According to an old Peruvian proverb, “Love looks through spectacles that make copper look like gold, poverty like riches, and tears like pearls.” In small villages high in the Andes, it is a deep love for the rugged, mountainous land and its many offerings that shapes the strongest thread woven into the fabric of the local people’s rituals and customs, which bring beauty and meaning to a hardscrabble existence.  

Spun from a creative collaboration between styling studio Seventh Bixel and photographer Allison Maginn, today’s colorfully layered shoot is a lighthearted celebration of Andean culture and arts, with a special focus on the millennia-old textile tradition of the region, where weaving is a way of life, and stories are written in wool.

The idea for this vivid eventscape was born when Seventh Bixel’s founder and lead stylist, Niki Stoller, stumbled across an elaborate, strikingly beautiful yarn chandelier, which became the showpiece of the scene. “It instantly sparked dreams of creating an intimate, Peruvian-inspired reception,” Niki says. “We sought to pay homage to the country’s intricate textiles and vibrant colors, which are derived from nature.”

Styled Shoots

Niki designed a duo of cozy yet luxe lounge spaces on set in the open-air pavilion at Fullerton, California’s Coyote Hills Golf Course. This one was the more intimate and romantic of the two, with a suspended sweetheart table draped in chiffon, knitted poufs for stylishly comfy seating, and a gurgling waterfall in the background. The vine-covered rafters of the pitched pavilion upped the romance factor.

Bright fuchsia blooms reflected the rubied hue that is dominant in Peruvian weavings. For textural interest, floral design studio Bloomwell & Co. added huckleberries and foliage to the mix of dahlias, peonies, and roses. Pampas grass was also incorporated to complement the earthy look and feel of the yarn chandelier, the shoot’s pièce de résistance.

Created by Peruvian-born artist and graphic designer Daniella Manini, this invitation suite featured lively illustrations representative of Peruvian floral embroidery. The envelope liner mimicked geometric patterns found in ancient Peruvian textiles.

An antique hutch was brimming with Peruvian-inspired details. In addition to basketfuls of yarn and dried flower petals—a nod to the natural coloring methods used by Peruvian weavers who follow dye recipes passed down through generations—Niki incorporated a despacho into the vignette. The word despacho literally means “dispatch” or “shipment,” and in Andean culture, it refers to a ceremonial offering made to the spirits of nature, often to mark new beginnings. A wedding despacho would be filled with small, thoughtfully selected items meaningful to the couple. After being suffused with prayers and carefully wrapped, the offering bundle would be ceremonially burned, buried, or cast into water.

Seeds from the huayruro plant, which is native to Peru, were scattered near the wedding cake. “These beautiful black-and-red seeds are believed to bring good luck, positive energy, and fertility,” Niki says.

Figs and blackberries were used throughout to highlight the seasonal aspect of the affair, which took place during that magical transitional period between summer and fall.

In the Andean region of Peru, traditional weavers dye their own handspun wool and alpaca yarns. They do so naturally, using plant extracts and even crushed cochineals (cactus-dwelling insects the size of grains of rice). “With their time-honored techniques, they are able to achieve stunning shades of red, purple, and gold,” Niki says. “The yarns are then woven into finely detailed rugs and mantas, which are patterned, rough-textured blankets.”

Made by Sweet and Saucy Shop and presented on an amethyst-colored glass pedestal, this two-tiered cake featured terracotta-colored marbling, a hand-painted spray of purple flowers, and a trail of edible gold leaf meandering up to an intricately crafted crimson sugar bloom that appeared to be floating over the cake like a mountain cloud.

Festooned with a trio of yarn tassels, the bar cart featured pisco, a Peruvian brandy, and limes for making pisco sours.  

The limes were displayed in Jonathan Adler’s irreverently chic “Carmen” bowl. Fittingly, it is among a series of pieces that are designed by Jonathan in Soho but molded and handcrafted by artisans in Peru.

In the main lounge area, red velvet chairs and gold satin pillows pulled in fabrics echoic of the season.

The concrete ceremony crescent on the perimeter of the venue’s pavilion was draped with lush ‘Coral Charm’ peonies, bright bougainvillea, privet berries, spray roses, and a mix of foliage.

Gold goblets, mossy-green pressed glassware, and a scattering of fruit gave the tablescape an old-world vibe. The brightness of the centerpiece—made up of king proteas, peonies, roses, dahlias, berries, astilbes, ranunculi, and foliage—was balanced by black taper candles, which lent a tinge of moodiness.

This showstopping chandelier and conversation piece featured a riot of neutral-hued yarn—beads, spheres, tassels, and free-flowing cascades—in various weights and textures. An authentic Peruvian manta was draped over the dining bench beneath it.

The Spanish-style furnishings came from Archive’s beautifully curated collection of specialty rentals. La Tavola, the go-to company for fine linens, provided the earthy-red napkins.  

Mixed metals and leather place cards added a modern touch to the tabletop. The place cards were limned in gold leaf and elegantly calligraphed by Kristina Ann with white ink.