lanterns

Bring The Outdoors In For Your Wedding

Having an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception is not something that’s always possible in Ireland. Of course, it is possible to do an outdoor ‘I do’ and have a portion of the drinks reception outside, but having all aspects of the wedding from start to finish outdoors is an unlikely scenario, especially if you’re having a winter wedding.

But that shouldn’t mean you still cannot imbue your day with a sense of the outdoors. In fact, now more than ever there are readily available props and items of décor that can turn your wedding into a secret garden in a flash.

From green trees, to blossom trees, to hanging floral installations, to bay trees, garlands and backdrops, there are a myriad of ways to make your guests feel as though they are sitting in a garden paradise indoors.

Here’s some ideas to get your thinking. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

Ceremony
When it comes to bringing a sense of the outdoors into your ceremony, there’s plenty of ways to channel the look. Why not go for tall tree style pew ends? Crisp white blossom trees or trees with a greenery feel will look stunning and add a sense of magic garden to proceedings. If the venue doesn’t allow for this, then think lower down with leaves lining the aisle intermixed with lanterns.

On the Table
If you want to make a big impression why not go for mini trees as your table centrepieces? Be they white or pink style blossom trees, or greenery, it will have an immediate visual impact on your room. If you want to take things down a notch, then why not consider garlands packed with leafy greens? These work especially well for long tables. Consider bare sticks in long vases interspersed with lower set florals. Of if you want to think differently why not have hanging greenery above your tables?

Around the Room
Dot trees around the room in different locations to create a sense of being inside a woodland or lush green garden. Intersperse them with fairly lights, or hanging tea lights for a really magical feel when the sun goes down. Hang greenery from chandeliers or lights. Make use of potted plants and if you’re budget won’t allow fresh flowers, then there are some stunning synthetic versions that will work equally well. Floral backdrops will look stunning in conjunction with these elements and can become a selfie wall for guests too.

 

The Cake
Why not have a floral or greenery style backdrop stationed behind your cake or dessert table? It will add a real focal point to the room and of course it can then be moved to another location after the cake has been cut. For the cake itself, think naked icing with greenery and wooden accents to really reinforce the outdoorsy feel.

Wildflower Wedding Theme

Wildflowers are not just a wonderful choice for your wedding bouquets, but also for your décor. If you want to get away from the traditional style or flowers and are after a more relaxed vibe for your wedding, reflecting a boho, rustic or vintage style, then wildflowers are a must.

Not only are these natural beauties stunning, they are also much more budget friendly and can be used in your décor as well as your bouquets and buttonholes.

Think centrepieces, floral crowns and even incorporate them into your wedding cake!

Wildflowers won’t tend to work as well if you’re going for a crisper, modern, elegant theme for your big day, so keep in mind what you want as the overall look and feel.

Here’s some visual inspiration for you. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

 

Bouquets

There’s something about a wildflower bouquet that is undeniably beautiful. The colour and variety you can pack into a bouquet is incredible. Chat to your florist about what is available at the time of the year you’re getting married and keep in mind the ideas of colour. You don’t have to go with something bursting with a range of colours, you can go for wildflowers that are more or less in the same tonal family if you prefer.

 

Floral Crowns

Floral crowns and wildflowers are a match made in wedding heaven. They look stunning if you’re planning on having your hair down too. Don’t forget to match the crown with your bouquet and think about whether you want the bridesmaids and flower girls to have some floral crowns too. It can be nice to mix and match.

 

On the Table

If you think that wildflower centrepieces lack the impact of more traditional flowers, then think again! Wildflowers can in fact look even more beautiful. Arrange them in mason jars, vintage style bottles or watering cans, buckets, vases, and wooden crates or planters. Intersperse them with lanterns, candles or tea lights or sit them on top of a wooden slice to complete the look.

 

The Cake

Wildflowers work really well with a more understated cake that’s got muted tones or indeed if you’re going for a naked style of cake. You can arrange wildflowers on each tier, or just on the top. You can mix them with fruit and experiment with different cake toppers for a complete look.

