How To Find Your Wedding Aesthetic

Finding your wedding aesthetic early on is important because it drives your day's overall look and feel. It also helps your planner flawlessly design the wedding day of your dreams.

Photo by Lily Miller Photography

So you just got engaged, and you’ve already hashed out the engagement details with your friends and family. I’m sure you’re ready to get planning. One of the first things you’ll want to explore is your wedding aesthetic. This will drive the overall look and feel of your wedding.

If you’re anything like us, looking back at your wedding Pinterest board is super cringy. Trying to go through years of wedding inspiration can be overwhelming. A few examples of common wedding aesthetics are modern, classic, and bohemian. Even further, selecting colors and an overall style can help planners (like us) create a perfectly designed event that captures your vision.

Maybe you already have an idea of what your aesthetic will be, and if so you’re ahead of the game. If not, don’t worry, we put together a couple of tips to help you find the perfect aesthetic for you.

1. Ditch your trusty old wedding Pinterest board, and start fresh.

If you’ve been posting on that board for years, chances are those aesthetics are not at all what you’re looking for now, years later. Creating a new board allows you to drop all your current ideas in one concise location, and Pinterest even now allows you to create sub-boards so you could organize your pins within your wedding board (e.g. bouquets, reception decor, ceremony decor, etc.). There are tons of ways to search for your desired aesthetic, and no shortage of ideas. The good thing about Pinterest is their algorithm will adjust to your likes and will start showing you more pins related to the aesthetic you like thus making it easier than ever to find inspiration.

2. Browse real weddings

There are tons of blogs and social media accounts that feature real wedding photos. Many times one of the easiest ways to find your aesthetic is to look at real weddings. If you live in our area, there are quite a few places to pick up wedding inspiration — Kentucky Bride Magazine and Kentucky Bride Blog. Using another couple’s big day can inspire you while planning for your big day.

3. Understand your preferences

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to your wedding. While real weddings and Pinterest ideas can help with finding your wedding aesthetic you by no means have to do everything you see. Mix it up a bit. Take note of what you like and don’t like about each wedding to get a feel for your preferences. Use your home decor for inspiration to get a feel for your general aesthetic. Maybe you like loud prints, bright colors, or even neutrals or greenery. Gaining inspiration from things you already like can be really helpful.

4. Turn to TikTok

TikTok contains endless tips, tricks, and style inspiration. Wedding TikTok is truly an asset while wedding planning. Not only do previous and current brides provide you with awesome tips and tricks to help you during the planning process, but many will show you style ideas of what they did or are planning to do, and how to achieve that look. We have many brides show us videos they have found, and asked if it is possible to recreate what they saw. It absolutely is possible, and we can even put a spin on it to make the idea uniquely yours. TikTok is also the perfect place to find the upcoming wedding trends and colors of the year if you would like to base your decision on that.

5. Consider your venue

If you have already selected your venue, instead of spending money and time trying to make the venue into something it isn't try playing off some of the features it already has. Maybe you are getting married in an ultra-modern space or more of a rustic barn. These work hand-in-hand while picking your aesthetic, and can provide ample inspiration. Take note of the existing decor within your venue as well as the space surrounding your venue. If you are still on the hunt for a venue, keep your aesthetic in mind while trying to find a space. Your venue is the foundation that your aesthetic is built on.

6. Look at the seasons

If worse comes to worst and you are having a really hard time deciding your wedding aesthetic consider the seasons. Lean into the season you want to get married in. For example, many spring weddings are bright and colorful with all the spring flowers coming into bloom, while fall brings warmer-toned colors when the weather starts to turn cooler. White floral and greenery are always a timeless classic and acceptable any time of the year.

Finding your wedding day aesthetic is one of the fun parts of wedding planning. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Looking For a Venue? Here's a List of Things to Think About During Your Search

Photo by Morgan Newsom Photography

Finding the perfect wedding venue for your big day can take some time. You will need to discuss a few big pieces of information before you begin your search. We put together a key list of things to consider before you begin narrowing down your venue search and some questions to ask your venue as you decide if it is the right one for you.

Things to consider before you begin your search:

• What is your budget for the wedding and how much are you willing to allocate to the venue?

• Will you have your ceremony and reception in the same location?

• Do you want an indoor or outdoor ceremony?

• What is your expected guest count?

• Narrow down a few dates, just in case your first pick is not available.

Questions to ask/consider during the venue meeting/tour:

• How long is the booking for?

Some venues require quick turn arounds giving you access only the day of, and occasionally a few hours the day before for a rehearsal. Others will give you multiple days to allow time for set up and tear down.

• If you want to hold an outdoor ceremony, is there a weather plan in the event of inclement weather?

Some venues are easily able to accommodate a rain plan, while others it is not so easy. If you choose a venue where it is not as easy, are you prepared to have a room flip between the ceremony and reception, or have the guests sit at their tables during the ceremony?

• Is a caterer required and/or is there a list you can select from?

Some venues allow you to bring in your own food or allow your family to provide the food, but others require you to hire a caterer for insurance purposes. Many times, if a caterer is required the venue will provide a list of caterers they have worked with before, or who are on their approved list. If you have a certain caterer in mind, most venues will allow you to bring them in, but will just require a few pieces of information from the caterer.

• Does the venue provide bar service, or are there regulations for who can provide the liquor/beer/wine?

Many venues have a liquor license and all alcohol must be bought solely through them. Some venues that do not have a liquor license allow you to bring your own alcohol or hire an outside vendor for bar services.

