Each wedding is unique and personal with design, decor, and details. The beautiful thing about these elements of design is that you can tell the story of your relationship with them. Sure, every wedding reception table has centerpieces and table numbers, every bride has a bouquet, and every reception has a cake. But when all of those elements have a particular style, theme, and design? Well THAT is what makes a cohesive wedding design, and as a result, an awesome wedding!
1. INSPIRATION & VISION.
You probably have this down-pat, but starting off with inspiration is the key way to start the design of your wedding. Spend some time on Pinterest and blogs and save the things that you like. You don’t have to have anything in particular in mind at this point, just gather inspiration. Save what you like and what resonates with you- even if it’s not wedding related! It’s also important to stop, close your eyes, and think of the “vision” that you have for your wedding day. There could be something that you have in mind, and you don’t even realize it yet.
Another thing that I would recommend is to think about and write down things that would tell the story of your relationship. Do you love cooking together? Did you meet at a brewery? Do you both love video games? Even if you think that it couldn’t be translated into your wedding design, don’t hold back! Tell your story- you never know what could end up creating a fabulous wedding design. Plus, if you’re working with a wedding designer, they can create something amazing out of something you might think is crazy!
*Note: Please remember- designing your wedding is about inspiration, not replication! Being inspired by something doesn’t mean that you have to replicate it for your own wedding. It’s okay to think something is awesome, but not include it in your own wedding design.
2. CURATE AND FOCUS.
After you have LOTS of inspiration, it’s time to curate and focus! Go through everything that you’ve saved/pinned, and pick out what REALLY speaks to you. This means either delete images/pins, or save them to another board. I would actually recommend saving to another board so you can at least keep track of what you like initially. And don’t forget to keep in mind what your own personal style is too. It’s also okay to not actually have photos of what is inspiring to you- if you just have a general idea, that’s perfect! Once you’ve whittled down your inspiration, you should see a trend appearing. It could be colors, a general style, or even be a *thing*- like airplanes or food or a graphic pattern!
3. DEFINE AND DESCRIBE.
This is when it’s time to define and describe your wedding design. I highly recommend giving your wedding a “title” that describes it’s design. This will help you when working with with your vendors, and also help you to keep things focused.Something like “Modern rustic pink and white wedding” or “Romantic and colorful Kate Spade inspired” is perfect. And of course feel free to get creative with the definition/description of your wedding- think outside of the box!
4. DECIDE, DESIGNATE AND DESIGN.
This is hands down my favorite part of designing a wedding. You have your inspiration that you’ve curated, and you have defined the style and theme of your wedding. Now it’s time to decide on and designate the specific design elements for each item of your wedding.
What do you want your reception to look like? Will the centerpieces be tall, short, or perhaps both? What about the ceremony- is it going to be in a church or outdoors? Here are the things that you should be designating:
– Paper elements (Save The Dates, Invitations, Menus, Signs, etc)
– Attendant florals
– Ceremony design/decor/details
– Cocktail hour elements
– Escort card/seating display
– Linens
– Reception florals
– Table numbers
– Cake & cake table
– Sweetheart/Head Table
– Dance floor
– Rentals
– Food
– Entertainment
Once you know these elements, you will have your wedding design! If you’re working with a wedding designer, he or she will likely provide you with a description of these elements. Some designers also sketch out certain elements too- which is AMAZING and definitely helps with visualization!
5. EXECUTE!
Of course you still have to execute your wedding design- this is what makes all of your planning and designing come to life! The key to executing your wedding successfully is to work with a great team of professionals who can make your wedding design a reality. I of course highly recommend working with a planner and/or designer, as they will most definitely ensure that you have a great team to make everything happen.
Remember to keep things organized. Make lists, label things, and keep your details together. There’s nothing worse than handing over your design and detail elements to someone, but yet they have no instructions on what is what, and what goes where. Be sure to communicate the design elements of your wedding to whoever is helping you to execute your wedding design.
“Curate your ideas….pick one concept and stick with it. Just because you love a lot of ideas doesn’t mean they all go together.” – Tracie Domino Events
“Make it cohesive- go back through and edit all of your inspiration items to make sure they relate to each other. I can’t tell you how many times brides focus on specific items and forget to tailor it back to the big picture. They fall in love with something on Pinterest and then the look spins away from their initial style. Your own personal style is more important than Pinterest. Your story and personal style should be the editing guide for the big picture. Don’t hesitate to cut something that truly isn’t you just because it looks cute.” – Laura of Ashton Events
“When working with my wedding design clients, we always start big picture and then start breaking down the design into specific components. For the big picture, you want to come up with words and feelings to help you capture the look and feel you are trying to create. Then, you can start translating that vision into reality, step by step. A well designed wedding will feel cohesive and coordinated; from the invites, to the fabrics and lighting, to the flowers selected, and even the food and beverage choices. Having a master plan is key.” – Cassie of Flaire Weddings & Events
That is some of the best advice I’ve heard- and I most certainly wish I had known all that while I was planning my wedding! The thing about the design of your wedding is that it’s what makes your wedding *your own*. The way that you infuse your personalities into your wedding is with design and decor, which also clearly includes details.
So friends, tell me- are you designing your wedding? Are you working with a planner or designer? I want to hear all about your wedding designing!!
