Hello everyone! Today I thought I’d address a question that’s crossed many a brides mind: What wedding decor do you need?
Part of the difficulty with this question is that really, it’s entirely up to you. There is no right or wrong “amount” of decor for your wedding. The other consideration is style. Are you having a contemporary wedding, an urban luxe wedding, a cool and modern wedding? There are so many ways to go.
So the best way, I think, to approach this is to cover all the areas that CAN be decorated. So let’s start with the way in which your guests will experience it:
The Ceremony
You can really have some amazing decor for your ceremony. From floral installations down the aisle, a hexagon arbour decorated in greenery, a suspended floral installation for you to marry underneath, beautiful wooden, cross back chairs for your guests and even palm leaf fans if it’s a summer wedding. The ideas could go on and on.
Start to think about the small touches that would make your ceremony more personal. Like including a program with the story of how you met. Or using the flowers in the first bouquet your fiance ever bought you, to line the aisle. Or perhaps you’re having an evening ceremony and you’d like to have the romance of flickering candle light to add to the ambiance because it reminds you of the restaurant you went to on your first date.
Start thinking about all those anecdotes you’d like to include symbolically and you’ll soon have a good list to be working with. This is official part of the day after all.
The Welcome Area
This is an area of a wedding that most people don’t consider. But imagine your guests walking into your wedding, greeted by a beautiful entrance. Decorated with a sign, welcoming them in. Maybe even a champagne wall to start off the celebrations with some bubbly. I mean, how show stopping is this image of Luminous Events champagne wall? I loved it so much so that I decided to add a champagne wall to my prop shop too. You can check it out here.
Sometimes it’s worth using this area for your guest book as it’s where all of your guests are going to walk by. So highlighting it with a sign, some lovely pens and some floristry will ensure you get those precious messages from all your loved ones.
The guest book will be one of the few physical things that you’ll have left over from the wedding, so it’s worth making sure as many of your guests as possible fill it in.
Media source: The Graceful Host; Photo by: Erin McCall; Champagne Wall: Luminous Events
The Reception
Arguably, this is the part of the wedding where you are going to spend most of the evening. And ultimatly the part you’ll be spending most of the planning process thinking about.
You can do so much with guest tables and the top table, to really make them pop!
My personal favourite is long tables as apposed to round ones. That way you get to use greenery garlands, with metal accents, lines of candles and glass vases or suspended floral centrepieces!
But many venues already have round tables at your disposal, and greenery wreaths, lanterns and candles all make gorgeous centrepieces.
Table runners help to add colour and elegance to a table. Especially if the fabric is soft and flowing like my very popular chiffon table runners.
Don’t forget napkins, place names, menus and cutlery if you want to use something other than silver.
Ceiling Decor
Now this can be one of those areas you may not have considered, but if it is, there are such interesting features that can be created. Ceiling decor is no longer just fairy lights and lanterns. Floristry installations have starting becoming quite popular. And who can resist when they’re just so naturally stunning? Definitely something to consider for over the top table or even the dance floor.
Seating Area
Seating areas are a relatively new concept for the majority of couples. But it’s so worth having one.
It encourages guests to mingle and gives tired feet somewhere to rest and enjoy conversation between dancing the night away.
It doesn’t have to be a huge space either, just somewhere you can fit a two seater sofa and a couple of chairs (the two in this image are from my collection if you want to check them out).
You can also really dress it up with a rug, a coffee table and flowers too!
Guest Book & Cake Table
If you’d prefer to have a dedicated table for your guest book, it’s a good idea to highlight it in some way. Place it somewhere that your guests will naturally walk by and give notice to. Signage and pretty decor details help to draw the eye, so consider some decor items for this.
The cake doesn’t have to be left in the corner and ignored until it’s time to cut it. It can be enhanced by using props and textures to really create the wow factor.
For example, this cake that Nicola from Bonney’s Cakery designed for a shoot we did last year, is stunning as it is. But with the other decor elements, it’s transformed this space into a cohesive, contemporary wedding design. The chiffon table runner gives it a feel of romance, and the soft light of the candles compliment the delicacy of the wafer paper Lunaria she created on the cake itself.
One of my favourite items from the prop catalogue is the antique brass telescope. I love how it adds to the asthaetic as a whole, but brings your attention straight over to the cake at the same time.
Extras
Yes, there’s even more to consider. No wonder this can get overwhelming right?
If you have loved ones that couldn’t be at the wedding because they’ve passed away, there are lovely ways to include them. Such as creating a rememberance area. Or a seat with their photo and few words to say they are there in spirit.
While you’re having your photos done, guests can get a little restless. So try including something to keep them entertained. Like garden games – always fun and engaging.
If your guests are traveling from quite far, including a basket of convenience items in the bathrooms would be a lovely consideration. They will be very grateful. Don’t forget to include a sign so that they know it’s ok to use them or they may go untouched!
I honestly could go on and on, but if you’d like to make sure you’re covered for all your decor, why not download my “Ultimate Wedding Decor Checklist”? Just subscribe below and it will come straight to your inbox.
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