Setting a wedding at a museum provides a unique opportunity to incorporate the art and architecture of the space into the celebration’s design. At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, designer Jesse Tombs paid homage to the museum’s collection and architecture with each design choice, from a braided grass centerpiece to minimal floral arrangements. “We really wanted to showcase as many locations around the property as possible and embrace each location with a different look and tone based on the environment and feeling of the surrounding artwork,” says Tombs.
At the Living Wall breezeway location, Studio Mondine and Tombs incorporated the Living Wall into their design by creating a one-of-a-kind braided grass centerpiece. The muted arrangement graces a table set with seagrass-wrapped glasses, wooden silverware, taupe linen napkins and white crimped dishes. The team explored new concepts when designing the florals, coming up with a table motif that harmonizes with its surroundings. “We didn’t want the table setting to distract from or compete with the graphic and colorful Alexander Calder Big Crinkly sculpture,” says Tombs.
Contemplating the museum’s Chronicles of San Francisco mural by JR in the Roberts Family Gallery, Tombs and her team were inspired by the story of the art installation. “With such a huge presence in the space, with its rich story and powerful message as well as moving video—it was a feat to behold,” says Tombs. A clear glass table allows the work of art to be the focal point, with crystal candlesticks placed among the delicate arrangement of vines by Studio Mondine.
Tombs partnered with Yonder Design’s Julie Neubauer to create the menus, which feature an X-ray image of florals to show “transparency and shed light on all the movement and beauty in the gallery.” The Oscar de la Renta gown from the Jin Wang boutique also embraces this concept with its sheer skirt and lace bodice.
