10 wedding styling elements to make your wedding memorable a.f.
Here are my top 10 places to inject wedding styling and design to transform your day (or party sesh) into a unforgettable experience for you and your guests. If you’re at the start of your planning journey you might not yet have considered some of these, or might just think they’re ‘something to organise’ rather than style, but let’s think creatively and about the fun factor here…
wall decor
Set the stage for celebrating your love story with captivating wall decor. Whether it's a full wall of fringing, paper flowers or a custom-made backdrop, your chosen wall embellishments can serve as a stunning focal point. Consider incorporating elements that reflect your personalities and story, creating a visual narrative that resonates with you and your guests.
2. backdrops
Enhance the atmosphere and general vibe of your wedding with carefully curated backdrops. From lush floral arrangements to hand-painted screens and wooden pieces, backdrops provide a picturesque setting for your vows, dinner, dancing and photos. Create a backdrop that complements your wedding theme and colour palette, transforming your ceremony and reception spaces into dreamy, Instagram-worthy scenes.
3. ceiling installations
Elevate your celebration – quite literally – by adorning the ceilings with artistic installations. Think hanging floral arrangements, streamers and fringing, or discoballs. These overhead embellishments add a touch of magic to your venue, creating a captivating and immersive experience for you and your guests. As a former theatre designer, creating immersive installations like these are my absolute faves. Tip if you’re keen on this look - make sure you troubleshoot how to install with your wedding stylist and venue as there may need to be existing, weightbearing fixtures on the ceiling or walls.
4. signs
Guide your guests through the celebration with stylish and informative signs that you can use as art pieces in your home afterwards (we still have a Dancing sign next to our bedroom!)
From welcoming signs at the entrance to directional signs and whole wall text slogans, personalised wedding signage adds a thoughtful and practical touch to your wedding decor. Choose fonts, colors, and materials that align with your overall aesthetic for a cohesive look.
We often create bespoke wooden sign boards, plaques and arrows for our UK wedding styling clients (see image above for two of our bespoke signage creations).
5. Fabric Draping
Fabric draping is a brilliant way to add colour, texture, zoning and cohesion to your wedding venue or space. Soft, flowing fabrics can transform even the simplest spaces into luxurious havens, as well as disguising unsightly bits of your space.
Consider draping fabrics over archways, creating intimate alcoves, or incorporating them into your table decor as rouched decorative table runners. The possibilities are endless.
6. Neons
Neon’s don’t just come in cheesy quotes (some are great, some are a bit cringey I think 😂) they also come in shape form - neon tube lights and curly LED neon that can be strung and draped.
Personalised messages, quotes, or even your initials in vibrant neon hues can inject a cool, contemporary flair into your decor, as well as bathe areas of the space in coloured light.
Go bespoke and keep as a cool sign in your home, or try out one of the many companies hiring common phrases or symbols. Check out the bespoke “Dranks” neon-style sign we created for a wedding couple using EL wire.
7. Sculptures
Introduce artistic flair with sculptural elements that reflect your style and personality. Sculptural pieces are great as they can be totally freestanding - perfect for wedding venues where you can’t attach to walls. You can hang above your dining tables, place freestanding sculptures by an entrance, by the dancefloor, on a stage, or scale down and place on your tables as centrepieces.
Think abstract forms, geometric shapes, or custom sculptures that hold sentimental value. These three-dimensional pieces can serve as unique focal points and conversation starters for your guests. For one wedding we created freestanding leg sculptures using old pairs of jeans from the couple (it was a Midwest America themed party!)
8. Lighting
Lighting is absolutely key if you want your wedding to look beautiful. Most venues have this element sorted for you but don’t be scared of suggesting doing things differently, or bringing in your own hire company who might have more contemporary lighting elements that will make the venue pop in a new way.
From soft, ambient string lights to dramatic chandeliers, the right lighting can create the perfect atmosphere. Create block colour effects with LED parcans or little areas of magic with fairy lights or LED globe lights.
9. Guestbook experience
Make your guestbook an interactive and memorable part of your wedding styling. Instead of a traditional book, consider alternative options such as a writing on origami cranes, using a typewriter for guests to type out personalised messages, or an audio guestbook where guests record their own audio messages to live on forever! One of my fave UK companies doing this is I JUST CALLED TO SAY
Don’t forget to dress this area - use different levels, fabrics and lighting to make it look gorgeous.
10. Food areas & cake tables
Lots of wedding couples in the last few years have incorporated feasting tables (think charcuterie boards, fresh fruit, artisan breads and cheeses) into their weddings, particularly for later on in the evening.
You can continue your wedding styling into these stations with things like fabric layering, backdrops, greenery, prop hire (crockery, decorative candlesticks and mirrorballs) or other decorative elements that tie in with your overall theme. The cake stand itself can also be pimped to high heaven! Just make sure whatever you do to it is food safe!
Let’s conclude…
Planning your dream wedding is one of the most fun and creative things you can do - if you have the support you need!
If you’d like someone with an expert eye to help you with (or fully take on) all these elements and more - have a gander at our Wedding Styling Services (for UK, London weddings and beyond) and why not book a free discovery call whilst you’re here…