pew ends

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 

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?

 

 

Autumnal Wedding Theme

There’s something so beautiful about this time of year. The vibrant colour of the changing leaves in auburn, reds, browns and golden yellows, along with the subtle smell of chimney smoke, roaring fires, wooden branches, pumpkins, apples and the evenings drawing in that make for a really inviting atmosphere.

And if you’re planning your wedding at this time of year, then you’re in for a treat as there is so much seasonal inspiration to bring into your décor. From the ceremony to the venue itself and even the food and drinks, there’s so many ways to include that autumnal feeling into your celebrations. Think pops of oranges, crimsons and browns through your centrepieces and make use of seasonal produce such as pumpkins, apples and squash, as well as fall inspired flowers and berries.

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

 

In the Church
Set the tone from the start with some autumnal accents in your church or ceremony venue. You could go all out with tall tree style pew ends to bring a sense of the outdoors in. But using colourful autumnal leaves to line the aisles works just as well. Think of having mini pumpkins, burlap bows and lanterns along with autumnal coloured flowers too.

 

Centrepieces
Pumpkins of course are a given for this time of year, but they don’t have to equal Halloween and hollowing them out and adding in flowers instead of candles is a sophisticated take on the seasonal theme. Also think about using different size and varieties of pumpkins and get creative with the spray paint for a great look too. Wood accents are also ideal as are logs, branches and autumnal leaves dotted around the table. Cinnamon sticks around candles look great as do a smattering of acorns and chestnuts.

 

Escort Cards
Have fun with your escort cards and use seasonal produce like apples, mini pumpkins, figs and squash! Individual leaves and pine cones also look stunning.

 

Food and Drinks
Why not replace the traditional glass of bubbles for apple cider? Or a spiced apple and cinnamon cocktail concoction? Mini apple pies or apple donuts make great canapes too, as do pumpkin pies and American inspired s’mores and candy apples which grown-ups and kids will both adore.

 

 

How To Use Greenery In Your Wedding Decor

A big trend this year has been for greenery in wedding décor. On first thought, it may seem a little boring when compared to colourful florals, but on the contrary, using bold greens in your décor can be incredibly stunning. Think of a vibrant array of greens against crisp whites for the ultimate look. They can also be much more budget friendly then fresh florals, which is another major plus to consider.

There’s also a huge range of greens to choose from, such as ferns, herbs, boxwood, moss, eucalyptus, lambs ear, lavender, gypsophila, banana leaf, bamboo, holly and many more. And there’s so many ways to incorporate them into your wedding day décor and theme, for example using more banana style leaves will give it a tropical theme, whereas more moss and ferns will make it feel more woodland. From the ceremony itself, to the room décor and even in your bouquets, greenery is the really versatile addition to your wedding day.

To chat about this, or any other aspect of your wedding day décor or planning please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

In the Ceremony
Greenery works incredibly well for your ceremony pew ends. It can look so atmospheric especially in a church setting. If you’re going for lanterns, then why not surround them with a mini garland or greens or use mini green wreaths on each pew? Alternatively a scattering of green leaves can look stunning along the aisle and don’t forget an arch, which can look incredibly eye-catching in vibrant greens.

 

On the Table
Table runners work so well especially for long tables, but don’t discount it for round tables too. Use the greenery in a circle for a unique centrepiece that will really stand out. Also think about wrapping candles in greens, bamboo or leaves and why not use larger banana style leaves for the each guests place name.

 

Favours
Herbs are a super quirky idea for favours, especially if you and your husband or wife to be have a bit of a green thumb. You can give guests mini potted herbs or even some seeds for them to grow. Micro cacti works really well too.

 

Hanging Greenery
If you don’t want to go for greenery on your tables or around the room, but would like to incorporate it in other ways then think about going for hanging greens. It can be a real stand out detail of your décor and is relatively easy to pull off. Just take a hula hoop and some greens and you’re got a readymade woodland chandelier! Also inverted lace parasols stuffed with greens make ideal hanging décor too. Greenery can be hung over the top table, the dancefloor, over a dessert station or cake table, or indeed over each table.

 

Staircases
If you’re lucky enough to have a staircase in your wedding venue, then make the most of it, by styling it with some dramatic greens. It is a look that works so well and especially when you team the greens with simple candles. It is surprisingly impressive and very simple to pull off.

