The Human Behind
The Experiential Wedding
Julie Comfort
Originally from New Jersey, I have lived all over the world including California, Indonesia, Texas, Costa Rica, Mexico, New York, and now Berlin. For 10 years I worked as a destination wedding photographer, shooting more than 250 weddings across five continents, spanning a staggering number of countries, cultures, and traditions. From an Ethiopian Melse in Brooklyn, to a traditional Vietnamese betrothal ceremony in Australia, my diverse experiences have made me particularly interested in the histories, traditions, and possibilities surrounding weddings, particularly at the intersection of multiple cultures.
After moving to Europe in 2015, I left photography to study Experience Design at KAOSPILOT in Århus, Denmark, human-centered design at IDEO, and creative sustainability as a resident at the University of Ideas in Biella, Italy. I’ve since dedicated myself to rethinking the ways experience, emotion, and identity intersect to inform how we gather, celebrate, and signify important life transitions.
Weddings can be more meaningful, more moving, and more memorable if we put the human experience at the center of the design process. I’m currently writing a book with everything I know about experience design and weddings, combining my strategic design methodologies with inventive ideas infused with deep empathy for the messiness and tenderness of being human. Stay tuned!
Why I do this
At the more than 250 weddings I’ve attended, I often noticed a gap between the couple’s vision and the guests’ experience. Here’s why I’ve made it my mission to close this gap by offering a holistic approach to designing weddings around meaning and engagement.
I love people
We are all a beautifully complex mix of emotions, needs, desires, and relationships. As technology becomes more integrated into our lives, I’m drawn to real, human experiences that build and foster genuine connections. I believe our gatherings should focus on our favorite people, not just our favorite colors.
I’m moved by a good story
People remember and retell experiences as stories. It’s how we connect, how we process information, and how we make memories that last a lifetime. Our work together focuses on answering the question, “What story do you want someone to tell about this experience?”
I believe in magic
The experiences that truly stick to our bones are the ones that shatter our expectations, that connect to a deep, sacred part of us, and that seem almost inexplicably magical. The workings of a well-designed experience are almost invisible, leading to moments that feel truly miraculous.
