q+a: knottie springchic

yay! i'm so excited to debut my q+a with amber, the wonderful knottie we all know and love as springchic. thanks so much, amber! enjoy!

Q: Was the Viceroy always your choice wedding venue? Did you consider any others in the pre-planning process?
A: We looked at several other sites before falling head-over-heels with Viceroy. Originally, we had hoped for a completely raw space with a visual focal point, like a rooftop overlooking downtown Los Angeles. We really liked Viceroy Santa Monica, but the color schemes were a little too strong for our wedding aesthetic. Other sites like 7degrees in Orange County were gorgeous, but it was more than we could afford. We started searching outside of Los Angeles and we chose Palm Springs because of our unified love of sunshine and mid-century modern architecture.


Q: The Viceroy's bold color scheme seemed to play a big role in your day, as it seemed to help decide your color palette. Let's play pretend for a moment. If you were having your wedding in a big-city loft (with a virtually blank canvas), what color palette would you have chosen?
A: What a tough question for an Interior Design student! We decided early on that we wanted a timeless look, but definitely not boring. I love the look of all-white weddings when different textures and shades are used. Black and white schemes are also very appealing because of the balance they create. If we were able to do it over again and get the raw rooftop space I craved, a deep gray, plum and ivory scheme would create a really dramatic effect.


Q: What's your favorite memory from your big day?
A: There were many, but my absolute favorite memory was after the reception. We went back to our room and my feet were killing me! My husband drew a bubble bath for me to soak in and sat down next to the bathtub and took the Gardenia out of my hair. He smelled it and handed it to me to smell. He looked at me and said, "This smell will always remind me of this very moment." It was such a sweet moment.


Q: Looking back, is there anything you would consider doing differently?
A: I would have hired a different DJ and photographer, but that's it. By no means did it ruin our day, but those are the two areas that could have been better.


Q: The invitations and programs (which looked AMAZING!) were all designed by you. Were there any other projects we don't know about that you did? And would you recommend DIY projects to other brides?
A: Thank you! While I wish I could say that I sewed the bridesmaids' dresses, built the chairs, composed all of the music, and cooked all of the food, we stuck with all things paper. If you're good at something and you have enough lead time, give DIY a shot. You will do it with more love than anyone you could hire to do the same thing!


Q: Was there any specific aspect of the wedding that you guys decided to completely slurge on?
A: We splurged on the food and location. Wedding guests usually expect good food, especially at a destination wedding. A smaller splurge was on my shoes. I really wanted to walk down the aisle in red soles!


Q: Who was your photographer?
A: I did not have a good experience with my photographer and would have hired someone else had I known the outcome. Her name is Beth Beljon.


Q: Which wedding photo is your absolute favorite?
A: It's hard to choose just one favorite from our big day! I really love the shot of the two of us outside where I'm sitting in the yellow chair. Another one we love is a shot of us walking away with the sun on our faces. It has such a dreamy, ethereal quality to it. That feeling really sums up the day.


Q: Where did you find most of your inspiration? Were there certain magazines or books that helped you? Or anything else?
A: I loved Martha Stewart weddings! Lots of great real weddings to draw inspiration from. I wish that I had known more blogs when I was planning. I definitely would have been visiting Classic Bride on a regular basis. Viceroy as my ultimate inspiration and I always made sure any design choices would be cohesive with the site. The designer, Kelly Wearstler is a genius. She has a book which was also very inspiring called Modern Glamour.


Q: Any final advice or tips to give to all the brides out there planning away?
A: Find something that is truly inspiring to you and build upon that and put your own spin on it. Your wedding should be a reflection of you and your fiance. I would also advise against anything overly trendy so that you can always think of your wedding as timeless instead of eventually looking dated. And above all, HAVE FUN!