My team has been honored to host a number of LGBTQ+ weddings at our wedding venue in Arizona and, after partnering with each client to craft fabulous, sophisticated design plans, I’ve made a mental note of some of the styling tricks we’ve used to make it happen.
I hope these tips help you refine your own design plan as you envision what your dream wedding space will look like.
Less is more
The most talented graphic designers and photographers understand that negative space can be just as powerful for creating an awe-inspiring graphic or photo as the subject matter.
The same works for event styling. Don’t feel pressured to fill every space with detail. Simplicity makes an elegant statement and directs more focus on those few select elements you truly do want guests to notice.
Bling it up
Addicted to sparkle? Welcome to my world. We love drowning our reception halls in shimmery gold Chiavari chairs with glistening metallic tablecloths and topping it off with gold charger plates, rhinestone encrusted table number frames and sequenced candle holders.
Whether it’s rose gold, yellow gold or pure platinum silver, we love to see an abundance of metallics and reflective elements throughout our spaces.
But a little glitter goes a long way. So to keep things classy not tacky, we like to anchor it all with white, black or other fairly neutral colors, like navy.
Balance bold with bland
It may sound like an oxymoron, but it works. The challenge with bright, bold colors is that they can quickly get out of hand and make even the most well-intentioned design plans turn sour.
So if you have your heart set on a bright bold color as the highlight of your decor, such as crimson red or fuschia pink, the simplest way to tone it down is by adding in an excess of neutrals everywhere to offset it.
At least two-thirds of the rest of your decor should be in neutrals such as white, ivory, black, silver or gold. This will allow your feature colors to really pop without drowning out the entire atmosphere.
Do it yourself…in doses
In the age of Etsy, when handmade is the norm, not the exception, couples sometimes get out of hand with the sheer volume of do-it-yourself details they attempt to squeeze into their wedding day.
Crafting can be a ton of fun and is a great way to express your personality and style. Still, in our experience, it can also become an additional source of stress on top of an already high-pressure event. What’s more, adding an excess of handmade details can make the entire wedding appear unrefined.
Try to limit the number of unique DIY decor projects you take on and compliment them with professional event furnishings, decor and linens to make the space feel polished yet charming.
Lift it up
If you’re hoping to create a grand ambiance, one of the easiest ways to do so is by raising the sightline of the room using bright, ornate chandeliers and towering floral arrangements that draw the eye upwards. The result is instant sophistication from the moment guests enter the room.
Choose a venue with attention-grabbing chandeliers. Then, decorate at least one-third of the room with tall floral centerpieces, alternating with lower decor on the other tables.
All of these tips are rather simple to execute. No matter what your preferences, with a little awareness and advanced planning, you can effortlessly create a polished decor plan that expresses your unique style and taste in the most sophisticated way.
Kim Gleason is the founder of Tre Bella, a stylish and affordable wedding venue in Arizona. With a refined eye for design and an impeccable coordination process, Kim is passionate about keeping platinum-level weddings stress-free and within reach for busy couples.
