We'd just like to share with you the mini interview we had with the fantastical Christine Farah, the photographer. Thank you for letting us be a part of your Vendor Spotlight! It was a ton of fun! You can read the interview here or below.
I love the name D*LSH. How did you come up with it?
Setiadi, Henny:
It was a long process trying to come up with a cool name for our
business until one night, while we’re sitting around the table over
dinner, we realized that our initials spelled backwards is D-L-S-H
(Dinh, Lucia and Setiadi, Henny). So with a little help of an asterisk,
we ended up with D*LSH!
Dinh, Lucia: That’s not how it goes. We had at least 50 names that we were playing with. Wait, I think it might even be 100. At one of our weekly brainstorm powwows and after too much thinking, we wandered off into another world, joking about fusing our names – LuHen. HenLu. CiaNy. I was determined to make it work for some strange reason. When I got home that night, I pulled into my driveway and had an epiphany! I spelled out our initials D-L-S-H out loud and said delish! My heart started pumping, I got sweaty and nervous, when this happens I knew it might be it. And then I called Henny…
SH: Oh! You called when I was in Spires! That’s why I thought we came up with it over dinner. Haha!
What exactly does event design include?
SH:
Event design usually includes everything that goes into an event, from
invitation, program, menu, favor, signage, flowers and décor. When we
design an event, we think about how guests will experience the event,
from the moment they see the sign directing them to the event to what
they bring home when they leave the event. This applies to each detail
as well, such as the invitation. How the invitation arrives and how it
unfolds can be a whole experience in itself. We try to bring that to
every design that we do.
How would you describe your style?
SH:
Our style is a bit quirky but warm and personable. When we say we do
custom design, we really mean it. It’s not just some pretty flowers.
It’s taking the story of the couple and coming up with a design that
truly reflects who they are and their event, whatever it calls for,
whether it’d be a silkscreen poster invitation or a scroll tucked in a
ruffled fabric box. The possibilities are endless. And you can be sure
that each one has a pinch of the D*LSH factor.
What other desingers inspire you and you would love to work alongside with?
DL:
Oh, I would love to work alongside with so many different types of
designers. They all vary, from graphic designers to photo stylist to
floral designers. I do have a special spot for Stefan Segmiester, if he
was alive – Tibor Kalman, Rebecca Thuss, David Stark, Laurie Rosenwald,
Sabrina Ward Harrison, Matthew Robbins, Lena Corwin... oh there’s so
much more. Email me and I can tell you.
SH: I think I’d like to work alongside my exuberant soon-to-be-7-years-old niece. She’s got my sister’s eye for good design. At 5, she did a whole collection of pastel drawings that’s worthy of a solo gallery show! My sister Erna is the other designer I’d love to work with. Currently, she’s the mastermind behind some of the beautiful home and fine fragrance packaging for Pottery Barn, Gap, Frederick’s of Hollywood and many more.
What trends are you seeing?
DL:
I’m seeing a lot of personal touches and personality going into events.
A lot of clients are seeking to be different and are more open to our
ideas of bringing their personality into their events. I love that
everyone is taking more risks. Their trust in us makes our job even
more exciting and rewarding.
What are you loving right now?
DL:
Oh gosh, that’s a hard one, because I always fall in love with
something completely new! My love is always changing, but yellow, fresh
flowers and beautiful typography always have a special place in my
heart. One thing I know for sure is that I am loving designing our new
studio. We just got a new a studio and it’s such a great feeling to
create our little home of inspiration. It’s kind of nice to be our own
client. OH! Can I say that I love my fiancé? We’re getting married in a
year and I’m falling in love with him all over again. Planning my own
wedding is so exciting! And yes! Yellow is going to make an appearance.
SH: I’m in love with handmade details at the moment. Anything that’s traditionally made, embroidery on a linen napkin, sketches in charcoal, messy hand-drawn circles, potato prints on cotton fabric, intricate soap carving, anything that takes great care and attention to make, I love, love, love! Everything’s so mass-produced nowadays that it makes you really appreciate the beautiful process that crafters take to make their art. And I love bubble baths before bed.
How do you ladies find inspiration?
SH:
We find inspiration from all sorts of things, people and places. From
people’s funny stories and experiences, from nature like the curl of a
vine, from a pattern on an old tablecloth, from our own childhood
memories, from nostalgic photography, from ridiculously elaborate
wedding gowns, from characters in a book, from songs, anywhere, really.
DL: Everything and
everywhere. Shifting my perception of how I look at things always
inspires me. I carry a journal with me wherever I go just so I can
capture my inspirations. Traveling! Oh how I love traveling!
Favorite thing to do when you are feeling stuck and uncreative?
SH:
Turn off the computer and take a breather. Spend time with a friend.
Get ice cream or any gooey desserts. Help someone else with their
problem. Pick up a book that I’ve forgotten. Listen to music.
DL: All
of that and taking naps. It’s the best, I get to sleep but my brain is
still working. Taking naps on the grass, with sun kissing your face is
always the best. I think I might need one soon.
I know that Henny just got married, and Lucy you will be getting married soon. Do either of you have any words of wisdom or advice to other brides out there?
SH:
Remember that it’s about the two of you and the important decision that
you’re about to make getting married and spending the rest of your
lives together. Everything else is just icing on the cake. Or should we
say, the D*LSH part.
DL: Awww… she said it just right.
