Knowing how to style your wedding can feel like such a daunting task! We all want it to be a dream wedding that is pinterest worthy, but we don’t all have an eye for knowing how to pull it off. Sara from Venue Styling by Sara gives us 10 invaluable tips to guide us with how to style our dream wedding. 

Venue styling can set the scene for your whole wedding and really needs to be considered from the start.

Your style carries through into every area of the day. The style you choose can dictate the brides dress and the colours that will be reflected in the bridal party, all while needing to sit perfectly within your chosen venue.

Perfect styling is all in the small touches, tying in key colours and trends whilst adding your personal details.

If you can get this right early on it will all tie together creating a truly breath taking wedding that your friends will be talking about for years to come.

1. Pin within your budget.

Knowing where to begin can be very overwhelming. Start by searching through Pinterest and bridal magazines to gather your initial ideas turning this into a mood board full of colour swatches and pins you love. Set yourself a realistic budget. It is easy to get carried away with beautiful celebrity wedding inspiration and forget the thousands of pounds that have gone into them. While some think hiring a venue stylist can add to your costs, they are experts in knowing how to bring beauty to your day keeping it within your budget. They will likely save you money in the long run, when they steer you clear of those extra floral arrangements or pricey centrepieces. 

2. Choose your style.

Finding a style that reflects your personality as a couple and fits well with your chosen venue can sometimes be challenging. While it’s important to consider the period of your venue to spark ideas, keep it subtle across the wedding. Not everything has to be ‘matchy matchy’, coming away from tradition brings an element of quirkiness. For example a rustic style suits a barn conversion but adding touches of sequins and gold candles can make it look really special.

3. Highlight your venue’s key features.

Consider décor that already sits in the room, add to this and draw attention to the gorgeous elements you fell in love with when looking around. For example add flowers or lanterns to stunning fireplaces or draw attention to spectacular chandeliers with beautiful draping or add garlands to elaborate staircases.

4. If you can’t fight it, work with it.

Don’t try and fight strong carpets or wallpapers with your colours, instead choose colours that compliment them. Your venue’s features will always stand out more- in a negative way- if you are adding contrasting colours. Add your stronger colours to the centrepiece or bridal party flowers.

5. Mix styles that complement one another.

With so many styles from romantic, bohemian, vintage to classic it can be hard to choose just one but remember many complement each other. I am often asked which is my favourite style and it really does change with every wedding I come across but as long as it’s done correctly I love a subtle mix of styles. A good venue stylist can work their magic and are really worth the cost to have that eye for detail and just knows what works. 

6. Find a whole palette of complementing colours.

Try and steer away from having everything the same colour, instead choose a palette of colours and tones that work well together adding touches of your favourite across key areas.  Having a range of complementing colours also helps you work within the colours of your venue, accenting some only where contrasting colours aren’t present in the venue’s features. A little trick I use is looking at paint colour cards at your local DIY store, you can place the colours together to see what works. 

7. Break your styling down into sections.

The Ceremony, The Reception, the Table décor.

This way your style will be seen across the whole venue rather than in just one area. This also helps you move from feeling overwhelmed with individual styling ideas into a cohesive achievable look.

8. Set the scene at the ceremony.

Add a beautiful welcome sign setting the scene. An order of the day at this point is currently trending. Aisle dressing, petals, flowers, lanterns, chair décor and wedding arches make stunning photographs. Add touches to all main photographed areas. People often forget the ceremony table, add candles and flowers for a beautiful first picture as a married couple.

9. Reuse items from your ceremony at your reception.

Think about what elements can be taken through from the ceremony to the reception and reuse items where possible. Arrange with your venue for centrepieces to be taken into the reception room, lanterns that were used earlier can be taken outside so this area looks pretty as the night draws in. Add a pretty cloth to your cake table in sequin or lace, much nicer than plain white or even better hire a prop for your cake for unique photographs. 

10. Designate, designate designate.

With table décor; Centrepieces, runners, cloths, candles, flowers and garlands, table numbers, charger plates and name places should all be considered as well as who will be laying this out. There is often a small turn around between the ceremony and the sit down meal where this can be done. It’s important to have a team of people ready to turn the place around on the day. 

Most importantly have fun with your venue styling and create a unique wedding that reflects you as a couple. Hiring a venue stylist will bring your ideas to reality on the morning of your wedding while you have your hair and makeup done and sip champagne knowing it’s all in hand.

Thanks so much for your wisdom Sara! With these tips it feels more achievable already. If you are still feeling like you’re in over your head, book a free 30 min consultation with Sara so she can guide you in the right direction. You never know, she may be the perfect fit for you and take it all off your shoulders.