A nostalgic yet futuristic wedding within Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture.
A mid-century modern wedding editorial at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buehler Estate in Orinda, California. It was such a joy designing a day that felt both nostalgic and contemporary at the same time. Fluffy grasses are placed against the sharp architecture. Custom stationery and signage that paid homage to Frank Lloyd Wright and other prominent mid-century architects and designers. Orange everywhere!
One of the primary goals while crafting this wedding editorial at the Buehler Estate was to let the architecture speak for itself. I’ve always felt magnetically drawn to mid-century modern design, and this house is extra special. Though it was completed in 1948, it still carries a sense of freshness and futurism that feels almost suspended in time. The Buehler Estate was the perfect setting, as it’s one of only 60 Usonian homes created by Frank Lloyd Wright. Henry Matsutani, the Japanese landscape architect behind Golden Gate Park’s Japanese Gardens, designed the backyard. It’s awe-inspiring how a structure created over 77 years ago still feels so modern and fresh.
The ceremony was intentionally oriented towards the house. The grassy orange flower mounds complemented the sharp geometry of the L-shaped home. It felt right to add wishbone chairs, which were designed by Hans Wegner in 1949, just a year after the Buehler Estate was completed.
The wedding dinner was crafted to similarly emphasise the relationship between the sharp and organic, with moss and flowers popping up from the table. The Buehler Estate’s dining table and chairs were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright himself, specifically for the house, so everything felt incredibly cohesive.
The 24-karat gold on the living room ceiling and octagonal shape make it feel memorable, grand, and gorgeous. I love how, as with all of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes, the back of the house opens completely to the outdoors, with floor-to-ceiling windows that dissolve the boundary between inside and out. Celeste and Blake sat on the couch together while cutting their cake and casually shared a slice.
For their wedding “exit,” Celeste and Blake sat in an original 1960 Chevrolet Corvette.
STYLIST, ON-THE-DAY COORDINATOR & PHOTOGRAPHER Annalee Photography, @annalee.photo MODELS Celeste Christopherson, @celeste.christopherson; Blake Christopherson FLORIST Floralgal Kel, @floralgalkel HAIR & MAKEUP Dela Paris Beauty, @delaparisbeauty VENUE The Buehler Estate, @thebuehlerestate HIRE Linen & Furniture – Trend Event Collections, @trendeventcollections GARMENTS Lucky 27 Bridal, @lucky27bridal STATIONERY La Madeleine Studio, @lamadeleinestudio CAKE Emily Bakes SF, @emilybakes.sf
