8 things to consider when styling your own wedding?
Over my career I have been lucky enough to work closely with some different creative industries and I have come to realise that what makes a professional a cut above the rest, is a clear understanding of balance. For example when you mix all 3 primary colours, you get brown. In music if all the elements of a song are competing with each other the mix becomes “muddy.” With food if you have sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy all in one mouth full, the flavours compete and it becomes confused. So now that you have a comprehensive understanding of all things design, let’s get your visual cortex bulging and dive into all things wedding!
1. Limit yourself
I know it might sound counter intuitive, but restrictions really help with creativity. Too many options will leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure. It might help to start with what you don’t like and you will start to get a clearer picture of what you do like.
2. Colours
Inevitably with many weddings, there will be lots of white, which is a great starting point. A blank canvas if you will. The great thing is white is not tonal, so everything works. From there choose 1 dominant colour (which will be the focus or your decor) and add a secondary complementary colour. For colour inspiration look anywhere you feel comfortable. Clothes, artwork, interior design etc. Or if you like a more straightforward approach to colour pallets check out https://color.adobe.com/explore/. It's a colour palette generator used by the graphic design industry (another great source of inspiration.)
3. Don't stop at colour
Think about the textures. If you’re getting married in a wonderful barn setting, your instinct might be to go with lots of wood, but in the already rustic setting timber could get lost. Think maybe about a contrasting texture, like polished copper or foliage. Be sure that your “textures” complement your colour scheme.
4. Lighting
It's hard to go wrong with lighting as long as it's not too bright. Up light the best features of your venue, and downlight your favourite props. Throw in a few candles and lamps and you have yourself a dramatically lit setting when the sun goes down.
5. Be visual
Even if you find it easy to visualise things in your head, it is always a good idea to get it down on paper. Create an A2 poster or mood board and go to town with textures, colours and inspiration. Don't be neat or organised, just throw it in. The idea is to give you a visual understanding of the balance of all the elements you have chosen.
6. Be odd
Even numbers are difficult to work with when designing, For example, when putting candle sticks on your tables, opt for 3 or 5, rather than 2 or 4, and the balance will come more naturally.
7. Pinterest
We all know that pinterest is a great source of ideas and inspiration, but try not to solely rely on it. Use your mood board and inspiration from your favourite things, and you will feel that you completely own your wedding, and your guests will see your unique style come through.
8. Keep it simple
It’s not to say that complex design cannot work, but with every layer of complexity the balance becomes more difficult. So set your boundaries with a couple of colours and textures that complement your venue and you will feel your creativity simmering.
Written and Edited by Craig Waterfall