Now this is an engagement shoot that looks like it came straight out of a movie – one of those effortlessly endearing romances that you could watch again and again, visualizing yourself in every scene. Gorgeous and supremely resourceful couple, Julia and Julian, brought their own dreams to life by finding their ideal location for an engagement shoot so they too could visualize themselves in the space they dream of someday inhabiting – a vintage, light-filled loft. I love the way Amanda K Photography captured their chemistry as well as the building’s atmosphere in every photo!
From Julia:Julian and I dream of living in an exposed, light filled loft. We wanted to incorporate this style, along with our simple, romantic life into our engagement shoot. Our small town has a main street with beautiful, historic two-story buildings, so I set out and inquired about the second stories of these stores. The woman who owned this particular building said the space was undeveloped and I probably wouldn’t be interested in it. But when she walked me upstairs, I fell instantly in love! We then worked with Marigold Vintage Event Rentals to pull our style into the set with furniture. Our photographer, Amanda K, along with her assistant, Laura Nelson, both did an incredible job at guiding us through the shoot, encouraging us to relax, and show our true selves. Amanda’s romantic approach, along with her ingenious talent, made for one stunning photo session!
Let me just start this introduction by saying that I am flat-out, head-over-heels, utterly and completely smitten with this NYC loft wedding. Couple Barbara and Carl were married in a celebration so full of love, family, fun and crazy cool modern style, it makes me grin (a great big goofy grin) every time I look at the beautiful photos by Image Singulière. Read on and you’ll see why this wedding has style, and heart, in spades…
What three adjectives best describe your wedding day? Love, family, the magic of NYC.
Was there a decor theme that ran through your wedding? What was the inspiration for that particular idea and how did it reflect you as a couple?
From Event Designer Maya Kalman of
What were some of the different ways you used decor elements to create the beautiful, cohesive event you were envisioning?
From Barbara and Carl: We wanted something light, bright, creative, and bold, so we emphasized yellows and oranges. Our appetizers were designed to reflect the neighborhoods and flavors of New York: mini sausage heroes from Little Italy, street vendor hot dogs, etc. Our wedding invitation drew on a NY Times headline theme, in which we were the featured article.
From Event Designer Maya Kalman: We started the “NYC experience” with the couples invitations which we designed as the cover of the New York Times. The wedding’s design concept came from wanting the feel of a chic Sunday brunch – black, white, yellow and orange were the color story. We chose a bright white loft venue which was perfect for our Sunday brunch menu. It also had a gorgeous deck so the ceremony could be outside under the noon day sun. The bright white loft with gorgeous views of NYC was decorated with bright yellow and bright orange ranunculus flowers. The white tables were rimmed with a chic wide black and white ribbon to evoke that city chic attitude.
To continue the ‘NYC experience, cocktail hour was an homage to different NYC neighborhoods. Chinatown, Lower East Side, Coney island, etc. Trays were made of subway maps of the area and the food was the local favorite.
To evoke the bond of family, we created custom napkins with our Family rules printed on them. Instead of the typical guest book or sign-in area we created a family tree where each guest ink stamped their finger print as a leaf on the tree as well as their signature so that Barb and Carl would forever have the complete vision of who was at their wedding the day they started their new family tree. During the ceremony, Barb was walked down the aisle by her parents who had recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, and during the reception a special anniversary cake was presented to them to cut. Barbara’s father has since passed away, and they were so grateful to have been able to celebrate this special event with him, and to have the photos and video to remember him by.
Where did you choose to hold your wedding, and how did the location influence your decor decisions?
From Barbara and Carl: We held our wedding at Studio 450. We found this site online from our Mill Valley home. We committed sight/site unseen and were thrilled! Studio 450 provided a bright white canvas, with tons of character, amazing views, and a unique rooftop space. It was at once open and intimate, like us. The open plan, white walls and floors, and wonderful, old, large windows allowed the city in as a major participant in the day.
Looking back, do you have a favorite project or successful decor idea from your wedding? Tell us what you loved about it!
From Barbara and Carl: We picked unique artists to put together this wedding from the wedding planner to the photographer, the dress designer, the videographer, the caterer, etc. We chose creative individuals based largely on an intuitive sense of connection with them. We trusted their ability to help define and manifest our vision of who we are as both a couple and a family.
We crafted a unique ceremony that included not just our own personal marriage vows, but a separate “ceremony within a ceremony” in which the five children committed to their new family and were each given a simple gold band to symbolize that commitment.