 

Images via Pinterest

Wedding Ceremony And Entrance Decor

When it comes to wedding day décor, couples can often focus too much on the reception. While it’s true, this is where you’ll spend the bulk of the day, don’t forget to put some care and attention into you ceremony venue or church too.

It’s a great way to set the tone for your day. Remember, this is the first thing your guests are going to see, so it’s important to add your own stamp to proceedings. A lot of this will depend on your ceremony venue, as churches may have certain rules when it comes to certain items, whereas a non-religious ceremony tends to be a little more flexible.

Having said that, whether that’s just small touches such as lanterns and bay trees by the door, or if you want to go full on with aisle runners and floral arches, there’s so much you can do to bring your ceremony to life.

Here’s some suggestions to get you going. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

Aisle Runners & Pew Ends

If you want to make a big impact with just one item, then it’s got to be an aisle runner. They instantly transform the look of your ceremony venue or church. You can go all out with a specially created aisle runner featuring a monogram, favourite quote or the names of the couple and the details of the day. But you can also get just as much impact with a plain white or red aisle runner too. Don’t forget about pew ends. From lanterns, to tea lights, mini buckets, florals, bows, photos and everything in between the only limit is your imagination.

 

Dress the Door

Generally speaking, the door is your first chance to set the tone for the day for your guests, so don’t overlook it. Small touches like lanterns and a couple of bay trees will make all the difference. If you want to go all out why not invest in a bespoke floral arch and some draping for a real wow factor look?

 

Backdrops

Backdrops are not always possible in a church setting, so discuss it with your church point of contact in advance. There’s so many ways to add a backdrop to your ‘I do’ and it will look stunning in your photos. You could do a Kim and Kanye and have a beautiful floral wall, or keep it more subtle with draping and fairy lights. For a modern twist why not have a bespoke neon signage or for a retro look try vintage doors or even wooden pallets.

Seating

Again, churches tend to have pews already in situ, but for non-religious ceremony venues, make sure to think about the seating and how it’s going to look as it’s going to form a large part of the overall feel. Think about on trend ghost chairs, chic Chiavari chairs, covers and sashes, draping, Hannah Jane chairs or even bistro chairs.

 

Images via Pinterest 

Silver and Chrome Wedding Theme

The last few years have been about rose gold, brass and antique style gold metallic accents, but this year it’s all about the cool chic of silver and chrome.

It’s partly down to the influx of 70s vibe décor that has become every present at the moment, but also it’s time for a change and this sleek metal colour palette is one that can work so well for practically any wedding style.

No matter what sort of look you are going for, such as vintage, modern or rustic, these colour palettes will work so well and are very readily available too. Plus if you’re DIY lover, then his colour palette is easy to up cycle existing items with.

We’ve put together some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

Future Proof
Highly shiny chrome, cream, crisp décor is perfect for a modern, futuristic vibe. Think silver chrome lanterns of varying sizes, with crisp white candles inside, interspersed with green and white florals. Oversized elegant chrome candelabras with white lines and greenery work so well, as do orb style light installations for that truly future feel.

 

DIY
If you’re a DIY lover or crafter or you just want to keep an eye on the budget, then why not repurpose some bottles, tins, jars, flower pots for use in your centrepieces and focal points? Spray them with a silver chrome colour and then add any other embellishments you like, such as glitter, ribbon, burlap or florals, the list is endless.

 

Vintage Vibe
While cool metallic chrome has a very futuristic feel to it, there’s no reason why you can’t give it a vintage twist. Look for distressed or ‘aged’ chrome and silver accents, for everything from vases, to lanterns, and even place settings/ Antique style chrome mirrors are ideal for wedding signs, the menu or even for use as your seating plan chart. And if you want to get retro what about disco mirror balls?

 

Get Creative
A celling full of chrome balloons or a balloon drop would look truly stunning, as would simple additions of chrome streamers and ribbon for backdrops. Intersperse the backdrop with fairylights and use other colours to accent the balloons.

 

Images Via Pinterest 

Geometric Wedding Theme

‘Don’t be a square!’ As Mia Wallace said to Vincent Vegan right before that iconic dancing scene in Pulp Fiction. All joking aside, geometric shapes are very much on trend right now in wedding décor. Think about embracing clean geo lines and greenery for a nod to the modern trend that’s sweeping Instagram.