 

Mason Jar Wedding Ideas

The humble Mason jar may have started off as a way to preserve fruits and foods, but they have now become a firm favourite as a stunning, yet inexpensive way to enhance wedding day décor across the board. These super versatile items can be used in practically all areas of your wedding day. From the church or ceremony venue, to the wedding venue itself, on the tables, as part of your food and drinks, favours and much more.

What’s great about mason jars is that they are easy to source in various colours and sizes, they are relatively inexpensive and are super versatile. Plus if you’re a DIY lover you can let your imagination go wild pre-wedding getting them ready to fit in with your theme in a variety of fun projects.

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

In the Church / Ceremony Venue
Mason jars make ideal pew ends and they are so adaptable they can go with practically any theme. Fill them with florals of your choosing, floating tealights, sand, pictures, quotes; you name it you can fill a mason jar with it! They look equally good either hanging or along the ground of each pew. Also they look fab dotted around the church or ceremony venue too, at the main door on welcome tables etc.

 

Centrepieces and Table Décor
Mason jars were made for centrepieces. They are so incredibly easy to dress up and as mentioned you can fill them with anything that you think looks good. Stack them with rustic pieces of wood, books, florals, on vintage cake stands, fill them with photos of you as a couple, your favourite love quotes, candles, fairylights, sand, shells, leaves, flowers and much more. Have one Mason jar or go for a large cluster. Also if you’ve got children coming to your wedding then make sure to fill some mason jars with crayons or pencils and leave them as favours at each child’s seat.

 

Around Your Venue
Hanging mason jars filled with tea lights or even battery operated fairy lights looks just stunning hung either indoor or outdoors depending on your venue. Also why not have some DIY fun and turn them into a mason jars style chandelier? They also look great on decorative mini wooden ladders along with some florals or initials. If you’re going for a rustic theme, arrange some on wooden barrels filled with gypsophelia for a never fail look. Arrange them on windowsills, your guest book table, mantelpieces and anywhere you feel like.

 

Food and Drinks
Serve your favourite cocktails in these retro style mason jars for great effect and have some ‘mocktails’ on standby for non-drinkers. Or allocate each guest their own mason jar for the proceedings and allow them to serve themselves from your drinks table that could be filled with alcoholic cocktails or lemonades. Milkshakes in mason jars are ideal for kids. And don’t forget desserts! These can work so well in mason jars too.

 

 

Dramatic Draping at a Wedding

When you first see your wedding venue, it’s nice to try visualise how it will look on your own wedding day. Often it can be set up fully or partially to give you an idea of how it can look, but if you have your own vision of how you want the room to look on the day, then it’s important to try and visualise in your mind where you plan to add your own little touches.

Draping is one such way to add your own stamp on your big day and it can have a dramatic effect on your wedding day décor. A relatively simple thing, yet it instantly adds an air of romance and an elegant inviting atmosphere for your guests. Think light, chiffon style material that can be hung from the ceiling to add a soft ethereal feel, on walls as backdrops, on room pillars, at entrances, on staircases, on chairs and don’t forget all the different ways you can adorn the draping – such as with lights, metallics, and colour.

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

 

In the Church/At the Ceremony
Always remember that your church or ceremony venue is going to be your guest’s first impression of your wedding day, so it’s important to make sure you add some little touches to make it feel personal and special and that it reflects your theme for the day to come. Draping can look stunning on the entrance to your church or venue. Think white chiffon style material draped in either one or two curtains, as well as draping on the pew ends. Also if your church or venue allows, why not have a gazebo-style look over the ceremony itself made out of chiffon and if you’re saying ‘I do’ outdoors, this can work particularly well.

 

In the Venue

Make sure to discuss your plans for draping with your venue in advance so they can accommodate your wishes. Draping was made for ceilings and you can place the material in a variety of ways depending on your room size and of course ceiling height, but draping works so well on practically all venues, including barns, ballrooms and marquees. Also think about draping on walls for backdrops, over the top table, on any awkward pillars, windows and staircases too.

On Chairs
Draping can look truly stunning on your chairs and there’s so many ways you can go with the look. From elaborate draping designs, to just small touches on one side of the chair itself, it really depends on how you want the draping to look in terms of the overall theme of the room.

 

Variations and Adornments
Draping doesn’t just have to be plain white or cream. In fact, it can look particularly well if you match in with the colour palette of the day. Also consider the addition of small fairy style lights with the draping itself, for a totally incredible look that is nothing short of stunning. Also play around with different materials and don’t be afraid to use a contrast of materials too for great effect.

