Rrivre Davies and I have been friends and colleagues for years. We have worked hand in hand on events both in Southern California and around the world. One of the qualities that keeps me coming back – other than his expansive inventory of décor and furnishings is his attitude. He is pleasant, gracious, humble and a joy to work with. In our industry, talent seems to lead the reputation of the leaders in our industry but I prefer to allow the inner man to lead my choice in collaborations and Rrivre remains at the top of my list. For the Carstensen’s episode, I needed lots of great, clean, modern furnishings as well as a special element that would help to remind them of the special heart that brought them together and I knew that only Rrive had just what I needed. With the Carstensen’s episode airing this Sunday night, I sat down with Rrivre to dig a little deeper and to give you all a glimpse of the man behind some of the biggest Hollywood mega-weddings!
...meet Rrivre Davies!
DV: What was your most memorable experience of working on I Do Over?
Rrivre: I got to see Diann without makeup! She is just as stunning first thing in the morning as she is after she is all dolled up.
DV: Reality TV has created so many opportunities for vendors and you have deservedly so become the ‘go to guy’ for the Kardashian family but I am a firm believer that every opportunity is not a good opportunity. Why did you accept the call from I Do Over?
Rrivre: For me, it didn’t matter that this particular event was for TV. Having collaborated with you for years, I knew the experience would be the same loving creative process with the ultimate goal of crafting a wedding that would overwhelm the Bride with joy, beauty, and memories of a magical celebration of their love. Unlike the terrifying experience that overtook first wedding, these two were so deserving of another chance at the perfect celebration. Knowing that, how could I have said “no” to you?
Photo by Dan Scott
DV: I am known to push my vendors hard to dig deeper for another level of creative expression and your custom fabricated work shows that you believe the same thing. Where do you find your inspiration for newly fabricated items in your inventory?
Rrivre: There is always a battle between form and function. I consciously work to remove myself from my own cultural confines and explore the “what ifs” of design, that is, how can I amalgamate my imagination with an established aesthetic to build something new. I enjoy exploring architecture from every era, and the development of world cultures. Inspiration comes to me in many forms: old movies, history books, my own travels throughout the world. With nearly unlimited options in technique and materials for construction of custom furnishings there are today, it really helps to accelerate the process. We can bring an idea to life in the blink of an eye. For example, the cocktail hour furnishings we fabricated for Kim Kardashian’s wedding came from an early 20th century chair I found at a swap meet – we were able to capture the spirit of that chair and create an entire collection of French garden seating and tables in under a week.
Photo by Michael Simon
DV: We saw some pretty devastating disasters on I Do Over. What tips do you have for brides that can help them avoid their own design disasters?
Rrivre: Once you have selected a location, set a realistic budget for the size of the space that needs decor. If the budget leans more on the small side, avoid trying to transform the space into a particular theme. Incorporate your favorite colors that do not fight the surroundings. For inspiration, bridal magazines, websites and TV shows are great resources, but so are photos from a recent vacation, movies, music – anything that brings you happiness can be translated into a cohesive look. (Well, almost anything) If you can, incorporate a lounge area near the dance floor or the bar so that as the evening wears on and the party gets smaller, your guests will have a place to congregate. Such furniture can be rented from a shop like Rrivre Works or borrowed from the hotel lobby! Just, be sure to ask first. Most importantly, if you plan to decorate your wedding on your own, enlist a team to help you in the days leading up to the celebration. You won’t have time to make flower arrangements on your special day, so it’s important to feel that you are in good hands and you can trust your team of designers, planners, florists, caterers etc. Although they cannot prevent a tropical storm or medical emergency, your team can help you avoid disasters that are preventable, and might actually help salvage such events from total meltdown. The more homework you and your team do in advance such as developing a timeline and establishing some contingencies in the event of bad weather, the more you will be able to relax. Your big day will be filled with excited and lots of emotion but you will be at ease knowing you have the support you need to keep the unforeseen surprises to a minimum.
Photo by J. Parker
DV: My natural aesthetic has always been influenced by Tom Ford because I love how he infuses sexy undertones in everything that he does. Who is your design muse?
Rrivre: I would have to credit all of the nameless and unknown designers that came before me. Not one person specifically, but all of the innovators and creators in our history that made our world such an amazing place full of varied cultures and styles, they blow my mind. Oh yeah, and Mom who has an amazing sense of style and design.
Photo by Marianne Lozano
DV: If you could design a party for any 5 women – dead or alive – who would they be and why?
- My mother, of course, because she deserves it and has taught me so much….. and has worked many of my events – for free!
- Better Midler, because she is so original, so real, so free.
- Mother Teresa, because… who wouldn’t want to see a Saint a little tipsy? No seriously, she gave so much to so many and it would be great to celebrate her.
- Coretta Scott King, because she was a great woman behind her great man and in her own right. I would imagine she would be an amazing conversationalist and full of love.
- Queen Victoria! Talk about a woman’s libber who changed the world. I just know she would be fascinating and INTENSE.
Photo by Aaron Delesie
DV: What’s next for Rrivre Works?
Rrivre: We are opening a photo studio in conjunction with my other company, American Gentleman Magazine. There are a plethora of great studios in Los Angeles, but none with a furniture and prop house attached! We are also hard at work on a complete overhaul of our website, completing our expansion of our warehouse to 45,000 sq. ft. and looking into opening offices in other American cities. And there are some things I cannot talk about just yet, so you’ll have to stay tuned.
For more information on Rrivreworks or to have a glimpse at some of their amazing inventory and environments, click here!
And of course, don’t forget to tune into the season finale of I Do Over on Sunday, December 18th at 10E|9C on WEtv to see how Rrivre helps us transform a space that offers one of the best views in all of Los Angeles!
So do tell – what is your favorite piece in the Rrivreworks inventory? Please join the Diann Valentine family and share it with us all!
Keep spreading the love,
