Creative Wedding Styling 101

At Anemone Style Weddings we are passionate about creative and thoughtful wedding designs. We’re anti copy-cat or cookie cutter weddings. And pro including refined, considered and personalised details. So in the post I’m sharing my creative wedding styling 101.

WEDDING THEMES

I am not a big fan of the word ‘themes’. It’s not a unicorn themed party (unless that’s your wedding vibe of course!). I prefer to work with ‘wedding concept’ or ‘wedding mood’. However, you describe it, what you want to do is set the scene for your wedding celebrations. 

Think of adjectives that describe the atmosphere and experience you want to create for you and your guests. For example; a relaxed and informal town hall wedding in central London. Followed by a stylish evening reception at an exclusive restaurant with fine dining, champagne and jazz performers. 

WEDDING DESIGN

You’ve got the mood down. Now you need to nail your wedding design. What’s your vision? When you picture your perfect wedding in your head what does it look like? 

Stuck with trying to visualise it? No problem. 

Your biggest design inspiration is you! You can take inspiration from any aspect of your life, style and unique love story. Your heritage and family, your home, your favourite painting, your wardrobe, your favourite holiday, the restaurant where you had your first date, a movie you love, etc...

Alongside this have a look at what you’ve pinned to your secret wedding Pinterest board. What posts have you recently saved on Instagram? Was there a wedding you saw on vogue that had the most beautiful flowers? 

Using elements from other weddings doesn’t mean you want a carbon copy. Build on that with other non-wedding idea sources and frame everything with your own personal tastes and style. 

Start identifying patterns in your inspiration sources. For example, maybe you’re drawn to more modern design. Certain colours keep jumping out at you. You’ve pinned a lot of dried flower arrangements. And your Pinterest board is full of soft candlelight. And keep sense checking your vision alongside your budget and wedding venue, these are key intersects.

This is the basis of your wedding design.

COLOUR PALETTE

When I say colour palette that does not mean you need to have a ‘colourful’ wedding. My own wedding colour palette (Nude, Ivory, Soft Ochre, Clay Pink, Grey and a touch of Blue-Black) was quite subtle but very specific and rather unique. It suited my husband and me perfectly. 

If deciding on a colour palette doesn’t come to you easily think about what colours speak to you as a couple? What colours do you wear? What colours have you used in your house? 

And what colours do you really not like? 

The key thing to remember is that when I talk about ‘wedding colour palette’ that could be an all-white wedding. It could be something very understated like green, ivory and blush pink, or it could be orange coral and yellow. Colour doesn’t have to equal bold and contrasting. 

WEDDING FLOWERS

The MOST impactful element of your wedding styling will be flowers. They are one of the most beautiful and natural ways you can express your style. 

When I say flowers, I’m really talking all the natural elements a florist will work with. I’m not just talking about cut flowers. Mother nature has gifted us with the most spectacular array of plants, flowers, foliage and grasses. 

My tip to anyone who is prioritising styling in their wedding is to set aside enough budget for flowers. Typically, this is around 10% of the total wedding budget. But if you want to go big on flowers factor more like 15%.

With wedding flowers, you’ll need to consider seasonality, colour, texture and arrangement style. 

Think about your venue. Where will you spend the most amount of time? What features do you want to draw attention to? How will guests enter and exit the space? What area will be in the background of most of the photos? These are the areas to focus the flowers.

WEDDING TABLEWARE

If your budget allows the tablescape is the next place I like to use to make an impact on the overall wedding styling. When you and your guests enter the reception it’s generally the dining tables that will be the taking up most of the room. 

Caterers and venues will often offer you standard tableware options; white china, plain cutlery, white or ivory linens and simple glassware. You don’t have to use this. Ask your caterer if their supplier has other options or if you can hire in your own. 

Simply adding a coloured water glass and napkin can transform a place setting but there is so much more you can play with. 

When designing wedding tables I always consider:

Linens - are you using tablecloths or going with bare wood or metal. Would a soft sand or pale grey be more interesting than a standard white cloth? Can you go for a contrast napkin colour? Or consider linens in other textures and patterns? Do you want to personalise each napkin with an embroidered monogram or message? How will you display the napkins. Do you need to consider accessories like ribbons or decorative napkin rings.

