Join us for a stroll through the wonderful world of wedding venue styling. It’s all too easy to get carried away, but when a simple idea is executed to perfection, well, that’s when you have a theme come true! CHOOSING A THEME Settling on a theme can be a tricky business, so the best way forward might be to consider your personalities and common ground, and don’t be afraid to seek help. Rachel Piper from The Fantastical Events Company says, “The theme you choose for your wedding will ultimately come down to your personal tastes, the style of venue, the time year and your budget. There are so many options available from traditional, rustic or boho to modern and festival-inspired. The whole prospect can be daunting on top of organising guests, photographers, caterers – the whole shebang! This is where event stylists come in. We discuss all the ins and outs of the wedding with you and get a feel for your personalities, clarify your likes and dislikes, check for any limitations at the venue, then, based on your budget, present you with a moodboard of ideas and the props we can offer, fully styled. Pinterest and Instagram are great sources for décor inspiration and any good stylist will take on board your suggestions to come up with your perfect wedding at a price you can afford.” The rustic theme has been extremely popular in recent years and shows no signs of abating. So, if this is one you have your own hearts set on look out for local suppliers who specialise in creating this vibe. One such company is West Sussex-based Ace Rustic Hire. Owner Vikki started out by creating various rustic items along with her dad for her own wedding. They received so many compliments that they decided to share these creations and the business began. Vikki says, “The majority of our items are hand made using reclaimed wood and our range includes table decorations, centrepieces, welcome signs, crates, backdrops, post boxes, seating plan, running order displays, display ladder, sweet cart and bars.” Weddings by Emily Charlotte © https://helencawte.com The ultimate guide to styling your venue on! THEME © Ace Rustic Hire EXPERT TOP TIPS Emily from Weddings by Emily Charlotte shares her expert advice on how to choose a theme. Think about how you envision your wedding day, not just from a style perspective, but the overall atmosphere and setting. Start by writing down some key words that help summarise this, for example: indoors/outdoors, summer/autumn, relaxed/formal, intimate/ party. If someone asked you about your ideal wedding day, these should be the words that instantly come to mind. Think about how you want your guests to feel at your wedding. Do you want it to be comfortable and familiar, or an impressive experience? Is it important that they have wow-factor moments, or would you prefer a more subtle day but one that’s done well? Next, consider your own personal style; what are you, your partner and your bridal party likely to be wearing? You don’t need to have your exact wedding dress picked out yet but if you dream of a black-tie affair then this will suit certain venues and styles more than others. Don’t be too influenced by trends. By their very nature, trends come and go. If you want your wedding style to last the test of time, then don’t do something just because it’s fashionable. If you love it, then that’s different, go for it! But if you go for a style purely because it’s current, you may look back at your photos in years to come and wish you hadn’t! © Ashdown Events VENUE STYLING 67
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