Bride will wear a throwaway gown
Just days away from her wedding, Kim Moonstar is a zero on the Bridezilla meter. She doesn’t appear the least bit stressed that the cake hasn’t been ordered or that her gown hasn’t been made. “There’s a lot of trust going on,” says the bride-to-be.
It’s a good thing that Stephen Platt and Moonstar, both artists with a sense of humor, are mellow enough to leave the logistics to others and are pleasant enough to welcome as many as 1,000 strangers to their wedding. This won’t be just a celebration of marital bliss, but also the opening for the A+D Museum’s exhibition “Sauma (Design as Cultural Interface).” In lieu of gifts, the couple asks those who would like to attend to make a museum donation, which includes a ticket to the event.
Don’t expect any of the typical wedding conventions. Platt and Moonstar will say their vows among giant bubble installations that emit smells of European cities (funky odors included). Reception guests can jam on a 12-string electroacoustic sitar hybrid guitar, one of 20 experimental and sensory exhibits by Finnish designers.
Even those who hate weddings can try out the furniture, gadgets and clothing on display, including the “Takkiainen” jacket for two.
The bridal gown, by Helsinki designer Tuija Jarvenpaa, is a disposable, recyclable paper dress. It may be fun and environmentally friendly but isn’t for the sentimental. “It’s for the modern bride,” she says. “You don’t have to store it and keep it forever; it’s for the moment.”
Moonstar hasn’t decided what she will wear underneath the translucent gown; she’s also considering having attendees sign her dress afterward. And hearing Jarvenpaa compare the dress’ construction to that of a grocery bag sounds unromantic, until Jarvenpaa reveals her vision. “After she says ‘yes,’ the groom can rip it off and throw it away, and the rest is left to your imagination.”
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“Sauma (Design as Cultural Interface),” A+D Museum, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Wedding, 6 p.m. Friday. $15 to $50. Regular hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends Aug. 28. $2.50 to $5. (323) 932-9393, aplusd.org