But of course, using geo lines doesn’t have to automatically make your wedding a neo-modern, paired back affair. Indeed, it’s chic to mix and match with touches of minimalism contrasting against influences of vintage, romantic or elegance.

Think about all sort of different lines, such as honeycomb, hexagons, triangles, interlocking squares and literally everything in between. Play with colours, textures and metals for a really show stopping look.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Table Decor

Think about terrariums filled with succulents such as cacti, or mix it up with candles, or softer blooms for a wonderful contrast. Stack them on wooden accents or in the middle of greenery. Look for mini lanterns with glass sides and fill with battery operated fairy lights, or design some bespoke laser cut-out hexagon wedding table numbers. Geo styled menus or place cards can work really well too for a more subtle hit of the trend.

 

Backdrops

Investing in a stunning backdrop will pay huge dividends for the overall look of your wedding venue. Think about all sorts of geometric shapes and angles, such as triangles, hexagons, circles, etc. Metal is very much in keeping with a modern style or trend, or why not go for wood for a different feel altogether? Intersperse them with flowers or candles or even go with cardboard or streamers made out to 3-D geometric shapes in bright colours for a new take on the trend.

 

 

Around the room

Dotting a few well-placed pieces around your wedding venue will reinforce your trend and keep the atmosphere flowing all evening long. Think about larger lanterns and lamps, filled with candles, florals and even light bulbs. Use them to line aisles or even as hanging features over tables for an awe inspiring look. Why not design some custom signage for the back of the newly married couple’s chairs for the perfect photo?

 

 

 

Cakes

If you’re not keen on making too much of a statement with geometric shapes, then why not go for something more dramatic with your cake? Think about creating stunning effects with different geo effects on your tiers. Think about using contrasting texture effects, such as the marble look, metallic and naked elements. Also why not use an angular cake stands for the crowning glory?

 

 

 

 

Clever Wedding Swaps

Getting married is one of those landmark occasions you only hope to celebrate once in your lifetime. It’s a special day and you want it to be perfect in every facet. However, weddings can be costly and many couples these days can be under the financial pressure to save for a home and their family’s future and may not be able to justify spending a huge amount on their wedding day.

But sticking to a budget, shouldn’t mean you still can’t have a super day filled with beautiful touches and style. There’s plenty of clever ways to get the biggest bang for your buck and keep to your budget.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

 

It’s all about timing

When it comes to weddings, timing is key and can lead to fantastic savings.

Consider getting married in the off peak season.

Get married on a weekday when demand is lower and deals are better.

If you can, trim down the guest list which will save massively on food and drinks.

Think about printing off your own invites, or embrace technology and email them out. Get rid of the rsvp have an email address.

Choose flowers and food that are in season to save on costs.

 

 

Décor

You don’t have to go OTT on the décor to make an impression. And if you a DIY lover, then this is your time to shine.

Use décor that you’ll use again in your home, such as lanterns and battery operated candles.

Go for simple centrepieces, such as mason jars, old wine bottles or vintage glassware upcycled with burlap, lace or glitter.

Raid the attic for vintage pieces such as gramophones, old suitcases, vintage books, old cameras and china that will make ideal centrepieces.

Go to antique auctions and find vintage gems like old typewriters or even weighing scales that will look stunning but cost a fraction of the price of brand new pieces.

Photos of the couple at different ages make ideal centrepieces, or if you’ve got a shared love of going to concerts, why not use you old ticket stubs or album covers too?

 

 

Sneaky Swaps

There are dozens of seemingly small swaps that are very clever and will make a massive difference to your overall budget.

Think about cupcakes instead of a lavish wedding cake, or if you’ve got a friend who’s a baker, rope them in too.

Opt for a BBQ or buffet style meal instead of a sit down meal

Have or two large menus on blackboards instead of menus for each place or table

Serve prosecco instead of champagne

Swap in greenery into the flowers

Use silk or synthetic flowers for your centrepieces or ask the groomsmen to take the pew ends and florals from the ceremony and use them for the reception.

