Wedding | Tatiana & Ryan

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Tatiana - I’m an interdisciplinary performance artist and healing practitioner who creates movement-based therapy experiences through workshops and retreats that nurture mind, body, and spirit. The Bahá’í Faith deeply inspires my life and work, reminding me to move through the world with love and purpose. I’m happiest when I’m dancing, traveling, or sharing meaningful moments with loved ones.

Ryan - I’m a multidisciplinary creative, but mainly a language designer and fashion designer. Currently most of my time is spent as a language designer, creating verbal identities for brands before developing concepts that bring that voice to life in a way that’s unmistakably theirs.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We chose The Valentine DTLA by Marvimon because it felt like us—a perfect blend of eclectic style, lush greenery, and artful design. The space merges modern architecture with antique, thoughtfully curated décor, creating an atmosphere that’s vibrant, intimate, and full of character. From the tropical Greenhouse Courtyard where our ceremony took place to the Sunset Dining Room wrapped in a textured clay mural, every corner felt alive on its own.

We had originally planned to get married at a friend’s home, and when that fell through, we needed to find a new place quickly. The Valentine DTLA by Marvimon felt like a blessing—it was already so beautifully designed that it didn’t require much to make it feel special, and it also came with on-site support that helped ease the planning process during an already intense time.

How many guests did you have?

120.

Talk us through your budget.

We had a really hard time coming up with a clear budget. While we started with one number in mind, we quickly realized that every decision felt like its own conversation. We chose to consult with each other along the way and make choices that felt most aligned with our values as a couple. Sometimes that meant spending more on things that were truly meaningful to us, and scaling back in other areas to stay balanced.

Even with our efforts to be mindful, the celebration ultimately cost more than we initially anticipated — more than double our original hope — but it also reflected who we are, what we love, and the kind of energy we wanted to bring into this new chapter of our lives.

Tell us about your outfits.

Tatiana wore a white Kana Ruffled Mara Hoffman midi dress. I wasn’t interested in an exhaustive dress hunt; this one appeared early on and stayed with me. I tried on a few others, but I kept returning to it. It was simple, comfortable, playful, and elegant — and, most importantly, it felt like me.

Ryan wore King and Tuckfield. Being a designer myself, I knew I had to brush against the rails of convention but I did not know what I wanted to wear. I knew it would not be a suit. I came across this outfit by chance, and thought “this was made for me and it was made for my wedding”

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

We wanted our wedding to reflect us as individuals and as a couple. We also wanted to be mindful about incorporating things that felt authentic to us and not just because it’s a cultural tradition. Every detail, big or small, carried meaning and intention, which made the day feel deeply personal and true to us.

Ryan: We got to show off our creative sides and show our guests how that gels together. One of the things we love about each other is our ability to extract beauty, and to be conceptual. 

From my design eye on the website, wedding invitations, and engagement shoot concepts, to Tatiana’s vision for the ceremony and reception, we were step in step in our zones and they came together in pitch perfect harmony.

Every aspect of our wedding was truly Heaven on Earth, a place where our love could live the way it was born: from meeting in the air to growing a love with roots rich in prayer, intention, and ambition, we ascended on that faithful day, and our creation was felt in every soul in attendance.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

We wanted our wedding to feel like a living, breathing work of art—an experience that reflected our love for creativity, community, and the Creator. In the Bahá’í Faith, art is considered an expression of worship, so we designed the ceremony as a form of prayer in motion.

Also sharing our personal vows, expressing why we love each other and what inspires our desire to walk through life together felt important. And more importantly, saying the Bahá’í vows—“We will all, verily, abide by the Will of God”—was profoundly significant. It is the single required element of a Bahá’í wedding and represents the couple’s shared commitment to turn to God for guidance. For us, it symbolized our intention to be two help mates in a lifelong journey of growth and devotion—our love deepening as we both turn toward a higher source.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Tatiana’s response: 

1. Unless you feel deeply connected to tradition, make choices that feel authentic to you as a couple—not based on what you’re “supposed” to do or what others insist a wedding should look like. The more your decisions reflect your truth, the more meaningful the day becomes.

