As couples come to us for guidance we see a common thread we’re people feel a little stuck in their wedding planning. Crafting a theme or a feel for their event. Maybe you don’t already know that you want your even to be based around a bird or butterfly theme. Maybe you need some help in finding some continunity in your wedding so that everything come together and it all fits.
Here are a few ways to get a good start.
1) Find a color you absolutely love. Now everything doesn’t have to be in that color (nor should it). But perhaps you should have shades of that color and a contrasting color to make that one pop! For instance you love deep rich purple. You can use that color and accent it with a contrasting color to show off the richness of the purple like tropical coral or lime green or even lemon yellow. Can you picture it?
2) Clip a scene. Find a photo in a magazine. It need not be (and shouldn’t, actually) anything wedding related. It could be a frosty winter sleigh ride scene or a cozy den with red and orange silk pillow and low tables on the floor. Anything that makes you think…Oooooh!!! I want to BE there! This might become your inspiration. Don’t think your vendors cannot work with what you’ve chosen because your professionals are creative and inspired to create new and challenging events. We love this!
3) Chose some adjectives. This is the fun part. Sit down with your fiancé and a thesaurus and make a list of at least twenty descriptive words that would describe your event. Tell what it would look like and feel like to your guests. When they leave your guests will say John and Mary’s wedding was so…….(fill in the blank). And don’t just stop at “fun”. Everyone wants their event to be fun. That’s a given. But some other words might be….elegant…trendy…romantic….eclectic….classic….hospitable…..whimsical…casual….contemporary. You get the picture. Then build on those words. Once you have the words now everything you buy and order can be looked at with the most discerning eye. IS this really in the “trendy” style? Or does this have more of an “elegant” feel? If it doesn’t fit your style keep looking. Something else will!
4) Remember, it’s all in the details. Sometimes people will hire a professional and eliminate the need for half of the important things. Occassionally we find a couple that orders tons of flowers for the ceremony (bouquets, urn flowers, trellis, chairs, potted plants) and hardly any for the reception. We try to help them see the big picture from their guests viewpoint. They’ll come into the venue and see a sea of white tablecloths with white dinnerware and a white candle in the center of the table. What was warm and beautiful has turned clinical and stiff. Where did all the color, beauty and warmth go? What used to be a tropical wonderland 15 minutes ago has turned into a bland, boring scene. Awkward conversation begins over a stark table and this is how we want our reception? I don’t think that’s what we want. In your mind’s eye look around the room. Where do you see the details need to be? Guest tables, place card table, foyer/entrance, guestbook table, and very important but most often forgotten, the bar. There are two things people are looking
towards when they are seated…the bar and the food. You need to make sure those stations are attractive and welcoming.
5) A theme. Do you love birds, butterflies, boats, frogs, princesses, nests, birch, sea shells, zen gardens, red lanterns, forests, books, etc.? You can craft your wedding around a single theme. You can bring it into the flowers, the favors, the vows, the décor, the linens….all over. Just remember, sometimes less it more. You don’t want to do the same thing everywhere. Maybe if you love nests, for instance, two love birds as toppers would be suitable on your wedding cake. And maybe robin’s egg blue would be a great color for your table cloths. THEN you can use your bird’s nest favors. It all fits together. If you used nest tablecloths, nest topper and nest favors….well that’s too much. Can you envision it?
I hope this blog has helped you begin thinking about your own wedding style and how to bring it all together. After all, not everyone needs or wants a wedding planner. You can do this! Trust your professionals to guide you and do your research before you buy. Make your lists and make sure you go nowhere without your trusty planning book.
Thanks for reading!
~robin
