Guest Blogger: Zoe Lingard
Each month we welcome a new guest blogger and today its the turn of Zoe Lingard a friend, blog guru and member of the UKAWP. Now some of you might wonder why I would have another planner contribute to my blog, it is my belief that a bride chooses the best planner for her in terms of personality and ability to create the wedding she desires. The clients that book me and Zoe are very different so I thought it would be interesting to hear her views on wedding design. Over to you Zoe…
So much of good design is about achieving balance and this is a great principle to bear in mind as you design your wedding. For example, if you are using very bold colours in your floral arrangements, balance this with more subtle table linen, if your venue has very high ceilings balance this with tall table centres or candelabra, if your dress is very ornate balance this with a simple non edged, single tier veil.
Avoid thinking of your wedding in terms of separate items on a long to do list and instead view things holistically where design isn’t just an after thought but affects 90% of your decisions. To achieve great results it’s important that you think how decisions such as stationery, table settings, attire, flowers and even entertainment all work together to create one overall ‘look’.
At the outset, before doing much more than drawing up a guest list and calculating a budget, sit down and think about the overall look you are trying to achieve. Collect images and items that inspire you and come up with at least two different concepts that you can choose between. This will allow you to make an informed decision about the design of your wedding and also give you a clear direction when it comes to making decisions.
When confirming your colour scheme think about your reception venue, what colours are already there and what colours are therefore best avoided. Fighting a clashing colour scheme can often be a losing battle and costly to correct in the form of drapes and chair covers.
Most weddings feature a lot of white and when this is combined with one other colour, the overall look can be very harsh. To avoid this, select a minimum of two colours when choosing your colour palette. This will soften things and mean you avoid a heavy, overwhelming finished look.
As much as people will tell you they don’t, the details really do matter. Now this needn’t mean blowing your budget on expensive favours or sending yourself crazy over matching napkin shades with cravats. Instead, putting a little extra thought into items that complete the overall look, personalise things and/or help your guests feel welcome and appreciated really do go a long way.
If you’re struggling to make a colour palette choice, go for green. Green is the colour of tranquility and makes one of the most versatile colour options. In the same way, if you’re struggling to find an accent colour chocolate browns is a great option and goes with just about everything.
And finally, don’t be afraid to do something unusual or daring. Just because certain colours and styles are used frequently for weddings doesn’t mean you should follow suit. Go to unusual places in search of inspiration, watch films, visit art galleries and don’t be afraid to experiment. Create something that you love and that is personal to you and you’ll have the perfect wedding.