Designing a Stylish Wedding

They say that God is in the details. Nowhere is that more true than when it comes to wedding planning. While you may be drawn to a certain color scheme or a broad-stroke design for your wedding, the details are what make your event personal and unique.

Good design is about creating a feeling that translates into an experience for your guests. When everything is perfect, your friends and family will be at ease, allowing them to be fully present and emotionally immersed. If something is missing, however, your guests will sense it. Something will feel off, and that sense of lacking will gnaw at your guests, creating a barrier between them and the rest of the experience.

Once you complete the general design, focus on the details of your day. Walkthrough the wedding as if you are a guest. Focus on all five senses. Ask yourself the same questions at each stage:

What am I seeing here?

What will I smell?

Will my guests touch anything, such as a door handle, napkin, or table linen? How will they feel?

Are there any sounds? From where? Are they loud or soft?

Will I be tasting anything in this space? Is there an opportunity to offer a welcome refreshment? Can I offer a nod of what will come with food or drink?

As you move through these questions, look for negative spaces and holes you can fill with something unexpected. For example, if there is a cut out in a wall outside your venue, you can fill it with flowers, photos, or a small bar cart. Add a tall, free-standing mirror to show light if you have a dark corner. A scented bathroom is a lovely experience, and sometimes, you actually want to turn the music off to make a statement because the absence of sound is more powerful than the sound itself.

Once you finish your experiential walkthrough, list every element your guests may or may not encounter at your wedding. Select which items you may wish to upgrade or personalize. To get you started, consider purchasing my Details Guide HERE. This will serve you as a design guide and easily convert to a detailed shot list that you can share with your photographer.

To have your guests saying, “That was one of the best weddings I have ever been to,” you need to be thoughtful about their experience and personal in design. If you have any questions about details or if you have a great detail that you believe should be added to the list please comment below! And don’t forget to DM me photos of what you are working on Instagram @andreaeppolito.

Always…a