Styling your wedding has come a long long way from the standard vase and pillar candle combination. Today’s brides are seeking inspiration from all sources and walks of life – farmyards, vintage eras, Twilight – and more recently, interior and home design.
I chatted with Elisha Bryant, Director & Interior Designer of Wink and Co. about the incorporation of interior design in wedding styling. “When planning a wedding, many couples are looking to interior design for inspiration for theming and for styling. Many parallels exist between the two – both begin with large decisions such as choosing a colour theme, working within a budget, and transforming a space to fit personal tastes and styles”.
“Interior design has broken free of the rules and regulations that have dictated the industry for decades. As a result we are now seeing more unique, casual and tailored designs that express individuality, form and function. The same transition is evident in wedding planning, couples are swapping in the overly-extravagant and formal weddings that were evident in the 40’s and 50’s for smaller, more intimate occasions – with design themes taking the spotlight”.
“These days we are seeing couples incorporate unique interior pieces from their homes into their weddings. Living room furniture often provides a comfortable lounge area for guests, elaborate mirrors double as seating plans, crystal chandeliers take spotlight in marquees, family photos and artwork are displayed on reception tables, and various vases and vessels are often commissioned from homes and interiors stores to display anything from floral centrepieces to lolly buffets”.
“Design isn’t necessarily about what you see, it is about what you feel. When we design our homes we design spaces that make us feel comfortable and relaxed. We incorporate furnishings and objects that are reflective of our personal styles. It is only a natural succession that couples want to emulate that feeling of comfort and expression of style into one of the biggest days of their lives”.
Think about how you could incorporate some of these ideas so that your wedding has that homely touch:
- Seating Plans – unique mirrors and farmhouse window panes make for a fantastic base for your seating plan
- Lounge Areas – a cluster of couches, statement chairs, coffee tables, and stools all make for a great lounge space for guests to mingle
- Centrepieces – try to go for something that you may find in a home rather than something that is overtly wedding-centric – the “hand-picked from the garden” look is great if you want flowers
- Room Layout – long tables laid out dinner party style are a change from the typical rounds and promote a degree of friendliness over formality
- Personalise – framed photos of your parents or friends own weddings, or of you as a couple, is a nice visual touch
- Cake – it doesn’t have to stop with the styling! Even your cake can be Nanna’s carrot cake with cream cheese frosting or a lemon meringue creation
If this interior designer had to give one piece of styling advice? Elisha states that “simplicity and minimalism is the new opulence.” Here’s to less fuss and frivolity!
Images by Shane Shepherd Styled by Little Gray Station
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