• Is there an in-house wedding planner or coordinator?

There is a big difference between a wedding planner and a venue coordinator. A venue coordinator will usually be there the day of to ensure everything at the venue runs smoothly but is not someone who will help you plan your wedding. This is important when thinking about your needs during your planning process.

• Can you bring in your own entertainment (i.e. pick your own DJ or band)?

• Is there a noise limit in the area?

Depending on where the venue is located, there may be a noise ordinance that takes place during certain times, especially if the venue is within city limits.

• Is the venue handicap friendly?

This is something to think about especially if you have elderly relatives with limited mobility. It is a legal requirement for public venues to provide disabled access, but it may be challenging depending on the terrain and restrictions if it's older building.

• Is there an on-site place for the bridal party to get ready?

Some venues have specific bride and groom suites, whereas others do not, and you will have to find somewhere off-site to get ready. You will have to plan your schedule accordingly.

• How many guests can the venue accommodate comfortably?

Sometimes the venue capacity is not always how many the venue can accommodate comfortably. You want to give your guests a good, memorable experience during your big day, and being tightly packed during your ceremony and reception is not always desirable. Plus you want to ensure you have enough space for everything you'd like to have at your wedding or if you have a large bridal party.

• Are there any restrictions that apply to the building or site that may be a deal-breaker for you?

For example, many times the use of candles without being contained is not allowed (i.e. the taper candle trend), or actual flames are not allowed at all. Some venues have restrictions on the type of confetti you can use, bubbles, sparklers, cold sparks, etc.

When booking the venue:

• What is included in the price, and are there any additional charges or add-ons?

• How much is the deposit and when is the full balance due?

• Do you need wedding liability insurance or is that something the venue covers?

If so, do they have a recommended representative or website? Some venues have this taken care of in their insurance policies, while others will require you to get special event insurance. If this is the case ask them if they have a recommendation on where to obtain the insurance from.

There are so many more questions you may have for the venue during your search, but this is just a starting point of some of the things you should be thinking about along the way. As always, if you have more questions about this post, feel free to email me! Brittany@bluegrasseventplanning.com

8 Reasons You Need a Wedding Planner

Wedding planning can be very overwhelming. Hiring a professional can relieve that stress on you and keep you on track during your planning process.

Wedding planning can be overwhelming especially if you are adding it to an already busy schedule. One of the best ways to make the process smoother is by hiring a wedding planner. We do this every week and have definitely been around the block a time or two. Wedding planners aren’t for everyone but can be very helpful during the process. We put together a list of 8 reasons you need a wedding planner.

Ease of Mind During the Planning Process

Always know we are here for you. We understand wedding planning is overwhelming, and we want to take some of that stress off of you. One of the biggest tasks we can take off your list is vendor communications. If you are torn between vendors we will research their availability and pricing and report back to you. Once you’ve decided we will book, and communicate all details with that vendor.

Spend Smarter, Save More

We try to save you money where we can along the way. Since we deal with weddings each weekend, we know how much something should cost. We can guide you on things you should save on and where you can splurge. An example of a way we can save you money is by cutting the cake. Many caterers charge you to cut the cake, but since we are already there we will take care of cutting the cake for you.

Professional Advice

Wedding advice from your family and friends is always great, but getting advice from a professional is even better. Because we typically don’t know your family very well, we are able to provide unbiased and creative feedback you can’t get from anyone else. Plus, we would like to think we’ve almost seen it all, no problem is too big for us.

Ideas and Inspiration

No one knows the creative design ideas behind your wedding like your planner does. Sometimes you need help recreating your unique style, and that’s where we come in. We take those ideas and translate them into tangible results that not only look beautiful on camera but also provide your guests with a great experience at your event. If you’re having trouble coming up with unique ideas, we are always trying to brainstorm the next big wedding trend and more than likely have the solution for you.

Stay on Budget

Staying on budget is one of the most important things to remember during wedding planning. It is very easy to rack up charges, especially with a large guest count. With a wedding planner, we can tell you when your ideas are a bit too ambitious or within range. Since we work with a lot of these vendors weekly, we can prepare you for how much certain vendors will cost before you spend any money.

Scheduling

We will never let a task fall behind schedule while planning and on the day of. During the planning process, we start by giving you an idea of how your planning process should flow (no matter what stage of the process you are in). We present tasks that are urgent and keep you on track. We check in every so often to ensure the planning process is still on track. On your wedding day, together with you and your photographer, we create a timeline of how the day should flow. While you more than likely will not be 100% on time during the day, we do try to keep you as close to the schedule as possible.

Connections with Other Wedding Vendors

We have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of wedding vendors, and some we have gotten to know them pretty well. We can offer additional insight and recommendations to help you decide which vendors would be a good fit. We also can have an easier time communicating with vendors that double as our friends. Bonus! Your day will move SO smoothly when most of your wedding vendors have worked with each other before (and on dozens of other occasions!)

Enjoy a Stress-Free Wedding Day

Our number one goal is to ensure you and your family have a stress-free wedding day. It always makes us so sad when we see a family member or friends running around on the day of to set up or handling other important last-minute tasks. Let us take care of that! We are in contact with your vendors during the week leading up to your event, letting them know important details and when and where to be. Our packages include set up and tear down. You drop off your items and let us know where everything goes, and we will make sure it gets there. At the end of the night, we pack up all your items and send you on your way. We go above and beyond to ensure you and your family enjoy the day fully.