
Photos by Bai & Elle // Design & Styling by Hannah Charlotte Weddings and Bow & Beau
Newbies to Wedding Styling…
If you’re a newbie to wedding planning (which I’m guessing most of your are!), the thought of designing and styling an entire wedding can seem pretty daunting!
I think it’s a common misconception that styling is purely about the visual look of the day itself. Your venue choice, music, food and even the invitations you send out, all play a part in tying it all together and help tell your own unique story. So today I’m sharing some tips on how to get those creative juices flowing, and some photos from a shoot I recently styled to inspire Bride’s and Groom’s to be!
Use your venue…
Your location is a big factor when it comes to deciding the overall look and feel of your wedding.
Let it guide you and pull inspiration from your surroundings; Whether it’s the colour of the wallpaper, the lighting, or the flowers planted outside. Think of your venue as part of the bigger picture, and go with somewhere that’s in keeping with your ideal ‘theme’ or style.
Make a list…
Initially, don’t worry too much about budget or how something will work – get your ideas down on paper (or Pinterest!) and work from there. Honing in on a particular concept straight away can be tough work, so focus on the big things first:
Large or intimate?
Indoors or outdoors?
Formal or casual?
Modern or rustic?
Which season?
Questions like this will help you form an overall idea which you can start to branch off from.
Gather inspiration…
Again, don’t think too much into this – some couples really struggle with pinning down their style and that’s okay! Look for inspiration everywhere; Wedding blogs and magazines are good starting points, but also everyday items like as stationery, wallpaper or paint swatches can be great places to pull inspiration from. After a while you will start to notice common trends and having it all to hand will help you to visualize how different elements work together.
Look to your home…
There is so much pressure on couples to have a unique wedding that goes above and beyond, but it’s important to remember your wedding is about YOU! Don’t chose a style or a particular detail just because it’s this seasons trend. Wedding style should be influenced by your own personal style. Look in your wardrobe and around your home; Your home decor and fashion choices could guide you more than you think!
Refine…
By now you’ve probably gathered a fair amount of images, swatches, fabrics and magazine cut outs! Now it’s time to separate them up – look for different colour palettes or themes and you should be able to determine if there’s a stand out design. It’s a great idea to put a final inspiration board together so you can convey your ideas to suppliers easily. From here you can start to work on the finer details as well such as crockery, linen, flowers and other display pieces.
Enjoy it…
Most importantly, try not to stress too much! Creativity can’t be forced so if you’re not feeling it one day, leave it and come back. Carry a notebook around with you and take snaps on your phone when something catches your eye; Trust me, moments of inspiration will come to you at the most random times! It will all come together on the day, maybe not as you’d first envisioned, but still individual and oh so special.
Go professional…
If you’re still having trouble or don’t have the time to stress over it all, consider hiring a professional Wedding Stylist. Their job is to turn your vision into reality, listening to your loves and hates and putting together a personal, unique design.
The Team…
Photographers: Bai & Elle Photography
Design & Styling: Hannah Charlotte Weddings and Bow & Beau
Venue: West Reservoir Centre
Florist: Catherine Short Floral Design
Bridalwear: Morgan Davies Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Sarah Mcllwain-Bates
Stationery: Oh Wonder Calligraphy
Jewellery: Lizzie Fortunato, Halo & Co, Fallon, The Folly Studio, and Diana Broussard all from The Folly Boutique
Linen: Rainbow Linen
Terrariums: August Glass Designs
Candlestick Holders: Fiery Productions
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