Crockery - There are a variety of colours, textures and patterns when it comes to plates, bowls and serveware. If you're doing sharing plates the crockery can be styled on the table, prior to dinner service. If your having a plated meal then a charger plate can add interest to a place setting, with each course beautifully presented on a decorative plate. You can work with your caterers at the menu tasting to see examples of your chosen dishes on different plates.

Flatware - There are more cutlery options out there than you might think. Antique silver, decorative-handled, rustic brass, ornate gold, matte black, modern shaped, etc. It’s a small detail but one that can really elevate your guest experience and tablescape.

Glassware - One of the easiest ways to add interest is with coloured or decorative glassware. Even a coloured water glass will add a pop of colour to your place settings. Textured glass or antique cut glass/crystal also looks fabulous. I like to mix contrasting pieces in each place setting.

ON THE DAY WEDDING STATIONERY 

Your wedding stationery is a great area to add personalisation to your wedding styling. 

Add your monogram or include a personal message with menus on place settings. 

Or perhaps work with an illustrator to have your on the day stationery designed with illustrations significant to the two of you or your wedding location. 

Escort card displays that are beautiful and experiential are a favourite of mine. We’ve done origami boats with guests names in hand calligraphy. A shot display with guest name and table number flags in each glass. We created one with individual mini portraits of each guest. And one with little message cards for each guest tied to a backdrop surrounded by flower meadows. 

Signage is another area you can have a bit of fun. Get your welcome sign and seating plan made by a signwriter, painter, illustrator or calligrapher. Consider different surfaces and textures such as acrylic, wood, metal and fabric. 

FURNITURE & PRODUCTION

Aside from flowers furniture is another area where you can be impactful. Think about your concept, design and colour palette. 

Would farmhouse tables and rattan backed chairs perfectly complement your rustic english country garden wedding style?

Or perhaps you're going for a sleek contemporary look with lots of clean, simple or geometric shapes, and smooth, mirrored or concrete material.

Lush velvet seating is a sumptuous choice for a wedding. Paired with antique pieces for a classical style, or marble and metallics for a modern look. 

Any specialist installations will likely be created by production providers (unless you’re working with specific artists/creators). This could include large scale fabric installations or draping, bespoke staging, walkways and dance floors, illustrated, fabric and custom bar fronts and display furniture. These are a few popular examples, but the sky is the limit (so long as you have the budget) on what can be built as part of your wedding-scape.

SMALL DECOR & SOFT FURNISHINGS

When I talk about small decor what I’m referring to are things like, candles in candlesticks, tealights in votives, lanterns, styling display items, etc. These decor elements are the perfect finishing touches for your wedding tables, breakout area and displays.

If your venue allows it, taper candles in candlesticks, candelabras, or pillar candles are stunning centrepiece additions. Likewise, I add votives with tea lights or mini cordless lamps to dining tables, lounge areas and display areas. Lanterns or church candles also work well in these areas and clustered at entrances, up staircases, along the aisle or near floral installations. 

When it comes to candles and candleholders there are so many options on colour, texture, shape and size. You can really get creative!

Soft furnishings are another thing to consider if your planning to have a lounge or chill out areas. Consider hiring or purchasing cushions, blankets and rugs in colours, patterns and textures to suit your style.

 VENUE LIGHTING

Ideally, you want to visit your venue in daylight and the evening. Or at least visit in the day and see photos of how it looks at night. Lighting is key to setting the ambience of a room. And it will need to transition from day to night. From ceremony to late night after party.

Lighting may also be required for practical purposes such as lighting the entrance or the walkway between a marque/tent and the toilets.

Aside from candlelight consider fairy lights, festoon lighting, chandeliers, neon lights, uplighting & wash lighting, spotlights, mirror balls, party lighting, and other decorative forms of lighting. When it comes to this area, discuss lighting options with a production company, your band and/or DJ. 

So there you have it. Creative wedding styling 101! I hope this gets you excited about planning your wedding design & styling, and gives you lots of food for thought.