Have you thought about your wedding styling yet? Or are you questioning what wedding styling even is!? Put simply, your wedding styling is how everything looks, from the broad details like the overall decor to the tiny elements like fonts on a menu (if you choose to go that deep!).
I’m pretty sure within 0.5 seconds of being engaged, most couples fall headfirst into a Pinterest hole of overwhelm. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
I’m Rebecca, wedding planner at By Rebecca Brennan-Brown. I’m so excited to be guest posting here at Unconventional Wedding and talking to you about how to make your wedding styling epic. I studied art & design at UCA and have been a wedding planner for 10+ years, meaning the things I’ve said below are based on foundational knowledge and experience. HOWEVER (!), I firmly believe your wedding should be uniquely you, so as you’re reading this, please take the things that work for you and leave the rest. There’s no pressure here, good vibes only.
LET’S GO!
Feature photo by Vicki Clayson Photography
How to ROCK your wedding styling
Start Broad
create a foundation
colour & design
inspo hunting
making it you
Wedding Styling 101 - Start Broad
Your wedding might be something you’ve been dreaming about for years, or it might be something you have never considered before. Whatever side of the fence you’re on, that’s cool with me. It’s a good idea to start by thinking about what you like and don’t like in a general sense. You might hate pink, you might be a rockstar in hiding, or is intricate detail more your thing?
Inspiration at home
Try not to get too bogged down with picturing a wedding in your mind. Think more broadly about your styles both as individual people and as a couple. Your home is a great place to start as that’s likely to be a reliable representation of you both. Are there clearly defined areas that resemble one of you more than the other? Or have you managed to find a compromised middle ground across your home? If you’re stuck, take a look in your wardrobe, think about what seasons you’re more drawn to, and consider what you’ve liked or disliked at other people’s weddings (real or fictional!).
Creating A Foundation
Most of the time, we think of wedding styling after the venue is booked, so you have something to build on. If you haven’t booked a venue yet, I would say it’s best to get that nailed down before finalising any styling. (You might love: The Best Alternative Wedding Venues)
It’s important to consider things like lighting. Is there a lot of natural light? Or is it quite dark? Are there any colours heavily featured in the decor? Is it modern, rustic, or traditional? Perhaps there’s something super funky and cool that you want to focus on. For example, I recently worked in an incredible old theatre in Catford (pictured below). The Broadway Theatre has a classic massive stage with a vintage red curtain, so we focussed everything to highlight that gorgeous velvet feature!
Take note of any quirky elements and the main spaces if you can. It’s great to have something to refer back to!
Wedding Styling Tips: Colours & Designs
When choosing wedding colours, there are a few things to think about: the venue, the season, and your taste.
As we all know, brighter colours tend to be used more in summer, and darker in winter. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to brighten up a miserable November day with some neon!
It is worth keeping in mind the season for some more practical elements. If you’re getting married in the winter, crisp, cool colours like whites and blues can sometimes make a space feel cold and harsh. If you’re looking to have any fresh flowers, it’s also worth considering what actually grows at that time of year. For example, if you love pink peonies, they’re near impossible to get in September!
Colour Theory:
I like to work with five colours but remember, they’re not all used in equal amounts. Start by choosing your lightest colour (often white or cream), then your darkest, and fill in the gaps. Have a quick google search of ‘colour theory’ if you’d like to learn a bit more about what colour pairings are easier on the eye. However, as I’ve said before, this has to work for you, so break the rules! Go with all darks, or all bright colours if that’s what you love. If you love it, then it can’t be wrong.
Finding Wedding Styling Inspiration
In 2021, we’re lucky to have so many incredible resources right at our fingertips, just like this one! Across the whole Unconventional Wedding site, you’ll find a whole host of inspiration from real weddings, on blog posts, and from some of the UK’s most talented alternative wedding suppliers.
As a wedding supplier, I can say firsthand that I love creating and sharing images to my Instagram for couples to take inspiration from. Many other suppliers and couples do the same, so searching hashtags on Instagram can unearth some absolute gems of inspiration.
And then there’s Pinterest. Anything you could ever want to see for your wedding is on Pinterest; you just have to find it. Be specific with your search terms. Instead of searching ‘wedding’, search for ‘unique rocker wedding Brighton’, for example. You’ll get much more relevant results. It works just like Google!
Making it YOU
And finally, you have to make your wedding styling yours. Your wedding day should be a representation of who you are as two different people, as well as the life you are about to start together. If your partner loves cars, sunflowers, or The Greatest Showman, find a way of incorporating that into your day, even if it’s a small touch! Be flexible and respectful of each other’s tastes, and know that there’s no right or wrong answer. If you love it, that’s more than enough.
If you’d like to learn more about me or chat about all things weddings, you can check out my website here and my Unconventional Wedding listing here. Happy Planning!
Over on the blog - more unique wedding ideas
Colourful Pastel Wedding – Disco Balls & Unicorns!
This colourful pastel wedding is CUTE. We’re loving the holographic materials, unicorns, bright flowers and disco balls! This quirky styled shoot was sent into us by Wedding Factory and photographed by DKWP. We think you’re gonna love this bold and playful wedding styling! Keep scrollin’ for more loveliness! how to
Fun Festival Wedding at Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswitch
We’re huge festival lovers here at UW, so this styled shoot is making our hearts sing! This fun festival wedding shoot took place at Jimmy’s Farm in Ipswitch and is the brainchild of Louie Donovan Photography and Lou from Festival Weddings. It combines rock and disco styles into the ultimate
Bright, Fresh & Unique Barn Wedding
This unique barn wedding is bright, bold and blimmin’ gorgeous. Featuring some killer wedding flowers, alternative wedding styling and the yummiest looking grazing table we’ve ever seen, we think you’re gonna love this one! This shoot was put together and captured by Florence Berry Photography at Oak Tree Barn Weddings
Alternative Luxe Wedding – A Slytherin Wonderland!
What happens when a collection of alternative wedding suppliers come together to create a ‘Sytherin Wonderland’? Fabulousness, that’s what! This alternative luxe wedding shoot was organised for the Bliss Wedding Show – A Curious Place, and captured by Vicky Dubois Photography. We are loving this gothic vibe with the strong
Wedding Flowers: Everything You Need To Know
Your wedding flowers can be a huge part of your big day. They help set the vibe, colour scheme & can play a large part in your decor. Where on earth do you start? How does it all work? Fear not! We’ve gathered some top tips and advice from our
The BEST Alternative Wedding Photo Booths
We love us some alternative wedding entertainment here at UW, especially photo booths! We’re here today to tell you why wedding photo booths are awesome, and why you might want to rock one on your big day. We’ll be shouting out some of our brilliant Unconventionals while we’re at it,
How To Recreate This Colourful Bohemian Wedding
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Get clued up on all things 70’s. Talk to friends and family members who may have some original 70’s clothing that might come in handy - The more authentic the better! This shoot features a pair of original 1970’s flares, borrowed from a friend's dad - epic!
CAMPERVAN!
What better way to celebrate the 70s than with a VW Campervan? This one doubles as a photobooth for extra fun!
BE RESOURCEFUL
Like a true bohemian, use what you have and make it magical. Charity/vintage shops are your new best friend.