Douglas James Nevick
Down to Earth: Rustic Décor
Rustic décor provides couples with an opportunity to combine a love of nature and history. “The perfect settings for rustic weddings are barns, historic farm homes and woodlands,” says Pasko. Each of these venue choices offers its own distinctive variation on rustic style. The frame of a wooden barn, the craftsmanship of a stone farmhouse wall, or the breathtaking beauty of a forest can all serve as an eye-catching background in your photos. You can even mix and match locations between the ceremony and the reception, such as having the ceremony outdoors and the reception in a barn.
Rustic décor is all about working with what’s on hand, and letting nature and the location set the tone. “With an emphasis on organic, natural accents, and a loose, gathered look, the décor emphasizes lots of texture and layering elements like moss, branches, leaves and different types of greenery,” says Pasko. Time of year can also play a role in your decorating decisions, whether you want to revel in the golds, oranges and crimsons of autumn, or the brilliant leafy greenery of a summer day. “Flowers may include: blue globe thistle, pods and dried elements, like grasses.” These complement rustic décor’s bucolic, natural feel.
Beyond flowers, rustic style is a great way to get creative and personal with your decorating choices. “Wood slabs, lanterns and fairy lights are great rustic accents, and the organic nature of this design invites clients to incorporate their own favorite pieces,” says Pasko. Wooden planks can be utilized for stylish signs, while lanterns can be used for décor and lighting. Combined with a candle, lanterns provide warm illumination and rustic centerpieces. Fairy lights offer a soft, firefly-like glow whether they are hung in trees or wrapped around the beams of a barn.
As far as color schemes go, Pasko says, “Think neutral color palette and elemental tones for this theme.” Since rustic décor is organic and inspired by nature, earthy tones like browns and greens are often used. Because this style focuses on incorporating the surrounding scenery, it showcases one of rustic décor’s advantages. “It is the most budget friendly as it allows you to incorporate less expensive flowers, or non-floral elements like moss, bark and river rocks,” notes Pasko. Rustic décor has a comfortable, laid-back vibe — perfect for creating a relaxed atmosphere that emphasizes everyone having fun and celebrating the new couple.
Enduring Elegance: Classic Décor
“The classic theme is rooted in tradition and is often regal and formal,” Pasko says. This timeless style is all about honoring and preserving the past. Couples who gravitate towards classic décor aren’t interested in scoping out the latest trends; they prefer traveling the path of time-tested style. Since classic weddings tend to be more formal, they offer a great opportunity for guests to dress up in their finest suits and ball gowns. In addition, receptions can include a multi-course sit-down meal as a more formal option.
Pasko describes classic décor as incorporating a wide variety of venue types and sizes. “Picture the charm of a home wedding, country club or ballroom with elements like monograms, soft lines and flowing fabric,” she says. Besides celebrating your new union, monograms are a perfect fit for a classical aesthetic. Monograms have a long history, dating from the time of ancient Greece and Rome. They also have an association with royalty, family heritage and prestige. These versatile symbols can be incorporated on a mirrored sign to welcome guests, on the cake, on the wedding program, or even on the dance floor.
When it comes to color choices, classic décor celebrates all the elegant shades that we associate with a wedding. “Tried and true is the key to this theme,” notes Pasko. “Color palettes include soft pastels, champagne, blush, ivory and traditional seasonal ones.”
For florals, the classic theme is a champion of traditional wedding favorites. “This theme transcends time with flowers like roses, spray roses, hydrangeas and seeded eucalyptus.” Given their long-standing connection to love and romance, roses hold an important place in classic wedding décor. Eucalyptus is also a timeless favorite that adds texture and greenery, and is a symbol of protection and abundance. With their lush, round blooms, both roses and hydrangeas create visually stunning floral arrangements. Hydrangeas symbolize perseverance and heartfelt emotion, making them a beautiful and meaningful addition to classic style. Accompanied by tealights, these blooms can be arranged in bowls for an elegant table display.
Another strength of classic décor is that its price has some flexibility and “falls in the mid to high budget range,” according to Pasko. With its enduring style, a classic theme can provide lasting satisfaction years later. “Timeless design choices guarantee that when you look back at your wedding photos decades from now, you’ll still smile and applaud your choices.”
