WEDDING BLOG

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope you had a wonderfully delicious day filled with friends, family and fun. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s all about gratitude (and scrumptious food!) and at Junebug we try to approach both life and business with a sense of gratitude in everything we do. Whether it’s for the wonderful things or the challenging things, if we can approach them all with an open heart and an appreciation for the opportunity to grow, then there’s no end to the positivity and inspiration we can draw from our experiences. In honor of all this love in the air, today we’re bringing you the work of a photographer who we met with in Los Angeles, and who blew us away with her warmth, her wisdom, her spirit, and of course, her work. 

Robin Layton is a photographer who Kim, Blair and I have admired since we first met in art school so many years ago. Over her long career she has photographed for newspapers, commercial clients, families and weddings, and has even been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Today she lives in L.A. and counts a long list of celebrities as her adoring clients. (Oprah, Colin Cowie, Jennifer Aniston, Sidney Poitier, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cindy Crawford, Carmen Electra and Toby McGuire just to name a few.) We were so excited to meet with her in her lovely West Hollywood home to talk weddings, but what we ended up learning was so much more!

When Robin first opened her gate to greet us we were immediately amazed by her presence (not to mention her fabulous robin’s egg blue vintage pick-up truck that Kim photographed above!) and the rest of the visit made us simply giddy. She is so passionate, thoughtful and authentically herself that by the time we left we were more inspired and ready to take on the world than ever before. Her approach to life is incredibly positive and gracious, and I think that you can really see those qualities come through in the images she creates. It’s no wonder she has accomplished so much and reached such heights in her career. We were beyond honored to get to know her and to to learn from her generous spirit.

Here is a sampling of some of Robin’s romantic and emotional wedding and event work… 

Her creative fine art dog portraiture…

 Her strong and touching photojournalism…

 And her still and lovely lifestyle editorial work…

Thank you Robin, for creating such beautiful work, and for opening up your home and heart to us. We are eternally grateful for the inspiration you have given us, from way back when until today!

Whether or not you have heard their name, you have most definitely seen their work. Lehr and Black Invitationers are the long time go-to invitation and decor designers for the weddings and important life events of Hollywood’s elite. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker? Check. Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey? Check. Gwen and Gavin, Ashlee and Pete, Trista and Ryan, Britney and Kevin? Check, check, check and check. Their client list reads like the seating chart at the Academy Awards, and the most remarkable thing is, not only does Lehr and Black design invitations and stationery that would knock anyone’s socks off, they do so personally, with true love. What we learned when we visited their Los Angeles showroom, was that this was truly a family affair.

The family invitation business began over 40 years ago with mother Marcia Lehr addressing envelopes as a side job for 5 cents apiece. Her business grew and grew in popularity and success, and eventually became what it is today, with the tradition being carried on by Marcia’s son and daughter, Sol Lehr and Ellen Black. They work together as a family and construct each stunning work of art by hand with their talented and tight-knit team. Seeing each item up close was inspirational, as we got to really appreciate the lush fabrics, thick papers, intricate details and creative genius behind each design. Gorgeous!

The other big treat awaiting us at the Lehr and Black showroom was that it shares a space with their other business, Love ME, the retail location of their delightful online wedding shop www.ShopLoveME.com. Started by Ellen Black and her best girlfriend Mindy Weiss (the M and E of Love ME) it is a fantastic resource for fun wedding gifts, favors, accessories, and treats for any bride to be. We had a ball exploring every nook and cranny of the pretty shop and photographing our favorite finds. Here are some of the things we loved most in the store… 

…and here are some of my personal faves from their website. If you live in the L.A. area, be sure to stop in and check out their lovely selection, and if you can’t quite make it all the way to Cali, visit their online store and have fun! I guarantee you’ll be shopping for hours!

Thanks so much for having us Ellen, Sol, Althea and Michele! It was an honor to witness your hard work and artistry.

Top row: Custom photo flasks and damask totebag

Second row: White paper fan wedding favors and silk skull print ties

Third row: Sweet word or verse pencils and Mindy Weiss for Two’s Company expandable file wedding organizer  

Fourth row: Candle carver and seven ways to say I love you undies 

Bottom row: Make a wish wishbone necklace and vintage cookie jar wedding favors

Raj Tents is a perennial favorite of Junebug Weddings. We’ve written about them here on What Junebug Loves and have daydreamed endlessly about ways to incorporate their luxurious tents into weddings and events (or set up permanently in our own homes!) While in L.A. we finally got to meet Maurice, one of the dashing owners, and enjoy a tour of their Torrence, California warehouse. It was a thrill to see the colors, fabrics and detailing up close and to really understand the quality and stunning uniqueness of each design. The other thing I found most exciting was all of the gorgeous lighting and lounge furniture Raj Tents offers as well…

(Images from RajTents.com)

In the warehouse there was an amazing variety of low lying benches, lounge chairs and tables made of deep dark wood, gold enamel tables, hand woven rugs and silk covered cushions in beautiful jewel tones. Hanging from the ceiling were an assortment of sparkling crystal chandeliers and traditional Indian and Moroccan lamps. So beautiful! Whether you go all out with a themed wedding or add a few intricate pieces to a simple modern event, the combination of eclectic and classic that these decor items add is simply divine! Thanks for the tour Maurice, it was such a pleasure meeting you! And readers, check out the Raj Tents website for gallery after gallery of fun wedding inspiration!