 

 

How to Include Family Photos in Your Wedding Decor

Including photos in your wedding day is not only hugely meaningful and poignant, but they can also look incredible too. They are also one of the best ways to make the day feel really special and personalised to you as a couple.

There’s plenty of ways to incorporate photos, be it of yourself and your husband or wife to be, your parents, your grandparents or even to pay tribute to those who are no longer with us. If you don’t want to have a big splash with photos, then why not add a small photo to the bride’s bouquet or the grooms buttonhole? Simply displaying photos on a mantelpiece or table is another low key way to include them.

Don’t forget a wedding day is the coming together of two families, so don’t be afraid to go all out with a ‘family tree’ photo display of sorts.

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

 

In the Church
Pew ends can be a little predictable at times, so why not mix things up and have some photos of either the couple or the parents and grandparents as pew ends? Also consider having small keepsake style photos of parents or family members who are no longer here on the bride’s bouquet and on the grooms buttonhole.

 

Table Plans and Escort Cards
This may require a wee bit of planning, but the results are very much worth it. You will need to track down a photo of each guest and hang it up in a frame, set out in escort cards, or hang from a tree or display and have the table number on each photo! Alternatively why not have images of both of your as a couple and tie them to balloons and have them serve as escort cards or the table plan?

 

Table Décor
Why not have a picture of each of you at the age of each table number and display on the tables instead of table names? Or pick out a year in your lives and have this serve as the table number with a picture of you from that year. There’s lots of creative ways to do this. Why not have the photos under cloche jars? Stacked on your favourite books, or in a birdcage? Alternatively you could display retro images of your parents and grandparents. Or if you both have the travel bug then why not have a picture of you both in a different destination and have this as the table name?

 

Around the Room and Venue
A wedding is fundamentally the coming together of two families, so why not have a family tree of sorts if you have outdoor access in your venue. Simply post photos of both families on a tree. Or you could hang photos from branches, or display them on antique style doors or palettes. If you’re making your own DIY photobooth why not have some family photos hanging on it too? And don’t forget the wedding cake! There’s lots of scope to use photos instead of traditional cake toppers.

 

Fabulous Wedding Frames

Frames are the super versatile piece of wedding décor you cannot do without. Easy to source, relatively cheap and with a style to fit practically any wedding theme, they really are invaluable. From framing cute signs, love quotes, or pictures, to using them more creatively as the seating plan, centrepieces, or as backdrops or impromptu photobooths, they are a must.

Search your favourite high street shops for value frames in the likes of Dunnes Stores, Tiger, Ikea, Debenhams and so on, but don’t forget to look for some antique versions in auctions or online too! And if you’re a DIY lover then don’t be afraid to give the frames your own personal touch by either upcycling to decorating them to fit in with your theme.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding plans or décor, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.https://www.perfect-details.com/wedding-help/

 

Pew Ends
For a new take on pew ends, consider getting smaller frames to hang from each pew. You could fill them with black and white photos of your parents and grandparents as a nice nod to past generations in your family, or indeed fill them with pictures of both of you from when you were children up to adulthood the closer each pew gets to the top. Also think about filling them with your favourite love quotes either.

 

Signs
From signs welcoming your guests, to your favourite love quotes, the story of how you fell in love, signs directing guests to the different parts of the festivities, or details on your guestbook, frames will spruce up these up in an instant. Look for frames that fit in with your theme, be it glamorous, rustic, vintage, barn style, Gatsby, garden or anything in between.

 

Table Plan
Whether you want to have just one large ornate frame with the tables listed or you want to get creative and use lots of little frames laid out on a table or presented on a board, there’s no doubt that frames look fabulous for your table plan. Plus you can find a frame to fit in with whatever theme you have chosen. Don’t forget you can always use the frames again around your home when you get your wedding photos back!

 

Centrepieces
Frames are the perfect choice for your wedding table centrepieces. What’s great is that they can be either the main focus, or they can be just part of the overall look. For example you could have a picture of each of you at the age of the table number in a frame as the main part of the centrepiece. Or you could have a frame with a page from your favourite books on a stack of books. Similarly a still or quote from a film within a bespoke frame, or a framed map of a part of the world you have both been to will work really well. In the same way, frames can also become just an element of the centrepiece by adding a subtle extra with simply the number in a frame that suits the décor. The possibilities are endless.

 

Photos and Photobooths
If you want to get creative then make sure to have some frames at the ready for photo time! You can easily set up an impromptu DIY photobooth with a frame and a camera yourself for lots of on the hoof fun. But also consider using frames in your official wedding shots too. Chat to your photographer about setting up some clever perspective shots with the bridal party holding a frame and the couple situated within the frame from afar, for some truly stunning pictures.

