Planning Your Wedding Decor: The Tables

Yesterday we wrote about your overall room ambiance. Today we write about the tables...

The Table – treat the entire table; chairs or chair covers, the linen, the napkin, the centerpiece, stemware, china, and flatware. You don’t need a $100+ centerpiece when you make the entire table look attractive.

Specialty Tables – here is where you can add a color pop and personality with designer linens. (cake table, escort card table, and gift table)

Planning Your Wedding Decor: Room Ambiance

Creating the ambiance for your wedding reception is more than just the guest tables. If you treat the entire space as a whole, you'll create a better overall look and feel. You may be thinking, 'but this is going to cost me more money.' Not necessarily true... you can always spend more money (that's easy) but using a holistic approach can offer you an alternative to spending so much money on the guest tables (we'll talk about those tomorrow).

Venue – does the room represent your style or do you need to totally transform? When selecting your venue your style should be taken into consideration. A non-traditional venue may be better suited to your needs. You may need to pay a venue rental charge, but if the venue fits your style, then you have less need for the 'total room transformation.' This is why so many bridal couples are looking for unique venues.

 Lighting –  ambient lighting softens hard edges, hides ‘not so nice’ walls and can highlight wonderful architectural features.

 

Fabric Draping – Fabric can create a focal point, intimate spaces, and hide ‘ugliness.’ Use it for head table backdrops, canopies over the dance floor, or to reveal surprises during the night like a lounge area or candy bar.

 

 

Ceiling Treatments  - can help lower a really high (or ugly) ceiling and create ambiance.

 

Your Wedding Decor Planning Timeline

Once the man of your dreams on bended knee asks for your hand in marriage:

• First thing you want to do is select the time of year you want to celebrate your nuptials.
• Discuss finances with all parties contributing to the ‘cause’ to develop how much you are able to spend.
• Select the venue that reflects your overall vision.
• Start shopping for your gown. Your final decision will influence your overall vision more than you think.
• Select the color and style of your bridesmaids dresses. The color will influence your décor color story.
• Select your team of professionals (florist, decorator, caterer, photographer, videographer, music, etc.).
• Determine what the needs are to establish the preliminary costs of all items. Don’t worry about the minute details just enough to know what your look will be and the estimated costs. The details will come later.

You’ve rounded the corner and the date is now 6 months away:

• Meet with the caterer to finalize your menu.
• Meet with your florist and decorator (preferably The Events Company) to discuss the overall look. Together they will help you build a plan, including the layout of the room. Don’t be afraid to ask to see a sample of the guest table set-up with the elements you’ve selected.

• Flowers and décor for ceremony (look at what can be reused for the reception)
• Flowers and décor for Cocktail area
• Room ambiance: lighting, fabric draping, emphasizing focal points
• Treat the table as a whole unit: linens, chairs or chair covers, centerpiece, charger, napkins, stemware, china, flatware
• Specialty Tables: escort card table, gift table, cake table, head table or sweetheart table

The big details are finalized, now you can focus on the little details that will bring out your personalities (3 months out):

• Ceremony: the grand exit (bubbles, flower petals, balloons, etc)
• Cocktails: signature cocktail greet, ice sculpture, photo booth, strolling entertainment (hand illusionist)
• Reception: Toasts, How to get the newlyweds to kiss, Monogram on dance floor, sparklers as bridal couple departs reception, etc.

Ready, Set, Go!

Opera House Love

Just a little view of the lovely couple Brittney and Eric from last weekend. Truly was a magical wedding, can't believe it is over already! Bert Pohl Photography did an amazing job, lovely to work with, and I can not wait to see all the pictures and post them!

White Wedding - Tented Perfection

Chivari Chairs are a great way to add the WOW factor to your wedding. As wedding designers and planners, we are able to best help you understand how to incorporate the theme, color and feel you are looking for on your big day. Simply using white chivari chairs without considering every other aspect of your decor options could have ended in a tragic white blizzard rather than a white wedding to be talked about for years.

The wedding vision and theme are a product of you, the bride, and a lifetime of personal experience and love; as a wedding designer it is my job to be sure your special day reflects every aspect of that. From the chairs, to the napkins even the silverware and lighting, it all should be reflection of you and your fiance. Once you see the parts put together, I can promise you your breathe will be taken away, like the day your he proposed.







Lisa and Steve celebrated their lovely day at the Aurora Inn, NY. These photos from Larrisa Cleveland Photography capture exactly how magical your wedding day can be with the perfect blend of friends, family, great venue and exceptional decor items, like the Chivari chairs from The Events Company.

Clayton Opera House - Brittney & Eric

So I just received a text message from my bride this weekend.

"Hey Shannon. We haven't stopped smiling from our big day! You made our day perfect. It was beautiful...thanks again :)

Brittney and Eric were AMAZING to work with at the Clayton Opera House. A multi-level event using the stage, main floor and event space we were able to give guests a surprise every room they turned into.

