About Us

Come with us, through the looking glass, into an alternative world of weddings.

Through our joint love of design and parties, three friends joined creative forces to make life more celebratory. Make life and love, along with their celebrations, in our own unique style, more interesting. More tailored to something not stuffy, boring and predictable. More alternative—like us.

Traditional weddings are just not our style, and white isn’t our color. But we believe in weddings. We believe in celebrations, and love, and that a moment can be eternal. We believe that although traditions and ceremony and ritual can have power, they don’t need to control you. We believe in creativity, individuality, and in fighting the system. We believe in finding your own way, your own beliefs, your own truths, because that’s how new and beautiful ways evolve. We believe in being true to yourself; in loving who you love; in being who you are; in sharing joy through what makes you happy. Be gay; be straight; be square; be at peace.

No big corporation here churning out prepackaged bliss. We have done the corporate thing, and decided that there’s more to life than being told what to do and how to do it. We are just friends looking to make a difference in design...and a wedding is a wonderful place to make a difference in someone’s life. Because a wedding is one of those moments that lives with you eternally. We believe that self-expression is the key to a happy life. Bridal magazines are boring. Come over to the alternative realm and let us inspire and entertain you.

So, Who Is “Us”?

Amarantha

And who might you be, beautiful?

I’m either a chainsaw wielding maniac or a kid in a candy store. Depends on the day. I’m a living, breathing, rampant case of A.D.D. I am a mom. Like Morticia Addams combined with Lily Munster combined with Hannibal Lector, with a teeny bit of June Cleaver thrown in for balance. I am a girl in a bubble. I am a “crazy plant lady.” I like to wear black. A lot. So much so that if a friend sees someone resembling me, but they’re wearing blue, they say “nope, it’s not her.” I want answers to questions that haven’t been thought of yet, and I want them now. I’m so far out of the box I don’t even acknowledge its existence. Smart? Check. Creative? Check. Witty? Check. Snarky? Sometimes. Rich? Not yet. Gother than thou? Probably.

“Give me malice.
Flash.
Give me detached existentialist ennui.
Flash.
Give me rampant intellectualism as a coping mechanism.”

What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

I’m doing what I always do. I run naked through the moonlit night—in my dreams, of course. I live my life as a walking statement that art is meant to challenge, not to placate. I design, but don’t implement. I write, therefore I am.

I’m here because design matters. Because life’s celebrations matter. Because life changed for me—dramatically. Because I have great friends that love the same things I do, and, as lame as it sounds, I want to make a difference. To give voice to a lifestyle. To show that you don’t have to conform. You can have a choice.

Where’ve you been all my life?

I’ve been jack of all trades, master of none. I’ve done nothing and everything, all at once. I’ve been a corporate goth, a waitress and a janitor, and lots of other things too. I was a musical prodigy as a kid, but now I just write—to stimulate you, to inspire you, to bore you and mostly just to make you pay attention to me, precious me.

So, tell me all about your dream wedding.

Hmmm, my dream wedding? Well, I already did the wedding in a church, wearing a poofy white dress to make everyone happy but me. Been there, divorced that. Next? Barbie kitsch? Black anti-wedding? Elvis chapel of love? If I did it again, it would definitely be to make me happy. I wouldn’t wear white, surely. I’d love to wear an elegant black or grey dress, something retro glam. Instead of white and pink roses, I’d have calla lilies and the hybrid tea rose, Black Magic. Lilies and Amaranthus draping the alter area, with lots of candles. Okay, the candles can be white. I’d definitely design the florals and decorations myself, since plants and decorating are so very Amarantha. It should go without saying who would provide the invitations. I’d be married in a beautiful garden, at night. Here again, there could be white, with moonflowers, the sweet scent of jasmine and the spicy scent of brugmansias. There would definitely be a terrific party afterwards. Not something subdued and traditional, but all out fun. I'm sure that Peter Murphy will sing and host the dancing. Well, you did say dream wedding, didn't you?

Hey, can I have your number?

You can contact Amarantha at amarantha@eternal-wedding-design.com.

Underwood

And who might you be, beautiful?

“This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. ... ‘I—I hardly know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.’”

I am a freethinker. I am a Scorpio. I am an intellectual. I am an idiot. I love the darkness. I love the light. I am counterculture. I am pro-culture. Don’t mind me, I’m no one.

What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

Hey, I’m right where I want to be. I design. I draw, illustrate, make things pretty. I love bringing together multiple aesthetics, experimenting with color, texture, line. I absorb other people’s ideas and put them onto paper, as something concrete that they can see.

Weddings bring joy and celebration to life; they’re about individual people instead of companies and businesses. Weddings are personal celebrations, part of being a family, part of living your life. There are too few weddings (and too much of the wrong kind of marriage, but that’s another issue). Of course, traditional weddings are out for me... but non-traditional weddings, what a beautiful thing.

Where’ve you been all my life?

Oh, I’ve done a bit of everything. I’m not kidding. In art, I’ve done everything from wall murals to hand-drawn animation... papermaking to puppet making. If I haven’t done it, I’ll do it on a dare. For money, of course, I’ve done graphic design for advertising and marketing. Ugh!

So, tell me all about your dream wedding.

Just one? Too many ideas... too many... guess that’s why I'm here. Okay. The dream. Small. A few friends, a few relatives, even though they won’t all understand. A redwood forest. The smell of pine and cedar. Barefoot. Wildflowers in my hair. More wildflowers. The colors are the colors of the earth...browns and greens. No white. The fabrics are flowing and soft. No metal chairs. No metal anywhere. Maybe not even metal rings. After all, what can bind us? Our binding is love...a daisy chain would suit as well as platinum bands. The decorations are ours...imagined by us, created by hand. No religion, just the sublime awe of nature. The words are ours...from our hearts and minds. After, a bonfire in the night...and drink, and revelry, and music under the stars.

Hey, can I have your number?

You can contact Underwood at underwood@eternal-wedding-design.com.

Mathilda P.

And who might you be, beautiful?

Ah, yes the age old question. Sadly at this time I am currently trying to figure that out myself. Easier to tell you what I am not. I am not a girl’s girl; I’m a fierce being. I am not religious; I’m spiritual. I do not like pink; I like purple—the color of royals. I do not like blurred lines; it’s either black or white.

“The reason the mainstream is thought of as a stream is because of its shallowness.” —George Carlin

What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

What don’t I do? I plan, I budget, I run things, I make things work. I wear ALL the hats but none of the pants.

Where’ve you been all my life?

I’ve probably had my head in a book...or a computer screen. I am a research fiend. I want to know what things are and why they happened. My degree is in History and Law, which should give you more insight into what butters my bread.

So, tell me all about your dream wedding.

Growing up you think you want one thing but then a light bulb goes off (or a lightening flash hits you) and you think “what the hell was I thinking”? I put the big wedding plans away in my heart shaped box and came to a realization that, if I went that way, I would be a terror to deal with, and I just don’t need (nor want) the big shabang. My dream wedding would be far away, either Italy or Ireland. No one there but my beau and very close friends and family. I wouldn’t wear a white dress but rather an antique beige & black Victorian dress with corset. The reception would be a small gathering in the evening at either my home or some other intimate location. This would take place in the fall, more preferably at the end of October.

Hey, can I have your number?

You can contact Mathilda P. at mathilda@eternal-wedding-design.com.