What was the most memorable part of the wedding planning process? - I really enjoyed talking to my friends about it and getting their input. They all mean so much to me and I trust every one of them so I was very open to any suggestions they had. I’m sure I drove them crazy.
You had a lot of wonderful friends helping you with the flowers and decor, can you tell us a little about that? -Yes. I co-own a floral studio in Dallas, Venus & Co., and have an amazing business partner and crew that came out and arranged and installed all the flowers for me. Since we do quite a bit of weddings, I already had a good idea of some wonderful vendors that we work with all the time. Lots of friends participated in this one: my best friend and super talented makeup artist, Blake Armstrong, did my makeup, another friend was my DJ, another friend and beautiful designer, Alex Stone, made my dress and my old bosses in LA, Hollyflora, helped source some of the amazing garden roses I had and handmade my taper candles. I’m one lucky lady to be surrounded by so many creatives.
Your color palette is so fun and beautiful - how did you decide on it? -I love red, it’s like my spirit color so I knew I would use that somehow, and ended up having my bridesmaids wear it. Plus, I’m a quarter Japanese, and red is a symbol of good luck. Flower wise, I wanted to keep it more “neutral” for the ceremony and super romantic colors for the reception. We went with metallic sprayed rose gold foliage and white Delphinium for the ceremony and used really special garden roses in pink, red, nude, and blush for the reception and my bouquet.
Why was decor & lighting important for your wedding aesthetic? - I think that’s one of the most important parts! I’m a firm believer in the setting and lighting creating the mood for the whole experience. I wanted everything to feel warm, romantic and sexy for our 50 person wedding. So lots of candles, and warm lighting was key. So happy I found Luminous, you guys knocked it out!
Why did you choose New Orleans & specifically the Ace Hotel for your big day? - I’ve always had a special love for Nola, it’s gritty and romantic all in one. Like me! Haha. I love all the Ace Hotels and their vibe, but it’s really those chandeliers that stole my heart. I knew it was the perfect spot once I saw those. It also made sense to have it at a hotel for our destination wedding since everyone would be traveling in. Cool atmosphere, great food, great coffee, what more could you want?
Did you enjoy working with the Luminous team? - Yes, absolutely! Lisa was so nice to me on the phone and super willing to work with me and my vision. Especially since I had my two year old daughter talking and playing loudly in the background the whole time. Like I said, it all turned out so beautifully, I couldn’t be happier.
What is your favorite memory from wedding day? - Watching Josh, my husband, and our daughter have their father-daughter dance.
Do you remember what you were thinking when you saw the completed reception space for the first time? - “Perfect.”
What advice would you give to other couples trying to plan their big day? - Breathe! It can be so stressful and tedious and it’s easy to get frustrated about anything. In the end, it comes down to the two of you and the meaning behind it all. Do your best, go with the flow and enjoy yourself and each other.
What's next for the new Mr. and Mrs?! -Work! Haha, it’s wedding season! Josh is getting his doctorate and also working as a Play Therapist and I am about to open a shop in downtown Dallas so our schedules haven’t really alotted us a ton of time off, nor has our daughter haha. Hoping to take a late Honeymoon to Japan in the next couple years, then hopefully adding another baby to the family at some point.
Vendor Love:
Photo: A Sea of Love @aseaoflove
Makeup: Blake Armstrong @blkarmstron
Handmade Candles: Holly Flora @hollyflorala
Lighting: Luminous Events @luminousevents