Fairytale Splendor: Romantic Décor
Set your sights on romantic décor to create the glamorous fantasy wedding of your dreams. Right now, this style is more lavish than ever. “Micro weddings were very 2020, but the shift in wanting to celebrate on a large scale signals the return to the big, ‘blow out’ wedding,” notes Pasko. “Perfect venues include historic ballrooms, castles and mansions.” With high ceilings, stone towers and other awe-inspiring architectural details, each of these locations will make you feel like you stepped out of the pages of your favorite fairytale.
Romantic décor celebrates the magic of love and provides a memorable, upscale experience amid an enchanting atmosphere. “There is less emphasis on color palette; it’s all about grandeur and opulence, incorporating large centerpieces and floral installations,” says Pasko. Since the color palette is not taking center stage, this style encompasses a wide range of options. If pinks and pastels aren’t your style, go with deeper, vibrant colors. “You may use soft tones or bold jewel tones,” Pasko notes.
Like a fine dining experience, romantic style sets out to engage all the senses. Comfort and softness are key aspects of this theme. Festooned draperies hung from the ceilings and walls make a soft, elegant contribution. Lighting also plays a key role in creating an ethereal feeling. “It is characterized by lots of candlelight, fine china and flatware, upgraded and textured linens, soft seating and mood lighting.” The warm ambience of candlelight suits the romantic mood to perfection and is an ideal way to create an intimate atmosphere, no matter how large the guest list.
Since this theme emphasizes grandeur, romantic décor choices are frequently bold and eye-catching. “It often features solid floral centerpieces, tall vases and luxury candelabras. Floral choices for this theme include roses, peonies, dahlias, ranunculus and even orchids.” With their large, beautiful blooms and layers of petals, these flowers are perfect for romantic décor’s maximalist style. For example, a cascading floral display curved around a sofa creates a romantic spot for photographing the newlyweds.
Not surprisingly, romantic décor often has a budget that reflects its emphasis on opulence. “This theme could be in the higher price range due to the amount of floral and grand centerpieces used,” says Pasko. Even so, romantic décor is an ideal opportunity to create a once-in-a-lifetime event that you and your guests will be reminiscing about again and again.
Of-the-Moment Art: Modern Décor
Modern décor is a go-to choice for couples that want their wedding to reflect the here and now. This style tends toward minimalism and carefully planned décor decisions. “The modern theme is defined by clean lines, a contemporary vibe, and is usually monochromatic and tonal,” says Pasko. Sticking with one color choice helps cultivate modern décor’s fresh, less-is-more vibe.
This trendy, sophisticated style works well in indoor and outdoor locales. “Perfect settings include open-air tents, urban lofts and museums,” notes Pasko. Contemporary venues often contain a built-in aesthetic that’s an ideal backdrop for modern celebrations. Museums, for instance, don’t require a lot of added décor since they already have their own in-house collection of extraordinary objects. Tents, on the other hand, allow couples to start with a blank canvas and make intentional décor choices from there. Tents also provide plenty of natural lighting and are a great way to integrate the outdoors.
“Design components include clean tablescapes, geometric shapes, metallic decor and unusual or art-inspired installations,” Pasko says. Geometric shapes can be used in a myriad of ways, from connected hexagons used as a ceremony backdrop, or 3D shapes incorporated into hanging décor or light fixtures. Disco balls combine metallic décor and geometric shapes and can be hung from the ceiling, or smaller versions can be used as table decorations.
Greenery is a versatile element in modern décor. Besides contributing to a clean, monochromatic style, leafy additions create an airy, outdoor feel anywhere. “White with greens, greenery chandeliers and even asymmetrical design is characteristic of this theme,” Pasko says. Hanging greenery in tandem with chandeliers makes a dramatic statement and draws the eye upwards. It also can be a delightful accompaniment to a dance floor.
For florals, “Great modern floral choices are calla lilies, orchids and tulips.” With their elongated blooms and long sturdy stems, calla lilies are a trendy choice for modern weddings. They can be arranged into breathtaking centerpieces or spectacular hanging displays. Luxurious, exotic-looking orchids also make a perfect modern statement. With their colorful variety, tulips are also a trendy choice and ideal for elegant centerpieces.
Like classic décor, the price point of a modern wedding varies. “This theme falls between mid-level to high, based on opulence and design choices,” Pasko says. Price aside, the results of this décor style can be awe-inspiring. “When this theme is well done, you may feel like you’re entering a piece of artwork.”
