Idalia + Lindsay | Art-Inspired Wedding

In 2018, Lindsay, a Marketing Consultant and CEO of Forza Collective, and Idalia, who works in Strategy and Operations for a quantum computing company, lived across the country from each other and while they had several mutual friends, they never had crossed paths until one fateful Instagram post. “I recognized everyone in the photo except for one face that caught my eye. I immediately reached out to my best friend that posted it and got the confirmation I needed that the face that caught my eye belonged to a queer and very single woman who I needed to know,” Lindsay says. “I immediately followed her and started strategically liking her photos, and she followed and returned the gesture.” 

After a bit of back and forth, they found themselves DMing each other but weren’t set on a long-distance relationship as Idalia lived in Washington D.C. and Lindsay was attending business school at the University of Minnesota. It only took a short time for them to fall for each other and they finally met in person after 6 weeks which at this point, Lindsay says, she already knew Idalia was the one. 

Two years of long-distance dating and airport goodbyes had passed and Idalia made plans to propose to Lindsay, but it didn’t quite go as initially planned. “I knew that Lindsay wanted to be proposed to near the Lincoln Memorial in DC, but I didn’t want to make it obvious that I was proposing by taking her directly to the memorial, so I planned to propose on top of the Kennedy Center in DC which has a beautiful view of the Lincoln Memorial, especially when it’s lit up at night,” describes Idalia. On a random Friday, Idalia decided she couldn’t wait any longer without being engaged to Lindsay, so she asked her out on a surprise date. The evening began at the restaurant where they had their first day and was followed by a sunset boat ride where she planned to get down on one knee. “It became clear the second we got onto the loud, smelly boat that I would not be proposing on there.” They made their way to the Kennedy Center, and as Idalia’s heart was pounded she asked the question, “I asked her a question that I frequently asked her…’Will you date me?’ to which she replied (as she did every time), ‘Yes, I will date you.’” Then came the follow-up, “Well, will you marry me?” Lindsay excitedly replied “yes”. Fireworks went off in the distance as it was July 4th weekend and they celebrated with champagne and popsicles. 

Planning An Art-Inspired Wedding

The brides had a specific vision for their art-inspired wedding with bright tones matched with clean lines. “We really wanted an upscale, modern, and bold vibe. We wanted to go against the trend we were seeing with neutrals and muted tones and lean into our florals as the real show stoppers,” Lindsay shares. Idalia says they chose bold yellows, oranges, reds, and pinks to pop against the black accents and fashion. 

Choosing the Walker Art Center was an easy choice for the couple. They wanted outdoor space, a clean backdrop, and a venue that represented the Twin Cities. “We landed on the Walker because of the incredible view on the Garden Terrace, the super clean backdrop, and the fact that it embraced our love of art. It was a perfect option for us,” Idalia says.

For their 142-person wedding, they wanted to incorporate structural and vivid flowers to set the tone while keeping the rest of the decor simple. During the ceremony, they stood under a black and white chuppah adorned with eye-catching flowers. Wanting to infuse their art-inspired wedding into as many elements as possible, they hired a live painter for the ceremony, “She worked on the piece as guests were arriving and after the ceremony into dinner. Guests loved watching and seeing themselves in the painting and we get to keep the memory forever,” Lindsay describes. Both brides say their favorite part of the day was the ceremony that felt personal and told the story of their love. “We have a close relationship with our Rabbi, and he did an amazing job to make it feel so intimate while including our guests into the fold so they felt engaged the whole time,” the couple shares.” One of our favorite parts of the ceremony was that we had people close to us write and recite their own blessings during the ceremony.”

Choosing Two Bridal Looks

The brides’ gowns complemented one another with Lindsay’s having an art deco flair and Idalia’s taking on a classic and elegant feel. “I wanted drama and something unique that I hadn’t seen before and got both with this stunning gown,” says Lindsay of her gown. While Idalia states “It was more ‘bridal’ than what I had originally imagined myself in, but it was better than anything I dreamed of. When I put it on, I immediately saw myself standing at the altar with Lindsay and that’s how I knew it was the one.” Their mixed-gender wedding party looked sleek in all-black attire with a variety of suits, dresses, and jumpsuits. 

Following their picture-perfect ceremony, the art-inspired wedding feel was seen throughout the reception space. Striking black menus and flatware felt dramatic against the unstructured and radiant centerpieces. Guests were greeted by Lindsay’s aunt singing and playing piano followed by Idalia’s grandmother and brother playing a violin duet of “Sunrise, Sunset” in the background as a unique family tradition. 

D’amico Catering served up a delectable dinner including a summer berry salad followed by Miso Glazed Cod, Sirloin with Broccolini, and Grilled Tofu with Pea Puree. Their wedding cake was a focal point with 3-tiers, vivid fresh flowers, and uniquely shaped fondant. Guests also took home tasty macaroons made by a local bakery for favors.

If you are planning your own wedding, Lindsay advises to “Make sure it feels like YOU. The most important thing is that you look back on your day and feel like it captured and celebrated your love. Find small ways to incorporate your personality and relationship into the day to make it feel super unique. Guests will notice and you’ll look back at your pictures with a huge grin knowing you had the most beautiful celebration of your love.”

Because the couple both have remote jobs, they swapped a traditional honeymoon for an 8-month road trip across the country. “We bought a car, packed it to the brim, and lived out of Airbnbs for the eight months following our wedding. We met amazing people, fell in love with new cities, and had the best food. Some of our favorite stops were Portland, OR and San Diego.”

Vendors Cont.  — Stationery: Minted | Enterainment: Instant Request DJ | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse | Rentals: Flatware from Chowgirls Catering | Favors: Rainbow Girl Bakery | Live Painting: Paint My Wedding Day

All images by Sarah Ascanio