Bride and groom poses for a picture in front of the Bryan Museum in Galveston, Texas.

When an editorial fashion photographer teams up with a design-led planner for her own wedding, you can expect something extraordinary. We brought a keen eye for composition, lighting, and style to every aspect of Arianna and Patrick’s celebration, creating a wedding that felt like a perfectly curated editorial shoot—intimate, sophisticated, and authentically them.

The Vision: New York Jazz Club Meets Galveston Architecture

From our first time meeting at The Bryan Museum Bridal Showcase, Arianna and Patrick knew they wanted something different from the typical Galveston wedding aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from their love of New York’s smoky jazz clubs and architectural photography, they envisioned a celebration that felt both timeless and fashion-forward.

The Bryan Museum Conservatory provided the perfect canvas. Its soaring glass architecture offered the sophisticated backdrop they craved, while the flexible space allowed us to transform it into their dream jazz club atmosphere.

Ceremony: Sacred Heart’s Timeless Elegance

Their day began at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where the couple honored tradition while maintaining their refined aesthetic. The church’s classical architecture provided a stunning contrast to what awaited guests at the reception, creating a beautiful progression from sacred ceremony to celebratory gathering.

Design Philosophy: Editorial Meets Intimate

Working with Arianna’s photographer’s eye, we approached every design decision through the dual lens of “How will this photograph?” and “How will this feel to experience?” The result was a celebration that was simultaneously Instagram-worthy and genuinely comfortable for guests.

Color Palette & Textures:

Rich olive and forest greens
Warm brass and gold accents
Luxurious velvet textures throughout
Deep burgundy and wine tones

Lighting Design: The key to achieving that authentic jazz club atmosphere was layered, intimate lighting. We incorporated:

Bistro string lights creating warm overhead ambiance in the courtyard and tent
Table lamps on each dining surface for intimate conversation lighting
Candles throughout for that essential flickering warmth

Cultural Fusion: Honoring Heritage Through Design

One of the most meaningful elements of Arianna and Patrick’s celebration was how thoughtfully they wove together their Chinese and Italian heritage. Rather than segregating cultural elements, they created seamless integration throughout the evening.

The showstopper was their green velvet-draped gallery wall behind their guest book table, featuring family wedding photos spanning generations. The olive velvet backdrop elevated these personal photos into gallery-worthy art installations.

Lounge Atmosphere: Redefining Reception Dining

Instead of traditional round tables, we created an intimate lounge environment using:

Velvet-Covered Tables: Custom linens in rich jewel tones, each topped with warm bistro lamps Mixed Seating Arrangements: Lounge furniture from Decor by Dulce mixed with dining chairs, encouraging guests to move and mingle throughout the evening Multiple Conversation Areas: Rather than one large dance floor, we created several intimate gathering spaces

This setup encouraged the relaxed, conversational atmosphere of a sophisticated jazz club rather than the formal structure of a traditional wedding reception.

Culinary Experience & Entertainment Excellence

Heirloom Catering’s food station approach perfectly complemented the lounge atmosphere, offering artisanal stations positioned throughout the space with elevated comfort foods that guests could enjoy while socializing.

Tiana Hall and her jazz band provided the perfect soundtrack, understanding intuitively when to create background ambiance for conversation and when to encourage dancing. The live music wasn’t just entertainment—it was the heartbeat of the entire celebration.

Fashion-Forward Details

True to Arianna’s fashion background, every detail felt editorial and intentional. Her cascading tulip bouquet was a masterpiece of fashion-forward floral design—the architectural lines of tulips created movement and visual interest that photographed beautifully while feeling fresh and modern.

Jorge from Modern Valencia captured the day with an editorial eye, understanding that every angle and lighting setup needed to feel both spontaneous and perfectly composed.

Planning Expertise in Action

Arianna and Patrick’s wedding exemplifies why we advocate for having a planner from the start who GETS you and your style. Our extensive experience with The Bryan Museum allowed us to navigate the museum’s unique operational requirements, optimize lighting and layout for both guest experience and photography, and execute complex design elements like the gallery wall installation flawlessly.

The evening unfolded exactly as envisioned—sophisticated guests enjoying intimate conversation, incredible music, and exceptional food in a space that felt both elegant and approachable. Rather than feeling like a wedding trying to be something else, it felt like a celebration that was true to them: creative, cultured, and deeply connected to both their heritage and aesthetic values.

Arianna and Patrick’s celebration demonstrates what happens when couples trust their aesthetic instincts over wedding trends, invest in experiences that reflect their values, and work with vendors who understand their vision. The result wasn’t just a beautiful wedding—it was a celebration that felt like a natural extension of who they are as individuals and as a couple.