Creating Your Signature Wedding
Local event veteran, Jim White, guides brides and grooms on planning a signature wedding as unique and individual as a written signature.
Jim White is owner and senior event designer at Jim White Designs, Inc. He has been decorating for weddings and b'nai mitzvah for 38 years.
Ever heard the phrase “a signature wedding”? Even if it doesn’t ring a bell, the idea behind it is something every engaged couple desires for their special day. A signature wedding is as unique and individual as a written signature: it tells us who this bride and groom are and what they have imagined their wedding day would be.
Creating a signature wedding means using every touchpoint as an opportunity to infuse your personal style and leave a lasting impression – from the choice of bridal gown and save-the-date announcements through to the sparkler send-off at the end of the wedding celebration.
A critical element in the creation of a signature wedding is the décor. Imagining and designing a décor for your wedding day can be the most exciting part of the planning process. Why? Because it is the part of the that most reflects the preferences and personalities of the bride and groom. It is not only the part that makes the most significant statement during the day itself; it also will be the stage that will capture your precious memories, through wedding photos and videography.
So, how do you create your signature wedding? After getting engaged, hiring a wedding planner and choosing the date and venue, you’re ready to choose a wedding decorator who can turn your vision into a reality. Working with your decorator early in the process allows you to curate a thoughtful and intentional décor concept that is quintessentially yours. You’ll want to meet to begin discussing the décor in the beginning stages as it can impact choices you’ll make with other vendors for other areas of the wedding. Being able to tell other vendors you’re working with what your wedding will look like and what atmosphere will be created will help them make unique suggestions to complement your design vision.
In the initial design session with your decorator, share your vision and your excitement. And don’t be afraid to run ideas by your decorator. It’s your wedding! An excellent decorator is also a good listener. Your input is needed to begin to develop an idea of what a signature wedding just for you would look like. In my opinion, no idea or detail is too small or inconsequential to be discussed. A signature wedding often begins with one of those small details or new ideas.
Conveying your thoughts and wishes to your decorator has now become easier than ever with the help of online platforms such as Pinterest, Etsy and Instagram. They provide a great way to see, capture and share ideas. Be creative and use them as inspiration so that you can successfully share your wishes for the various décor elements, including: the setting for the bedeken (unveiling of the bride); the style and floral selection of the bridal bouquet; the design for the chuppah; a unique ceiling treatment; personalized centerpieces; sweetheart table décor; and specialty linen selection. All of these are areas to express your personalities.
The experience of shaping the décor elements of your wedding day can sometimes seem overwhelming, but an experienced decorator will guide you through every detail of the selection process – discussing each of the elements with you while making suggestions that will bring all your preferences together cohesively. From there, you should receive a detailed, well-thought-out décor concept for review. From this initial proposal, you’ll be able to firm up your thoughts and ideas and set a realistic budget.
Lastly, your decorator should offer you a final design session in which you will see examples of the centerpieces, a mockup of what the chuppah will look like, samples of the fabrics to be used and choices of candleholders for your tables. The final design session can be very exciting and put you totally at ease knowing your signature wedding will be exactly to your hearts’ desire.
Signature Wedding Wish List
Chuppah: Having a chuppah fashioned from birch tree trunks is not a new idea. But how about painting them with a wash of silver and combing crystals with garlands of flowers rather than large floral bouquets at the top of each leg? You can mix elegance and organic elements if your designer blends them carefully to create something truly magical.
Sweetheart table: Decorating your sweetheart table in a personal style with special chairs and cascading florals is a great way to add a signature touch to your reception. Taking this a step further, what if the sweetheart table was framed by a beautiful backdrop of your choosing?
Ceiling treatment: A ceiling treatment over the dance floor can give your wedding a distinct look as well. You don’t have to limit yourself to draping fabric on the ceiling in a starburst pattern. Imagine panels of greenery and sparkling lights with crystals to achieve the effect of dancing under a starlit garden arbor.
Table arrangement: How about having your wedding party and family sit at tables that fan out from the sweetheart table? Envision these highlighted with dramatic chandelier-like designs of flowers and garden foliage that flow onto the tables rather than predictable large arrangements with multi-level candles.
Centerpiece designs: You may want to consider centerpieces incorporating contemporary lanterns and fairy lights for your low designs to be unusual. Lanterns are not just for outdoor casual weddings. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, so they don’t block one’s view.
Mood lighting: Instead of budgeting for up-lighting in your room, why not consider projecting celestial stars on the ceiling and blooming branches on the backdrop behind the band? Also remember that pinspot lights, highlighting your feature tables, are a great way to add texture to your setting.
Floral display: Want a dramatic backdrop for the band and dance floor? Consider having a floral wall 14 feet tall that incorporates crystal chandeliers.
Perhaps you’d like to consider oversized arbors to lift your reception setting. The arbors can be 20 feet by 12 feet so you can place dining tables in them, thus bringing an out-of-doors feeling to your ballroom and giving more dimension to the celebration setting as well.
There are many ways to customize the décor elements of your wedding. Just be creative and be open to new ideas from your event decorator.
Jim White is owner and senior event designer at Jim White Designs, Inc. White has been decorating for weddings and b’nai mitzvah for 38 years.
comments