Recently engaged and overwhelmed by the many design decisions awaiting you as you embark on the wedding planning journey? We completely understand! Weddings in this day and age are more than just a celebration of matrimony; they uniquely reflect the couple’s personalities, lifestyles, tastes, and preferences. With the growing expenses associated with wedding planning, the pressure to “get it right” can be daunting. Drawing from a decade of experience designing florals for weddings across the globe, catering to every style and budget, our experts from Ash + Oak — Ashley Mueller, founder & art director, and Katie Reisman, designer & marketer, have distilled a few helpful thought-starters and tips to guide your design and decision-making process. We are here to help you create a wedding that embodies who you are as a couple and showcases your individuality.
MEET THE EXPERTS
Ash + Oak, an exceptional duo of Ashley and Katie, has been creating ethereal floral arrangements that embody the essence of seasonality, fashion, art, and travel since 2015. Moreover, Ash + Oak is a conscientious business striving to positively impact our environment, communities, and the causes they believe in.
At Ash + Oak, they source local and organic flowers because they believe in offering you the best. Ashley and Katie prioritize sustainability and consciously avoid using unnecessary plastic or foam in our installations and arrangements.
With a presence in California and Mexico, Ash + Oak infuses both regions’ natural beauty and energy into their personalized designs for couples worldwide. Their color, texture, and construction expertise allow them to create artful arrangements that perfectly complement the setting and season. The result is a captivating aesthetic that blends minimalism with lushness, emphasizing the essence of your event.
Their personalized and professional services have been featured in leading publications and numerous blogs, exceeding the expectations of clients around the world. Ash + Oak will bring your floral vision to life and take your event to the next level.
Venue Selection: A Crucial Step
The choice of your wedding venue, both in terms of location and timing, will shape most of your aesthetic and overall ambiance. Selecting a venue that reflects your interests and passions allows you to share those personal experiences with your guests.
If you and your partner are adventurous food enthusiasts, consider tying the knot in a far-flung city that holds fond memories for both of you, choosing a venue that showcases unique local architecture and cuisine.
If you’re a big fan of French colonial architecture, consider New Orleans or Montreal to pay off on this vision.
Nature lovers might explore venues with lush landscapes and breathtaking views reminiscent of cherished camping trips.
Mendocino and Yosemite offer beautiful “camp style” wedding venues that will fit the bill.
For urban dwellers, opting for an iconic venue or a location that holds significance to your hometown can help you share your personal history with loved ones.
Cities like New York and Los Angeles offer multiple venues that fit the bill.
Once the venue is chosen, many other design details fall into place. Your color palette selected should harmonize with and enhance the venue’s look and feel, creating a seamless and natural aesthetic throughout the day. The color palette will subsequently inform decisions about floral arrangements, furniture, and table rentals, as well as the attire of your bridal party.
Embrace the Season
The timing of your wedding also plays a pivotal role in determining the visual elements, particularly the floral arrangements. Spring weddings call for lighter, softer shades, while summer allows for bolder, vibrant hues. If you love a specific bloom, consider getting married during that season. Sweet peas are prevalent in spring, while peonies come into season in the early summer months. If you’re obsessed with having a lily of the valley bouquet, you have a short window from late winter to mid-spring. Draw inspiration from the natural blooms that occur during your wedding month and the colors surrounding your chosen venue. Let these hues guide your color palette and mood board. Fully embracing the season and location of your nuptials leads to thoughtful and elevated weddings that will captivate and inspire your guests.
Dress to Your Theme
Of all the wedding design elements, your dress will receive the most attention and be the most photographed, so it should fit cohesively with your other design choices. If you select your dress before your venue (which happens a lot!), make sure that both choices complement each other. Consider the style, ambiance, and formality of your chosen venue. A grand ballroom with a black-tie dress code typically demands a more formal and elegant gown. On the other hand, if you opt for an outdoor garden wedding, a simple dress would blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
Allocate Your Budget Wisely
When it comes to allocating your wedding budget, it’s important to prioritize based on what holds significance to you as a couple. If you deeply appreciate craft cocktails and fine dining, consider allocating more of your budget towards a caterer or venue known for its exceptional cuisine. By splurging in this area, you can make the overall dining experience a focal point of your wedding. For instance, you could opt for a six-course tasting menu instead of the typical three-course plated meal, elevating the culinary experience for your guests.
On the other hand, if you find joy in hosting elegant dinner parties or value design above all else, it may be worth investing in high-quality decor for your tablescape and incorporating lush florals. These elements can transform your wedding into an extraordinary event, differentiating it from your typical dinner party. By allocating a portion of your budget towards these aspects, you can create a visually stunning and memorable atmosphere for both you and your guests.
Elevate the Overall Atmosphere
Custom rentals and elegant florals are your secret weapon when seeking to create a lasting impact on your special day. Custom rentals can transform your ceremony and reception spaces into truly extraordinary settings alongside the warm glow of candles and meticulously arranged floral displays.
Does your home together feature a ton of patterns and textures? These should translate into your wedding vision. Leverage patterned linen on half your tables to bring dimension and fun to the reception space. If your home is modern and clean, consider incorporating a uniquely designed chair for your ceremony, like a wishbone chair or a velvet and chrome combo, for a sexier look. Leverage what truly matters to you as a couple and infuse it into your wedding, ensuring a truly memorable experience for all in attendance.
Trends
Regarding wedding trends, it’s essential to consider your personal preferences and style. Some couples may enjoy being trendsetters and setting new trends, while others prefer to stick with classic decisions or follow the flow. It’s essential to stay true to yourself and your own preferences, even when it comes to your wedding.
If you’re someone who doesn’t typically follow trends in your personal life, there’s no need to start doing so just for your wedding. However, it’s worth noting that some trends can be great decisions. For example, the trend of intimate weddings gained momentum even before the COVID-19 pandemic but amplified during it, leaving a lasting impact on the wedding industry. If this aligns with your desires for an intimate celebration, it could be a trend worth embracing.
Similarly, consider looking at what already resonates with you when it comes to color palettes. If a current trend aligns with colors you already have in your house or genuinely love, it might be a great choice to incorporate into your wedding decor. On the other hand, if a trend showcases a color you dislike, feel free to skip it and draw inspiration from elements in your life.
Take a moment to look around your house, visit your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, and hotels, and explore your own closet. These places can provide inspiration and insight into the styles, colors, and aesthetics that genuinely reflect your personal taste. By incorporating elements from your everyday life, you can create a wedding that feels authentic and meaningful to you as a couple, regardless of whether you choose to follow trends or not.
It’s essential to remember that your wedding day is a celebration of you as a couple, and your style and preferences should shine through in the design choices you make. While guidelines can be helpful, it’s ultimately up to you to decide what reflects your unique relationship and personality. Consider incorporating personalized details and elements that have special meaning to you as a couple. This could include cultural or religious traditions, displaying sentimental items, or choosing specific colors, flowers, or decorations that hold significance to you both. Infusing your wedding with these personal touches will create a cohesive design and make the day more meaningful for you and your guests.