 

 

Mix Up Your Wedding Lanterns

Lanterns are an ideal part of your wedding day décor. Versatile and easy to source, you can find a different lantern for every part of your wedding day and for practically any theme. From pew ends in your church or ceremony venue, to centrepieces, to dotting around your venue, to having outside your church, to using for you guests cards and well wishes, there are so many ways to use these beautiful props.

Plus there’s a style of lantern for every mood, whether you want an antique feel, beach house style, Moroccan theme, secret garden, elegant and so many more. And of course, they are quite easy to source whether you want to purchase or hire them, they are a great investment either way.

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

 

Hanging Lanterns
This can be really impressive yet relatively simple and cheap to pull off. Think about suspending lanterns over your dessert table, or over where your guest book will be? They look great in a marquee or barn style wedding too and if you’ve got an outdoor section to your venue, then why not think about stringing some up here with tea lights for the evening time?

Pew Ends
Lanterns make ideal pew ends and again they are super customisable to your ceremony venue and tastes. You could go for some mini lanterns or larger more elegant versions or even think about hanging or tall lanterns too. Each will give your ceremony a different look and feel so make sure you have a think about how it will impact on your ceremony beforehand and check the churches policy on candles, if they don’t allow them there are some great fake candles with real looking frames or alternatively you could fill the lanterns with flowers.

Centrepieces
Lanterns are perfect for centrepieces for your reception tables. You can easily find a lantern to fit with your theme, for example don’t be afraid to use a large tall lantern if you’re going for a more formal feel, equally small or mini lanterns can look great for a more casual theme. Don’t forget to look at the lanterns finish too – if you want something with a more Middle Eastern feel, then look for lanterns with cut out patterns. For a beachy theme look for white, brushed wood finished lanterns and so on.

 

Not Just for Candles
While typically we tend to fill lanterns with candles of varying sizes, it’s nice to think a little differently and fill them with anything from flowers, shells, cacti or even family pictures. The only limit is your imagination on this one.

 

Alternatives Uses
Why not use a bespoke lantern for your guest’s cards and well wishes? And don’t forget you can use mini lanterns to light up any feature windows or sections of your venue and if you have a staircase then it is crying out to be lit up with a line of lanterns too.

 

 

Wedding Decor – Bring The Outside In

The Irish climate doesn’t often lend itself to having both your wedding ceremony and reception outside, but that shouldn’t mean that you can’t bring the essence of the outdoors in. With a few simple steps no matter what the season, your wedding day can have that unique woodland, garden feel even though it’s indoors. Visually stunning, this theme can be as subtle as having an arrangement of carefully chosen forest sticks and branches in vases for your centrepieces or as vivid as having stand-out floral backdrops and star themed lighting.

As an award-winning wedding planner, I’ve helped many couples to bring this sumptuous theme to life for their big day. If you’d like to discuss how I can help with your wedding planning, please get in touch.

 

Secret Garden
Think big bold florals mixed with intense greenery presented in a variety of ways for maximum impact. Wind both around chandeliers and candelabras or even hula hoops covered in greens and blooms for unique hanging table décor. Consider having a grass style aisle runner at the ceremony and blooms scattered for your pew ends. Don’t forget to wind greens and florals around any staircases or balconies for a visual feast for your guests.

 

Starry Night
Bring the feeling of an outdoors summers night to your wedding reception by using GOBO lighting to project stars or small dots of light to give that start sky effect. Think about dark blue uplighters to give that night sky feel. Use lanterns hanging from the ceiling with warm yellow lights inside to give that night-time glow effect or an array of hanging tea lights would give off that starry night atmosphere wonderfully. Draping and fairy lights would also be a wonderful addition.

 

Woodland Wonderland
For lovers of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, this woodland inspired look is the perfect fit. Think trees of varying sizes adorned with full green shoots and leaves, wrapped in fairy lights placed around the venue and even suspended over the tables. Use miniature tree centrepieces, covered candelabras in moss and dot around wooden accents. For the ceremony, place super-green potted ferns as pew ends or tall pew ends with branches and moss.

 

Outdoor Style Backdrops
Particularly handy for your photos, having a few carefully placed backdrops can also look stunning in your venue too. Think of green backdrops dotted with butterflies, posies or birds. Go for full on floral backdrops or accent them with woodland features, or indoor props like mirrors or birdcages for a modern twist.