   
   

2. Find moments for sweetness, connection, and play. Wedding planning can be stressful, and it’s so important to nourish the love that’s bringing you together in the first place.

   
   

3. Decide ahead of time whether you want to spend your wedding day together or not. It might sound like a funny piece of advice, but many couples barely see each other on their wedding day and end up with completely different experiences. That might be fine for you—or it might not be. We chose a balance: being intentional about staying connected for most of the day, while still allowing for a few organic moments apart. That rhythm felt really good for us.

   
   

4. Remember that while your wedding is special, your marriage is the true investment. Some people pour everything into the wedding day, but it’s worth asking yourself what dreams matter most to you as a couple. For some, a smaller wedding might make space—financially and emotionally—for other goals that hold even deeper meaning.

   
   

5. Start having open, honest conversations about money as early as possible. It’s a topic many people avoid, yet it’s one of the leading causes of tension in relationships. Invest in your education, your communication, and your healing around money. And if money already feels easy for you both, then make space for whatever other tender or challenging areas need attention—so the weeds don’t slowly tangle the beauty of what you’re growing together.

Ryan's Response:

I believe it’s important to focus on the creations that a couple make together. First, you both create a space for love and emotional safety. Maybe you create a child. A wedding is your creation, too. It’s a ceremonial experience for your guests to live inside that love. A wedding is for both of you, and it’s an expression of the collective spirit of two individuals. So cherish its processes, soak the highs and lows of planning, and the beautiful, deliberate choices you make together. Because making something takes something out of you, but it brings to life a whole new entity. And that’s priceless.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Our friends are so talented, it only made sense to incorporate them into our wedding. Too many to name (at least 30 names) … We’re so grateful to all of them!

Our wedding coordinator, Megumi Xavier, was such a grounding force throughout the process. She met with us at least once a month to problem-solve, share ideas, and gently guide us to stay on track with our timeline as best as possible. Her calm presence and creative insight helped keep us centered amid all the moving parts.

Our wedding assistant, Hannah Joo, was equally invaluable—graceful, kind, and incredibly efficient. She handled every detail that came her way with such ease and care, allowing us to be fully present and at peace on our wedding day.

A close friend, Melinda Alexander, was Tatiana’s right hand throughout the process—a true creative powerhouse. She offered round-the-clock support, from design ideas to logistical problem-solving, and even secured the beautiful rattan loveseat and ceremony décor that added warmth and style to the space.

We truly couldn’t have done it without this team of incredible women showing up with their time, talent, and love.

Photographer: Lukas Korynta @lukaskorynta | Planning: friend Megumi Xavier @mkaminaga | Flora: Akia Pachecho | Ceremony & Reception Location: Valentine DTLA by Marvimon @valentine_dtla | Celebrant: Sonya Shadravan @_sone | Hire: Huntington Catering @huntingtoncatering | Décor & Details: Melinda Alexander| Makeup: Renée Loiz @reneeloizmakeup | Hair: Twy Williams @_thebraidbar | Catering & Beverages: Pimenta Brazillian Cuisine @pimentabbqcatering | Cake: Erika Elizondo | DJ: Sunsine Zerda

@sunshinezerda & Harris Zaki @_djzaki | Entertainment: Bloco Obini @bloco_obini & Daansekou Cultural

Arts Collective @daansekou | Singers & Musicians: Destiny Wolf @destinywolfofficial , Kelsey Bulkin

@kelseybulkin, Quetzal Guerrero @qviolin & D. Sabela Grimes @yameansupreme | Dress: Mara Hoffman

@marahoffman | Suit: King & Tuckfield @kingandtuckfield | Wedding Rings: (Bride) Bidrussian Jewelry

@bidrussianjewelry & (Groom) Emily Deakin @emilydeakindesign | Shoes: (Groom) Willy Chavarria

@WillyChavarria & (Bride) Nordstrom @nordstrom