Never took advanced event designing? No worries. Here’s how to pull off the most beautiful party ever in five easy steps.
Step 1: book your venue
To love your party, you have to love your party space. Pick one that fits with your style and colour preferences and that, ideally, offers built-in character (pretty chandeliers, architectural details, a spectacular view) and infrastructure (tables, chairs, linen, lighting). If a wonky carpet or dated wallpaper is bugging you, don’t book; masking doesn’t always work. If you’re leaning towards a ‘raw’ space (a loft, barn, marquee or terrace), keep in mind that you may be creating character and infrastructure from scratch, which can be cool and personal – and very pricey.
Step 2: choose your hues
Your perfect palette will be a colour combo that a) you love ( duh) and b) works with your venue. No matter how much you like lavender, a ballroom with dark-wood walls and a ruby carpet just begs for jewel tones. If your space has a feature you want to tone down – say, heavy red drapes – stay away from contrasting colours (like Tiffany blue); they’ll only accentuate it. Make it disapear with complementary tones, like blush and gold. For more on combining colours, check out our easy equation below. And don’t be afraid to ask your most design-savvy bridesmaid for help!
The no-fail palette formula
Three complementary shades + one metallic = wedding magic!
1 Anchor colour (often a neutral, like grey).
2 Main accent (eg sea green).
3 Accessory accent (one shade away from the main accent – here, that’s aqua green).
4 Metallic base (we love gold).
Step 3: line up your rentals
Check out your venue’s furniture and tabletop options. Don’t like what you see? (Negotiate to waive any charges for renting from a third-party source. (You shouldn’t pay a cent.) If you’ve booked a raw space, get ready to rent everything down to the last fork.
Table shapes decoded
Choose one or mix it up, which looks fab and is practical: you can adjust table shapes and sizes to fit your various groups of guests.
1 Square tables
These are modern and ideal for small parties; only eight guests fit at each one. Venues tend to offer round or rectangular, so you’ll likely have to rent in from another supplier for squares.
2 Round tables
Classic rounds are budget friendly. You’ll just need one centrepiece for each, and round tablecloths tend to cost less.
3 Long, rectangular tables
These are trendy – especially those seating 16 guests or more. They require extra centrepieces, upping your flower bill. With reclaimed-wood tables, skip the linens and go with runners instead.
Care about the chairs
Chairs are the thing that pulls a room together, so they’re a great place to splurge. These are the chair-type names you need to know, so you can have a clued-up conversation with your supplier.
1 Infinity: perfect for a garden party or any outdoor function.
2 Chiavari/Tiffany: the most commonly used kinds of chairs, these come in pretty much any colour and work for just about any kind of wedding.
3 Chameleon: ideal for an Art-Deco affair.
4 Louis: suited to a formal (think black tie) or vintage-chic look.
Step 4: figure out flowers
Once you have each table’s shape and scale locked in, talk centrepiece ideas with your florist. Some guaranteed mood setters: for a romantic scene, add candles. For a more intimate feel, put dramatic arrangements at the bar or on stands as people walk in and keep the table centrepieces low and lush. And for an eclectic, of-the-moment vibe, mix centrepiece styles. Check out the info below to find out how!
Change up the blooms
The ‘layered’ look is all the rage and works especially well if you have 10 tables or more. Ask your florist to shoot for this ratio on your reception tables:
Step 5: set the table
Your linens, underplates (if you’re have them), menus, name cards and table numbers should be complementary, not matchy-matchy. Ask your florist and caterer for a mock-up a few months before the big day (one free mock-up should be offered by your suppliers), then tweak as needed. Some tips:
1 Coloured glasses are a great way to showcase your accent hue – if you have the budget. Since most venues offer standard glassware, you’d have to hire in to get the right shade, so if this cost is too high, bring in your accent colour on something cheaper, like your table number.
2 Menus are optional, but if you’re offering a choice for each course or doing a tasting menu with wine pairings, you should have one at each setting. Too pricey? Print a few big A1 menus and dot them around the room so guests can easily see the offerings without you having to print hundreds of menus.
3 Napkins and table linens don’t need to match – but they should complement one another. Follow our palette equation (above) to ensure they tie together.
4 Renting a coloured tablecloth often costs the same as renting a plain white one – which means bringing your colours in via tablecloths could be much cheaper than splurging on the right-hued flowers or glassware.
Splurge on the head table
If you don’t have the budget to rent specialty items or do super-lush centerpieces for every table, focus on the one that will be the subject of the most photographs: the head table. Consider using a different table shape, standout chairs, higher-end votives, trimmed napkins, or tiny floral treatments at each place setting.
What’s you wedding colour theme? Tweet us at @GLAMOUR_sa with #GLAMWedding to share.
Ready to decorate your wedding? Don’t start before you’ve also read these tips from SA wedding pro Nicola Jane(who styled some of the decor seen in this story).
