A Bright & Colorful Wedding In The Gardens of The Montalvo Arts Center

Samantha Melei
February 9, 2021
Categories: LGBTQ+ Weddings, The Blog

Last year taught us a lot, whether it was how to connect with people through a screen or how to perfect your banana bread recipe, but one thing we know for sure is that it taught us to appreciate time with our loved ones, no matter the size of the crowd. De Joy Photography and Atlas Design Studio teamed up to create this intimate styled shoot to show you all that love trumps all! From the stunning couple to overflowing floral installations by Laughing Gal Floral, this bright and colorful shoot at The Montalvo Arts Center showed us what love is all about.

From De Joy Photography…2020 has been a year to discover what really matters in life. Whether you have lost a loved one, a job, a way of life, or only have had to adjust to the new normal in a COVID world, no one has been completely unaffected by the changes brought about with this tumultuous year. Social gatherings, and likewise weddings, have been severely impacted by the changes made necessary to help combat this dangerous pandemic. For many in the wedding industry, 2020 had started as one of the busiest wedding seasons ever, but by spring, the reality had shifted to something completely different. While many have canceled or postponed their events to future dates to avoid the immediate effects of social distancing, some have taken this as an opportunity to rediscover the true meaning of this special and sacred tradition.

For this styled shoot, De Joy Photography and Atlas Design Studio teamed up to create an incredible micro-wedding to help broadcast what can be possible when you fill your room not with hundreds of guests, but with joy, love, and acceptance.

To set the stage, the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga California became the ideal venue with its lush gardens and Mediterranean architecture. The approach to this shoot was to be fun and elegant by including color and freedom in the floral designs, DIY bar, tabletop settings, and attire. Our brides were prepped in the Villa’s Solarium and then joined together on one of the grand verandas in the shadow of stunning arched windows and columns. The ceremony in the Italianate Garden was intimate whimsical, enabling a true sharing of love with close friends.

For papery, Heart Paper Soul had provided feminine and elegant details for the invitations and seating chart. Our models Adaeze and Vigilant were radiant in their gowns provided by Epiphany Boutique. Lisa Teller created a natural hair and makeup look to accent their already overpowering beauty. For the ceremony site, Laughing Gal Floral created a stunning, non-traditional deconstructed floral arch installation.

After the ceremony, the brides the guests relaxed on beautiful lounge furniture provided by One True Love Vintage Rentals while enjoying the bar area provided by Venus Spirits. The signature drinks were a Paloma Libre and a Gin and Tonic. A truly unique seating chart was adorned with florals and placed for guests to see. Hensley Event Resources provided a stunning Greystone dining table and all the tabletop settings to create a romantic setting for an intimate experience. A white watercolor confection by Tart + Tin Cakes was made using the did-dyed rice paper technique along with rice paper florals and hints of gold leaf.