Planning a wedding is a multifaceted process filled with a diverse array of vendors, communication channels, and design decisions. From landing on a napkin color to selecting flowers for the bridesmaids’ bouquets, the range of choices to be made means that there are countless opportunities for inconsistencies, leading to a cluttered final look.
We spoke with seasoned wedding experts for their best advice on creating a consistent wedding design with a clean and elegant result.
“Keep it simple! To ensure consistency, the best thing you can do is to keep the color palette simple. The more elaborate the design, the more it can get lost in translation from vendor to vendor. This is especially important with flowers — if you choose colors that are all over the place, it can be hard to match your florals. Keeping things simple will translate across all aspects of your big day.”
– Joan Wyndrum, Blooms by the Box
“Use the wedding venue as inspiration and guide your overall design. Think about different ways to complement the space, like incorporating the venue’s architectural details into the decor. Use the space as a reference point when making design decisions. If you want to make designing the space easy, be sure to work with your design, not work against it.”
– Mary Angelini, Key Moment Films
“The number-one tip I always share with clients is to stop looking once you’ve found what you’re looking for. The algorithm on sites like Pinterest will continue showing you wedding gowns, flowers, rings, etc. Don’t look at them! Your first pick is your best pick, and everything else is only making you second-guess your decision. So, when you find your wedding dress, stop looking at wedding dresses. When you find your florist, stop looking at wedding flowers. All you’re doing at that point is diluting your personal style and replacing it with the latest trend.”
– Sharon Yancey, Flor Amor
“Let your florist weigh in on your linen selection. Yes, remember that planners are logistically focused professionals. Unless you hire a designer separately, your only vendor who specializes in color combinations is your florist. They can suggest colors that would complement their designs and suggest different textures or add to them with their inventory of runners, candles, and votives.”
– Kimberly Sisti, SISTI & CO.
“Share your vision with all your vendors. Rather than starting by asking for a ‘price quote,’ share a creative/design brief with all potential vendors. This helps us understand where you’re coming from and how decisions should be prioritized. It also potentially helps the teams that can execute your vision step up and bring their ideas to the table, as others who can’t help will naturally fall back.”
– Vijay Goel, COO, 440 Elm
“The best way to ensure consistency in wedding design is to take the time in the beginning, before starting to hire vendors, to craft a very detailed and specific style plan for your wedding. This can be in the form of style boards, interest pages, or another medium that helps you manage your design concepts into specific sections by event: ceremony, florals, reception, desserts, photography style, etc.”
– Cathy O’Connell, COJ Events
“Have a group way of messaging between ALL of the designers on your team, including the florals, planners, photographers, and even video. The more your team knows ahead of time, the better! These details, while probably beautiful, will need to be captured in order to re-live the moments over and over of the day and how it felt and looked. Invest the time into communicating directly to your visual team just as much as your design teams!”
– Jen Sulak, Weirdo Weddings
“Make sure that whatever stationery items you are designing match or complement the day of wedding décor, such as table napkins, table cloths, flowers, and any other elements. We always ask our clients what their florals are like, what kind of mood and style of wedding they are hoping for. We also ask for the colors of the bridesmaid gowns and groomsmen’s tuxedos to make sure that whatever stationery items we design coordinate with that specific style and look.”
– Lilia Shatnaya, Plume and Stone Invitation Studio
The truth is that consistency can make or break your wedding look. Designing wedding visuals can be overwhelming, but with the right team of vendors by your side and proper communication, you’ll be left with a backdrop to your love story that you can love for years to come.
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.