 

 

 

 

 

Add Atmosphere to Your Wedding Day

Most couples want to add a sense of romance and atmosphere to their wedding day décor, no matter what sort of theme they are going for. Whether you want to have an alternative glamping style wedding, a small and hip city centre vibe or you’re after a traditional elegant ballroom affair, there are a few key pieces that will work with any wedding theme to give it instant atmosphere.

Fairy lights, draping, candles and uplighters are the simple, yet super effective essentials you need to give your wedding day that truly romantic mood and thoroughly atmospheric feeling.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Fairy Lights

Few things add instant romance to your wedding than the addition of fairy lights. The traditional fairylight backdrop still packs a real punch and looks truly stunning. But if you want to take a new twist on the old classic, then consider string lights or bistro lights and look to hang them in unusual places, rather than just a straight backdrop. Consider pillar lights, curtain lights and try to mix them with draping and coloured uplighters as described below.

 

Draping

Fairylights and draping are a match made in wedding heaven and work together like a charm. Using both of these at the same time will instantly transform the look and feel of your wedding venue. When it comes to draping think about using it on the ceiling draping for real depth and a sense of drama. But also think about having it on entrances, on staircases and even on the backs of chairs instead of the traditional covers.

 

Candles

My philosophy is that you can never have enough candles. Easy to source and budget friendly, this is one element you can really go to town on and the payoff is fantastic. Think about simple touches like a load of small tea lights lining a hall, use candles in lanterns of differing sizes dotted around your venue. Try using a mix of tall pillar candles and smaller tea lights. If you’re going for long style tables, then use a barrage of candles as your running centrepieces. Think about having hanging tea lights over tables, try candles in mason jars and don’t forget floating candles too.

 

 

Uplighters

Uplighters are a fantastic addition to your wedding day décor and can really set the mood to a tee. Think about using a mix of filters and colours, such as pinks, purples, golds and blues to achieve that truly dreamy look. Mix them with pin lighting to highlight certain aspects of the venue and why not add some gobo lighting with your initials or wedding date?

 

 

 

Summer Wedding Pew Ends

When it comes to wedding planning, often the seemingly smallest details end up making the biggest impact in terms of décor.

Pew ends are a case in point. In the grand scheme of things, they aren’t the biggest item to consider or indeed would not be high on your agenda of priorities, however, it’s amazing how these little additions can completely transform the look of your church or ceremony venue.

And don’t be put off by the word pew. If you’re not getting married in a church or even indoors, that doesn’t mean you can’t have pew ends. Think of mason jars or pompoms hanging from chairs. Or why not go for petals, lanterns or other touches on the ground next to the chairs closest to the aisle?

There is no limit to how creative you can get with your pew ends, so don’t be afraid to have a little fun with them. And while traditional flowers can be a little pricey, some of these more modern alternatives are very budget friendly.

Here’s some fresh suggestions for some summer style pew ends that would look great for an indoor or outdoor ‘I do’ and if you’d like help planning that ‘I do’ or want to chat about your wedding décor then please get in touch with me today.

 

Fans/Pompoms

These are a very popular trend and are a nice departure from the more traditional route of florals and can be ideal if you’re watching your budget. Think about mixing pastels with bursts of vivid colour for a really show stopping look. Have several mini fans or pompoms hanging together or go for one giant one on each aisle either.

 

Quotes or Photos

Photos are a nice twist on the traditional pew end and can be great way to pay tribute to your families, especially if there are those who are no longer with you. Quotes are a super idea too and again both of these ideas are budget friendly.

 

Mason Jars

Ah the mason jar, where would we be without you? These are the absolute jack of all trades when it comes to wedding décor. You can use them practically anywhere, but they do work so well for pew ends. Fill them of course with florals, but you can also fill them with tea lights, marbles, sand, shells, petals, the list is endless.

 

On the Ground

Who says your pew ends have to be hanging off the pews? Why not try having some décor on the ground by each pew or row of seats? Lanterns are always a good one, but what about birdcages, garlands, petals and rustic style wooden flower boxes?

 

 

Something a Little Different

Pew ends are a great opportunity to have a little fun with your décor, so don’t be afraid to think outside the norm. Things like wellies filled with flowers, milk churns, sticks with hearts or pompoms on the top can all look super. If your venue allows it, then how about cones of confetti at the end of each pew?