Now, I must say, it was the first wedding I have managed onsite that seemed easy...right?!! Well lets back up...not claiming it was and I was not running around with a high pony tail and a bottle of water attached to my hip tracking down the groomsmen in either the balcony, stage, foyer, hallway basement or behind stage. There were a lot of places those guys could hide! But for the first time, I realized...I can do this, I am getting the hang of every aspect of a wedding...and I smiled at that moment. I tell ya, I haven't stopped smiling.

Not only do I owe this wave of calmness to our wonderful The Events Company staff who carried 170 chivari chairs up 3 flights of stairs and rolled 3 dozen tables from back stage, so I didn't have to, but I have to thank the stunning and grateful bride and groom. Without them and their equally as genuine family, this wedding would not have been as grand as it was.

People danced the night away for 5 hours....straight and kept going! Which is such a indication of how close and fun this family was.

I can honestly say, I hope Brittney and Eric remain friends of mine for a lifetime, the world needs more people like them.

Now back to planning the next one!!

Shannon

Satisfied Brides are the reason I love my job ...


Hi Shannon,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you and your team for the absolutely stunning decor at my wedding!!!!!! I mean really, everyone, myself included, was blown away when they saw the ballroom. The uplighting was perfect (thanks for also doing in the lobby...it made such a statement) and the tables were gorgeous with the linens, candles (thanks for throwing in a few extra:)) chargers, and chairs. And the entrance to the room...wow. Breath taking. The swag was perfect. Everything was exactly how I envisioned it...even better actually!!! Thank you so much and please pass this on to anyone who helped.

Thank you!!!!!

Laney

The Best of the Best: DIY Winners


Ask family members to send you a favorite picture of themselves and use it to create personalized frames as escort cards. Guests will then have to look for their picture to find what table they are at, then have a lovely frame as memorabilia. Add an extra touch by putting them in Monogrammed frames with your wedding date, or putting a picture of the bridal couple on one side and their photo on the other.

Incorporating planted trees are a great way for guests to always have a reminder of your special day. Small pots and soil are fairly inexpensive, do some searching for best prices on plants. These also make great centerpieces.

Incorporate handmade signs for an outdoor wedding, directional or welcoming are great ways to add personal touch!

If it is an appropriate month, and a small enough wedding, gather some family and friends, spend a day hand picking fresh flowers and placing them in ornate and small individual containers. Then place sporadically around your wedding. Remember: Will need water, and this will require being involved 24 hours prior to wedding. Be sure you won't stress!

Any unique item at your wedding should be easily found. A Cigar Bar is a great way to please the men in your party. Using wooden directional signs for an outdoor wedding makes the guest feel they are part of a large family gathering. It is good to make sure your guests enjoy your special day, just as much as you do!

The best way to let guests feel like they have entered a cozy family affair, hand write the dinner menu on a chalk board at the entrance. This will give guests an idea of what is on the menu (although you should ask on your RSVP as well), and add a special 'Thank you' for all those attending.

No matter what you choose as your DIY project, the most important thing is to be sure it reflects who you are as a COUPLE, and will not require any involvement at least 7 days prior to the wedding. If it does, be sure it is minimal and you have support. Time flies the last week before your wedding, and a DIY project should be because you enjoy it, not because you feel like you NEED to do it.

Happy Wednesday~

Shannon Lach
Wedding Director
The Events Company
shannon@theeventscompany.com

Personalized to Perfection

DIY Done Right
Congratulations! You’ve just gotten engaged, and now you realize you have the incredible task of planning a lavish event for 200 of your closest friends on a serious budget. And you’ve got a year and a half to do it. Throw in the fact that you have to please a guest-list that consists of everyone from your third grade Elementary School Teacher to your fiancé’s second cousin (you know, the one you spilled a drink on in 2004), and you’ve got quite the predicament.
But luckily for you, there is a solution to help you save a few dollars and still have the wedding of your dreams. The solution is “Do it Yourself” projects, and there are fun and easy ways to include DIY projects into your special day. That said, there are still some things that should be left up to the pros. Stay tuned this week for DIY Do’s and Don’ts, considerations for DIY projects, fun places to incorporate your ideas, and when to leave it to the professionals


DIY Do’s And Don’ts
DO:
-Be creative and unique with your DIY projects.
-Discuss ideas and concepts for DIY projects with your local event planner, such as us, at The Events Company. We’d always love to help out!
-Go to garage and estate sales to pick up fun and inexpensive items- and then hand them over to your florist or planner. They will make the most of your great ideas.
-Incorporate personal
DON’T:
-Take on any DIY project that will need work a week or less before your wedding
-Design your own centerpieces. These are best done by the professionals, due to their status as the main focal point on your tables.
-Order silk flowers instead of real flowers to save money. The price difference is not enough to make a substantial difference, but guests will notice the imposter petals. Instead, opt for decorative tree branches. Branches are sold in a variety of different styles and colors, from décor vendors including The Events Company.