Wedding Wednesday- It's All in the Decorative Details (Plus 4 Pieces of Advice)

Everyone was exactly right; my wedding day was an absolute whirlwind. But, I did make sure I took it all in. That meant not guzzling down mimosas in the hours leading up to our first look and also letting go - of everything. I knew that my amazing vendors and day of coordinator would ensure everything was on lock - without any flaws. I also told myself not to sweat the small stuff...no one would ever notice those little glitches anyways.

I can honestly say, even with all of my tireless hard work, I was blown away with how beautifully smoothly everything went. Sure, my (would've been) picture-perfect, simple, and southern lemon cake was placed on a lop-sided table, which inevitably gave it a gangster lean by the end of the night....the lemon wheels which I requested my caterer add to the Mason jar water glasses were placed in the water instead of on the rim of the jars...and one of the groomsmen wore dark brown shoes instead of the (strongly) encouraged cognac shade. But other than those three little things...everything was, well, flawless.

I have to give credit where credit is due. My florist, Beautiful Floral Designs captured my vision with awe-worthy grace. I couldn't have asked for more capable, creative, and passionate work. Beautiful Floral designs made my wedding day look like it was straight out of fairytale. I had endless compliments from guests saying that everything was magazine quality. Taking care of not only the bouquets and boutonnières but also all the linens, tablescapes, floral arrangements for the ceremony aisle way, cocktail hour, and lots of reception "extras," they might as well be magicians. I don't know how they did it. 

 In my humble (and biased) opinion, my decor was as about as charming, cohesive, and well-thought as it gets. I've been to many beautiful weddings where decor isn't a focus. And there's nothing wrong with that. But from day one of wedding planning, I had a vision. A vision of southern shabby chic meets boho. A vision of sunflowers and daisies, parasols, vintage candle sticks, whiskey barrels, and lace. This vision couldn't have been more perfect for my venue either. Sarasota's Marie Selby Gardens boasts that "Old Florida" look with ancient Banyan trees and an old white colonial-style mansion.

I sure hope I'm not gloating...it's just that in looking back, I'm still so giddy about it all. But in an efforts to make this post less of a brag and more of a help...here are my top 4 wedding decor tips..

Future brides...if you're all about the decorative details like me, I have 4 pieces of important advice...

1. Pick a "theme" and stick with it. Some things to consider...what time of year are you getting married? Do you want a formal or casual affair? What kind of vibe does the venue lend itself to? Once you've decided on these elements, you can decide on a general theme of your wedding. Whether it's rustic, vintage, or modern, you'll want to be very mindful of it with every single decision. For instance, you surely wouldn't want red roses if you're going for a rustic look....or burlap accents if you've decided on a formal wedding.

1. Find an AMAZING florist. Don't just count on online reviews either. Often times, really nice people like me give vendors more credit than they deserve with written reviews. Word of mouth is the way to go. Pictures can help too, but remember not to just rely on the florists' website for pictures. Once you love their work, find out what they'll actually be responsible for in terms of decor. Finding a florist who will take on everything decor is a HUGE help.

3. Make decisions and stand by them. Don't second guess yourself. The planning process will be an absolute headache if you're always changing your mind. Trust your taste. And if you have terrible taste, get a second opinion from someone who you can trust to give an honest opinion. At the end of the day though, you want your wedding to reflect YOUR personality...not some random pinner's on Pinterest. 

4. Know when to say "No." With decor, it's easy to get carried away. You don't want to go overboard as the look of your wedding could get lost in obnoxious chaos. Keep an inventory of everything you purchase and what "part" of your wedding day it'll be used for. If you have an awesome florist, they can help guide you with this too. 

Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm one proud bride, in case that wasn't already very obvious. But I also dedicated countless hours to my big day. And I did all the planning on my own. It was a lot of work but I really feel like it showed. I was fortunate enough to make wedding planning the #1 priority in my life. And I loved every second of it. 

***Next Wednesday, check out my "How To" on DIY Table Frames.