 

 

Unusual Wedding Flowers

Flowers are an integral part of any wedding day. They can bring the whole day to life injecting colour and tone in an instant. But while flowers and weddings go hand in hand, that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the script. If you want to get away from the more traditional and embrace unusual wedding flowers ,then now is the perfect time to do it as there is an entire industry of floral creativity waiting to be discovered.

Have fun with flowers and don’t be afraid to make a statement. Think floral walls, hanging florals, floral instillations, floral chandeliers, and much more. Of course fresh flowers are always going to be a pricey investment for your big day, but thankfully there are a whole host of false blooms out there that look so convincing it would be almost impossible to tell the difference.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Hanging florals

Make a statement with stunning hanging florals. Think of floral installations suspending from the ceiling over your tables. Upturned parasols filled with flowers can look like something off a movie set. For atmosphere why not have handing tea lights interspersed with flowers or have lanterns strung from the ceiling filled with blooms. And for the DIY lover, then using hula hoops covered with flowers or floral wreaths can work really well too.

 

 

Floral Chandeliers

Who said chandeliers have to be crystal? Add a host of beautiful flowers to chandeliers in your wedding venue and turn something beautiful into something extraordinary.

 

 

 

Floral Walls

Channel the loved celebrity style trend with an impressive floral wall. You could use these during your ceremony, or at the reception where it can become a real focal point and even an impromptu DIY photobooth for your guests. Don’t be afraid to experiment with a burst of colour, but of course the classic colours of crisp white and lush greens will work with any theme.

 

Staircases, Fireplaces & Garlands

If you’ve got staircases and fireplaces in your venue, then make sure to make the most of them and accent them with some flowers. Whether it be decadent, show stopping garlands or simple wildflowers, it really does have a massive visual impact.

Trees

Bring a real senses of the outdoors in with some perfectly placed trees in your venue or ceremony. Think about using them as pew ends, or dotted around the venue to really add some stunning scenery to your day.

 

 

 

 

 

A Touch of Wedding Whimsy

Whimsy is literally defined as playful or fanciful and is the perfect match for wedding décor. It’s a day that is meant to be full of fancy and fun so why not bring that out in your wedding day theme? Think pom poms, ice cream dream pastel palettes, lots of soft blooms, draping, fairylights, candyfloss and lanterns.

Not only dreamy on the eye, but often most of these whimsical décor touches are relatively inexpensive meaning they won’t blow the budget, plus if you’re a dab hand at crafting then many items such as pom poms and streamers can be put together at home yourself before the big day.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding day décor and planning, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Pom Poms and Ribbons
Pom Poms and ribbons are not only the perfect items to create a whimsical wedding feel, they are also very budget friendly and if you’re a bit of a crafter or DIY’er then they are right up your street too! Think beyond just the obvious uses such as placing pom poms on tables and instead consider suspending them from the ceilings over your tables. Why not have oversized pom poms on the backs of chairs or string some ribbons here instead? Think about getting creative with some pom pom walls and backdrops which will be ideal for photos.

 

Pastels
Think ice cream dream pinks, lavenders, mint greens, baby blue and cornflower yellows. You don’t have to go with the obvious in terms of décor either. Yes pom, poms, bunting and streamers look super in theses colours, but why not have oversized pastel balloons, bridesmaid’s dresses, chair covers and sashes, cakepop or candyfloss favours, flamingos or unicorns in pastel shades instead?

Fairylights
Nothing says whimsy like romantic fairylight walls. Think of cascading fairylights over balconies or walls, curtain style lights, as well as interspersing them with soft draping. And don’t forget using uplighters with coloured filters to project a really whimsical atmosphere in the wedding venue too.

 

Unusual Blooms
Soft blooms in pastel colours are perfect for creating a touch of whimsy, but don’t forget to have a little fun and think of using said blooms in an unusual way. Think of hanging florals suspended above tables, blooms sitting in lightbulbs and lanterns, flower walls, floral chandeliers, flower arches and oversized blossom trees as pew ends too!