How to Finalize Your Wedding Design Plan
We recently wrote a piece for the Lovely Ever After blog about how to get started with writing a design plan for your wedding. If you're designing your own wedding, it probably means you're not necessarily working with a wedding planner during this stage of wedding planning (although we hope you'll hire a professional to execute your vision). But that doesn't mean you have to do it alone. We wanted to write a follow-up for once you take those beginning steps in creating your wedding design plan.
A quick recap
So, you've discovered the 'why' of your wedding and the purpose behind investing so much time and money. You've taken your time to gather inspiration from different sources and know how you want your event to feel. Maybe you’ve even chosen a color palette or certain patterns or textures you want to include. You've written your thoughts down and have taken some time to let it steep in your brain. You feel confident with the direction you're going (And if you haven’t done all this, read this post first).
Writing down your wedding design plan
It's time to write it down and create an organized document to lead you in your decision-making. Consider it your 'Bible' that will guide you throughout the process. If you're not sure about a direction to take with a specific item or theme, this will become something you can refer back to continuously to help make that decision. Here’s what you need to write down.
Pick 5 words to describe your wedding
Focus this around the factors that contribute to the mood or feeling that your guests will feel and experience. Every element you choose will contribute to at least one of these words.
Pick your color palette
Pick one primary color, one or two secondary colors, and two to four supporting colors for accents. Look at them all together, in even sizes. Then, look at them all together, in a way that distinguishes what the primary, secondary, and supporting colors are. For example, you can put the primary color in the biggest shape, the secondary on the next biggest, and the supporting in the smallest shapes. This will help you visualize the mood and feel.
Consider textures & patterns
Begin by taking a close look at the textures that surround your venue. You want it to feel cohesive, so this is a good starting point. Stone? Acrylic? Wood? Ceramic? Metals? Cotton? Watercolors? Terra cotta? How do your colors look in or around these patterns and textures? Do they contribute to the mood or feeling you’re aiming towards? Choose two to four options. Consider the textures and patterns on your tables, chairs, signs, florals, linens, and tableware.
Examine the guest experience from a logistics point of view
What is the guest's journey from ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner to reception? Where will they be walking through? What will they see? These transitions are an important contributing factor to the guests’ overall experience. You may not consider these pieces to be a part of your design plan, but because it greatly affects the mood and feel of the overall event, they should certainly be considered while creating your design plan. Do these spaces and transitions align with your overall vision? If not, what can you do to enhance these elements to create a more polished experience?
Find inspiration images
Look through online and print publications, art and fashion blogs, and anywhere that speaks to you. Pull images that align with any of the above elements or the overall mood and feel. Put them all in one place and allow this to be your inspiration board as you make final decisions about your wedding design plan.
Put it all together
Create a document and dedicate at least a page each to your five descriptors, color palette, patterns, textures, enhancements to the guest journey/transitions, and any other specific items or elements you want at your wedding. Include inspiration photos for each or even photos of the specific items you'll be using, like the tablecloth and napkins you've picked or the acrylic signs you've been dreaming of.
Take your time and don't rush this process. Let every piece soak in. When you're finished, browse through your wedding design plan a few times and make sure you love what you see, and feel confident with the direction you're going. Up next? The fun part. You get to browse through shops and rental agencies to pick the pieces that will adorn your wedding day. Not sure about something? Refer back to your wedding design plan and look for the answer based on everything you highlighted.
Need some additional guidance? Hire a wedding planner, like us (in Dallas, Texas or New England), or set up a design consultation to discuss your vision and any questions you may have.