones (a simple interior design hack. Why white paint, in the right shade, works so well.)⁠
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However, during our scouting and early venue hunting process, I like to ensure that our "bones" of the space are good. That can mean that the architecture or space is adaptable (and expandable if we need it, no one loves to be squished!) *or* the natural architectural elements are something that will add to the design.⁠
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In this case, the ceiling, fireplace, and mirrored wall panels, plus the wall of arched windows were a gorgeous starting point that I knew we could build off of. ⁠
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Cue to white carpet, draping, and some key furniture pieces absolutely transformed the space.
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What do you think? How are you feeling about interior / ballroom spaces these days?⁠
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Draping + Lighting: ⁠⠀⁠
Music: ⁠ ⁠
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