In my experience, I often state that  90% of our clients are hosting destination weddings when in fact – if we really look at it – I don’t think we’ve ever seen a wedding that didn’t have a significant percentage of wedding guests traveling some distance.

Our criteria is short – these two questions:

1. Is a hotel block needed?
2. Are food / activity / transportation suggestions or coordination required?

Within that, it’s pretty obvious that 100%  of our weddings necessitate this, no matter how large or how local either side of the wedding may live. Inevitably, no matter where in the wedding planning process you are – our clients get the inevitable “do you have any ideas on where we should stay” and “how far is X town/hotel from the venue?” and so on and so on. Rinse, repeat.

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Recently Harper’s Baazar released their Little Black Book of 39 “Best Planners in the World” list. I almost skipped right over it, with to-do lists and client meetings in Texas to attend to. It’s a perfect metaphor for the speed in which life rolls right along, and yet, something called me to stop and take it in.

It has less to do with the list, and more to do with the moment I realized where I am – in this world, this work, with clients, and surrounded by such a selflessly giving group of entrepreneurs. Woah. Wow.
⠀
These words merely scratch the surface:

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Inspiration comes to me in flashes, while I’m driving or otherwise minding my own business – and the beginnings of this architecturally-inspired modern city wedding inspiration was no different. [LA driving is very conducive to conference calls and creative flashes, FYI.]

I’ve been thinking a lot about my beginnings in the architecture world – what I was drawn to during school, my aesthetic sensibilities, the architects and designers that were my go-to for starting points in my design process[Luis Barragan, John Pawson, Carlos Scarpa to name just a few] . What has been the most inspiring part of this year has been the slow realization that these warm, nostalgic memories of designers and buildings can find their way into my process and inspiration for client’s weddings and other events. In a snap, my old life and current reality slammed into one another with a really exciting boom.

And so, this inspiration was born out of that curiosity to explore how the lines, shadow, and absolute of architectural profiles can play with [my perpetual love of] soft, feminine fabrics and the wild and free florals. An exploration of the dualities of materials, shadows, and textures – none of these are a singular thing, and I think we can gain a lot as designers by pushing past a singular facet of each.

As an actual event, I see this translating into a wedding in a modern city warehouse, or the whitewashed buildings of Greece or Tulum, or even a casual off-shoot as a welcome dinner or birthday party. I see this style complimenting those that are drawn to clean bright, natural or modern spaces in their lives, and have an appreciation of modern design. [Hint: think of your favourite restaurant spaces, stores, or coffee shops – those are often really good hints at where you feel drawn to and most comfortable in.]

I was clear that I wanted to use very little colour, instead layering shades of white, cream, the barest hint of blush with shadows of grey to create that stark contrast. These subtleties and contrast really prove to me why layering is such an important element of my/our work: it provides context and dimension in so many ways – from fabrics, to flowers, to acrylic blocks. I’m a passionate advocate of going beyond the typical two-color wedding palette, and this inspiration shows the richness that is created when you gather together a symphony of colours and textures instead of relying on a solo or duo. Ya dig?

There’s a team that put all of this into practice and created something imperfect, but perfectly magical. All of those final images coming soon kittens.

xo,
Liz

Food for thought, thinking-piece today, kittens:

How do we choose to celebrate, and what does that really mean as a community of family, friends, loved ones, during uncertain [politically, economically, socially] times? This conversation popped up last week, however, it’s been a recurring theme that I’ve spoken about with many friends, colleagues, advisors, over the past two years.

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When I first met Molly, an architect, we both arrived wearing variations of a white shirt, black pants – which told me that we’d collaborate really well, and our conversations quickly turned from away from pinterest and wedding boards, and towards her and her fiancé’s favorite architects, films, and artists. It was exciting to turn to the spaces that inspire her as the basis of our design, and when they passed this Minted Adagio invitation our way, I had a hunch that the end result would be pretty incredible. Their ceremony took place in the backyard of her grandfather’s mid-century house near Pasadena, and the reception just down the street at the CalTech Athenaeum. We talked about how to create a consistent language between the two different locations and their respective time periods, and yet play off each’s strengths to create a layered experience for their guests. It was the ultimate play between new and old, modern and traditional, and this overgrown and colorful collaboration was even more stunning in person! [Moon Canyon made all of our floral dreams come true.]

Sources after the jump! [… not to mention some of James Moes’ beautiful final photography soon. Hold tight kittens.]

xo,
Liz

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