Flowers, Lighting, Décor
By Bruce Mullen – Director of Banquets, The Rittenhouse Hotel
Edited by Erin Pavillard
Preparations for your wedding are running at a feverish pace and you are thinking of a million and one things that you need to accomplish. But wait! Don’t forget about your event space and the décor.
The color palette for your wedding is just as important as everything else you have been planning. It can stop people in their tracks if you can execute it well.
You may be asking, “Who can help me achieve such an event space?” A florist, or a decorator, of course. While these two professionals often get lumped into the same category, their differences are abounding.
Florist
A florist will solely concentrate on floral and table design, highlighting the flowers and what garnishes the tables. This may encompass candles, table ornaments, custom table numbers, or flowers that match your bridesmaids’ dresses or invitations. The florist will not detail the room for you, or give the event space an overall consistent look.
Decorator
A decorator will cover décor for your entire event, from ceremony all the way through reception, dinner and dancing. Here in Philadelphia, a decorator that The Rittenhouse works with quite often is Lamsback Floral Decorators.
Lamsback Floral suggests utilizing different materials throughout your event space. For example, placing different size tables throughout the room can create a unique look. Don’t limit yourself to just round tables; experiment with rectangles, and squares of all sizes. Bring in residential furniture for areas of the cocktail space, or create a lounge area within the dinner room, if space permits. Custom dance floors with applied individual logos can create an extremely unique feel, and make for great photographs. Your decorator can help you to create a custom logo that can be put on cocktail napkins, the dance floor, invitations, response cards, and more!
Lamsback also mentions the use of pale colors is an increasing trend this year. Colors like light peach, blush creams, and whites are in right now. Luckily for you bridesmaids, the times of bold colors and vibrant tones are something that has gently passed over the years.
Be Bold with your “Couple Style”
A decorator will provide you with much more opportunity to express your vision of your “couple style.” When you are selecting your color palette and discussing the design of event space, don’t be cookie cutter. Don’t copy what your friend did at her wedding – go out on a limb, create a trend. Be the trendsetter. Bold plans take courageous moves, which bring about daring results!
Lighting
Lighting can make shadows and highlights appear that you never could have imagined! You will be able to accent the existing space by using up-lighting. Colors on your florals can come alive by the simple use of pinspot lighting. These lights make the colors pop on your center pieces. Having lighting dedicated to your dance floor creates unbelievable shadows and highlights for your pictures. You can simply change the way a room feels by incorporating lighting. The colors can be changed within the room to match your florals. The room itself can be transformed into an oasis of tranquil colors.
Decorating your wedding should be fun and exciting. When you do select either a florist or a decorator, ask them to create a sample centerpiece that they will put on your table. Ask them not only to see photos, but also work from a wedding that they are doing currently. You will also want to know how many other jobs they have on your wedding day, this way you can be assured that you will receive their attention.
Your journey of planning is getting you closer and closer to your goal – Your wedding day! Treasure every moment and take each twist and turn in stride. You will undoubtedly encounter stressful times but they will be overshadowed by the end result: an incredible wedding day with all the people you love. Enjoy every moment and let your decorator/florist help you along the way.
Until next month – Bruce Mullen – “At Your Service”
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