What a wedding! See more of the action in this fun wedding video from Sean T. Smith
Tenting at a wedding can be an absolutely life saver when it comes to shelter from the weather and creating the perfect celebratory environment, but when most people hear the words “wedding tents” I’ll bet they’re not thinking of anything as spectacularly gorgeous as the one-of-a-kind creations from Raj Tents! Having experienced these works of art first hand at numerous events over the past few years, I can tell you from the heart that these tents are magical! Handmade in opulent styles that range from Indian and Moroccan to French provincial, Raj also offers chandeliers, lighting, lounge furniture and other decor accessories to create your entire event look.
To help us all understand event tenting options a bit more, I recently chatted with Raj Tents’ Co-Founder and CEO, Dominic Mitchell, and asked him about all the ways tenting can be used at weddings, and what makes Raj’s approach to tents so distinctive in particular…
Where did the idea for Raj Tents come from, and what makes your tents unique?The inspiration behind Raj Tents came from Maurice Walsh and I seeing that there was a huge potential in California for distinctive luxury tenting. I had already been working with tent rentals in London for some years and Maurice had his own successful business in San Francisco. We pooled our expertise and started Raj Tents so we could offer something that was definitely missing in the Special Events industry beautiful thematic luxury tenting that adds tremendous value to weddings and special events.
Raj Tents has unique inventory that has been carefully planned to take best advantage of traditional artisan hand craftsmanship and highest quality materials. That, combined with innovative design and constant R + D has allowed us to create several exclusive ranges of luxury tenting and décor to cover several themes and types of tent. What we do is highly detail-oriented and we pay a lot of attention to the entire design and manufacture process starting from having fabrics milled and dyed especially for us. On the delivery end, we take great pride in our service, professional crew and accommodating our clients needs which in the end is what it is all about. After all, no two events are the same and every client deserves an individual solution that is tailored for them.
Let’s talk tenting basics – What are some reasons a couple should consider using tents on their special day, both practical and creative?Tents obviously have a practical function to provide cover from inclement weather or scorching sun. One of the things I enjoy most is seeing how happy a couple is to have a well thought out and beautiful tented installation for their celebrations. The right tents can bring an outdoor space to life, framing views, providing color and décor and more subtly, containing a gathering of people emotionally. When friends and family come together to celebrate a couple’s union we aim to create the right conditions for them to open up, connect and have a memorable day by providing the right tenting. This applies to indoor spaces as well as outdoor tenting. Ballrooms can be transformed and personalized by using smaller tents, wall treatments and décor to make the couples special day truly theirs.
How does one know what size and shape of tent to choose and how much space will it require?Raj Tents has complex and flexible inventory and in most cases clients need guidance as to how to use it to the most benefit. We consult with the wedding planner and/or bride and groom to firstly understand what they want to achieve. Of course much depends on the venue, number of guests, style and flow of the wedding. Once we understand the big picture, we are in a position to make recommendations as to size, shape and colors of tents along with options for lighting and accessories. We also offer a custom design and manufacture service, allowing clients to order items in a custom color or print.
What are some tips to keep in mind when choosing a tent that will be installed on grass, the beach or on another uneven surface?Nice flat lawns are the easiest for a tented installation. However, it is often a more challenging site that gives rise to the most creative tenting solution. For beaches, we sometimes sink concrete blocks into the sand as anchors for a low profile installation where a sandy floor is wanted. Often a subfloor is the best option, especially where the tent is in a more exposed location. Uneven ground can be covered with a floor, or we can work the tenting around the terrain, or cut the tent legs to fit an uneven space, so all tents are level on an undulating site.
What are some of the most creative tent installations you’ve done for weddings at Raj Tents?Lots of favorites to choose from there. A recent custom floating 40 canopy in a ballroom suspended from the ceiling was gorgeous and really dominated the room. Roof-top installations can be very striking and rather surreal. I probably like beach installations the best. A tropical beach turned into a sophisticated wedding site is amazing, especially when the tenting is made of natural materials and blends into the scenery. When it comes to strong themes like Indian and Moroccan, we can go pretty wild with color, which is always exciting.
Is there anything you’d love to see more of with tenting at weddings?Well, big, involved wedding tent installations allow more scope for us to be creative and deliver more value so we are always happy to work on a larger scale. I think there have been significant changes in tenting expectations over the last years, which is excellent. It is no longer the case that a tent is just a vinyl covered structure. With so many images of fantastic tented installations easy to find on the web, couples are far better able to come across a concept that fits the style of their wedding. After all, we are all driven by what our clients want and the more alternatives and resources they have, the easier it is for them to communicate with us and for us to come up with the right solution. So, the short answer is clients continuing to push boundaries by asking for what they really want rather than compromising keeps us all at our best.
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us Dominic! We love Raj Tents and are honored to have you as Junebug members!
Want to see more? Check out the Raj Tents website and blog – they’re available for weddings throughout the West Coast, Hawaii and beyond!
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