1. F L O W E R S + D E C O R A T I O N S
A
re you looking to create a rustic, glitz and glam, or a
vintage affair? No matter what your theme may be, the
lighting, linens and lounge furniture can help add to
the decor of your event.
WRITTEN BY ERIKA GENOVA
TIP
E M B E L L I S H E D E V E N T S
{ E N H A N C E Y O U R W E D D I N G W I T H E X C I T I N G D E C O R A T I V E E L E M E N T S }
Chandeliers provide that extra ‘pop’ of glam that brides this year are looking for, while cafe bulbs provide a warm
ambiance that welcomes guests into the event with a home-like feeling
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
With today’s technology you can incorporate any theme with
lighting on your wedding day. The concept you choose for your
celebration may open the door for other unique ideas. We asked
SHERWOOD-TRIART PHOTOGRAPHY
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2. F L O W E R S + D E C O R A T I O N S
our experts to name a few of their most
creative lighting uses. Currently, there
are two main trends for wedding light-
ing, which are “chandeliers and festoon
string lighting, also known as cafe bulbs,”
said Katherine McCommon of Intelligent
Lighting Design in Austin, Texas. “I find
that chandeliers provide that extra ‘pop’ of
glam that brides this year are looking for,
while cafe bulbs provide a warm ambiance
that welcomes guests into the event with a
home-like feeling,” said McCommon.
Uplighting can enhance the mood of
your reception by using various lighting
effects. There are many colors to choose
from and you can even have the colors
change throughout the night.
Incorporating chandeliers over the
dance floor and bar at the reception can
add a touch of elegance to the affair. For
a nighttime wedding, McCommon has
had “festoon string lighting hanging from
shepherd's hooks along a pathway to
lead guests into the wedding ceremony.”
“Nighttime weddings under the stars
can be incredibly romantic with the help
of a few lighting features,” McCommon
expressed. “Many of our clients love to
have us illuminate the trees around their
venues or around their outdoor tables.”
LUXURIOUS LINENS
Another key detail in achieving a specific
concept for your affair is by adding linens.
With a variety of colors, textures, and fabrics
available, it is important to decide which
style would complement your theme.
Linens are not only aesthetically
appealing, but can also be used to cover
up aspects you may not want to be
seen by your guests. Kelsey Swancutt of
Celebration Linens in Iowa City stated,
“People have used linens to cover door-
ways that aren't in use, projectors, bars
and even eye sores behind a head table.”
Polyester has always been a top choice
for material when it comes to linens,
but Bombay also (called pin tuck) is
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3. F L O W E R S + D E C O R A T I O N S
becoming increasingly popular. “Bombay
adds just enough texture to a table top
without being completely overwhelming
or taking away from centerpieces,”
according to Swancutt.
CHARMING COLORS
White and ivory linens are one of this year’s
hottest trends when it comes to colors. “A lot
of brides and their families have decided to
go the neutral route decorating their recep-
tion with a lot of white and cream colored
linens,” stated Swancutt.
“Charcoal and deep plum have been
very prominent among weddings in
terms of linen and decor use,” according
to Swancutt. Charcoal tablecloths are
popular for accenting with deep plum
napkins, table runners, and chair sashes.
LOUNGE ABOUT
If you wish to incorporate a lounge
area, you will be creating a comfortable
atmosphere for your guests to mingle
outside of the dance floor. According to
Jon Robbins of Snyder Events in North
Charleston, South Carolina, the latest
trend for wedding lounges is due to
their function. “The primary function for a
lounge at a wedding is to either provide
a more comfortable area for guests to
relax or to provide a more remote area to
escape,” said Robbins.
One piece of advice Robbins offered
is to not forget that the purpose of a
lounge is functionality. “A lounge should
complement the rest of the décor
but with function being its primary
purpose,” Robbins stated. When
deciding on where to place a lounge,
be sure to think strategically. “Around the
dance floor, under an oak tree in the yard or
down by the water,” are areas suggested by
Robbins. Be sure to think about your guests
and what they will enjoy from a lounge.
RUSTIC CHIC
Weddings with a rustic chic flair can mean
a variety of looks from a southern theme to
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4. F L O W E R S + D E C O R A T I O N S
a garden style. The rustic theme has grown
in popularity over the past few years and
is a wedding theme that can be pulled
off without a hitch with the right lighting,
linen, and lounge embellishments.
For most rustic chic weddings, couples
will use an outdoor venue or a barn for
their celebration. “Our rustic inspired
wedding clients want festoon string
lighting,” expressed McCommon. Since
venues do not want your chosen light-
ing as a permanent fixture in their venue,
McCommon said that “we have a variety
of custom built accessories to assist with
the hanging of these strands at venues for
a temporary solution.”
“The rustic inspired wedding started
for me about four years ago and hasn't
slowed down,” said Swancutt. When
choosing linens for a rustic chic wedding,
burlap and lace are the two fabrics most
commonly chosen.
Burlap is used in a variety of details
from “tablecloths, overlays, table runners,
placemats and even burlap table squares
to use under the centerpieces,” stated
Swancutt. “I love to layer my lace runners
over my burlap runners, the combination
turns out beautifully.” Lace is mostly used
as an accent to the burlap and Swancutt
has seen this being used for chair sashes
as well as overlays for these weddings.
GLITZ AND GLAM
Glitz and glam weddings are full of
sparkle and are sure to make a statement.
This wedding theme usually incorporates
crystals and sequins wherever possible
with hints of metallic colors to give their
concept that extra enhancement.
When picturing a glitz and glam
theme, crystal chandeliers are sure to be
in that vision. Whether covered in clear or
colorized crystals, chandeliers, as well as
full room uplighting is a growing trend in
lighting that McCommon has seen.
McCommon’s designers have found
that most recently brides are looking to
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5. F L O W E R S + D E C O R A T I O N S
enhance their reception with multiple chandeliers, even more
than one type. Glitz and glam has been a growing trend in the
wedding industry. It has resulted in a variety of products, espe-
cially linens being offered in sequins.
“Brides have been wanting full length linens that are
completely covered in gold, champagne and even silver sequin,”
stated Swancutt. “Some decide to use this only on top of their
tables as an overlay or even just a table runner.”
OLD IS THE NEW, NEW
Today’s vintage trend can incorporate anything from a Victorian
era affair to a roaring twenties event. These weddings most
commonly incorporate antiques and have a feminine flair with a
simple color palette. McCommon has found that vintage pendant
strands are very popular since they “provide our vintage brides
with the throwback, historical look they desire for their design.”
These lighting strands can be hung almost anywhere from bars,
the cake table and even the dance floor.
“Our outdoor brides are requesting to have vintage pendant
strands hung from trees over lounge sets and cocktail tables,
while our indoor brides are contracting us to create massive,
100+ bulbs designs over tables,” stated McCommon.
In vintage weddings, white and ivory are typically the
main wedding colors. Swancutt has seen “a lot of accenting
with blush colored napkins, table runners and chair sashes.”
“White milk glass vases pair perfectly with these linens,”
according to Swancutt.
“Louis XV inspired furniture is the current trend for vintage,
which aims at providing comfort without sacrificing any
elegance,” according to Robbins.
There are a variety of ways to make your wedding day unique
and carry out the theme you have chosen. Catch everyone’s
eye with unique lighting, play up colors and textures with your
linens, and invite your guests to mingle away from the dance
floor in a lounge setting. ■
TIP
For most rustic chic weddings, couples will use an outdoor venue or a barn for their celebration. The look can be pulled off without a hitch
with the right lighting, linen, and lounge embellishments.
PHOTOS: PHOTOGRAPHY BY VERDI
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