How to Design a Gorgeous Wedding Place Setting
You want your guest ambiance to be awesome, for your guests to mingle and enjoy themselves.
But you also want them to have a “home base” for the evening, somewhere for the quieter guests to feel comfortable and for the busy bees to drop off their belongings at before they go shake some hands. So why not put a little energy and attention into that home base?
I’ve always been a sucker for a gorgeous place setting. Layering bits and pieces together creates a well-designed element to your tabletop that sets the overall design apart. It can tell a story to your guests, or give them a taste of what’s to come throughout the evening, or combine form with function. Whatever it is, it’s in these little bits and pieces that your wedding design comes to life.
I’m a sucker for a gorgeous place setting.
Photo by Brittany Mahood | Wedding Planning & Design by Feast & Festivities | Florals by Stone House Creative
You want your guest ambiance to be awesome, for your guests to mingle and enjoy themselves.
But you also want them to have a “home base” for the evening, somewhere for the quieter guests to feel comfortable and for the busy bees to drop off their belongings at before they go shake some hands. So why not put a little energy and attention into that home base?
I’ve always been a sucker for a gorgeous place setting. Layering bits and pieces together creates a well-designed element to your tabletop that sets the overall design apart. It can tell a story to your guests, or give them a taste of what’s to come throughout the evening, or combine form with function. Whatever it is, it’s in these little bits and pieces that your wedding design comes to life.
This is probably one of my favourite place settings from a wedding that I’ve designed the flowers for. Emily from Feast & Festivities does a beautiful job of pulling together the intricate details in a clean, modern way. She actually custom-made the napkins and the accent colour thread is AMAZING, as is the way she folded the napkin across the dinner plate. At this wedding, the meal was served family-style, so the plates were all layered together, which looks beautiful but isn’t necessarily functional for every wedding.
Read on for some more inspiration, at different budget points and with different elements pieced together!
Plus, I’ve put together an entire Pin board with some more gorgeous place settings for you to check out, here!
Keep it simple, stupid
Planning: Birds of a Feather Events | Flowers: Bows & Arrows | Photo: Apryl Ann
Or not stupid. Didn’t mean to be rude.
I wanted to start this off with a simple place setting, with budget-friendly pieces that don’t require you to add too much in the way of “extras.” If your dinner is going to be served, then it’s coming on a plate. If you don’t want to add the extra expense of a charger plate, then a flat-folded napkin can easily serve the role of plate setting. Add in a menu or place card to simply make a big impact.
Have some fun with accents
Design: Rhiannon Bosse Celebrations | Photo: Samantha James
A flower, a favour…a mini pineapple?
Whatever your style might be, layering in a fun accent is a great way to bring some personality and design to your place setting. I love this combination of wood charger and smoke grey bread plate because it checks off both the form and the function boxes.
Creative Use of Colour
Design: Amorology | Florals: Siren Floral Co | Photo: Tanya Menoni
You know I’m all about the colour.
No matter what your palette is, extending it into your place settings will make a massive difference. Winnipeg doesn’t have a ton of options for non-white plates, so consider how you can use napkins, cutlery, coloured glasses, and menu to tie your design together.
When paper products make all the difference
Planning: Amorette Events | Floral: Siren Floral Co | Photo: Lucy Munoz
Go the extra mile and further personalize each guest’s place setting with perfect stationery pieces.
When I’m setting up a wedding, my favourite thing to do is read the menu and pretend that I’m a guest. I very often literally start to salivate. If your budget allows, placing a beautifully designed menu at each setting is another way to further tie your design throughout the wedding. Place cards are more than just an aesthetic element, though the soft marbling of the card in the image above is breathtaking. Sometimes guests really do need to be told where to sit — especially when you’ve chosen rows of long tables, and it becomes trickier for couples to find seats together.
Play with the Napkin Fold
Planning: Michelle Lynn Weddings | Photo: Kerry McIntyre
This is another really budget-friendly option.
If you want to add upgrade your place setting without upgrading your budget, simply play around with the napkin fold! Every guest needs a napkin anyways, so even if you’re just using the venue’s basic white or ivory napkin, a knotted napkin can go a long way towards making an interesting impact — as can upgraded cutlery. I love the gold flatware here!
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL and event DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
Getting married in 2022? Appointments to plan your dream florals are now available. Click the button below to get started!
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
2021 and 2022 Wedding Trends
The ways we can gather and celebrate weddings has changed, and wedding trends are changing right along with it.
As a result, the way we think about the atmosphere of our weddings has changed. It’s probably one of the only things that I’m grateful to Covid for — with all the shifts in wedding planning, engaged people moved their focus from their original wedding plans towards “how can I make my intimate wedding the best it can be?” and that has resulted in some seriously good ambiance.
The ways we can gather and celebrate weddings has changed,
and wedding trends are changing right along with it.
Photography by Jolaika | From the 2020 Portfolio Builder hosted by Stone House Creative and Feast & Festivities
As a result, the way we think about the atmosphere of our weddings has changed. It’s probably one of the only things that I’m grateful to Covid for — with all the shifts in wedding planning, engaged people moved their focus from their original wedding plans towards “how can I make my intimate wedding the best it can be?” and that has resulted in some seriously good ambiance.
And when it comes to “wedding trends,” this looks a lot more like throwing out the rule book and ignoring what everyone else is doing, and instead focusing on how we want ourselves and our guests to feel and experience our weddings.
So while I normally talk about decor and style predictions, colours that I’m loving, and similar details when I talk about wedding trends, today I’m shifting the focus of the trend conversation towards how we can make our celebrations feel the most amazing, once we’re able to really be back together again.
1) Creative Floor Plans
You may be looking at hosting a smaller-than-anticipated guest list in your larger-than-necessary venue. That doesn’t mean that you need to cancel with your venue and seek out something else. I’d encourage you to view it as an opportunity to get creative!
1) Incorporate lounges to make the space feel intimate and give people options.
Think about your guests and how you want them to experience your wedding. Not everyone likes to dance or listen to loud music — give them a quiet nook to sit and catch up with people they haven’t seen in a while! Image below by Blush Wed Photo with planning + design @petitepearlevents .
2) Creatively Separate the areas of your reception with billowy draping.
Notice how the drapery behind the cake below (Southern Posies) ensures that the cake itself becomes a focal point? Whatever you want the focal point of your reception to be, consider how you can play with the floor plan to give it more attention.
3) Create a canopy for your dinner tables.
Lighting, floral, drapery — there are plenty of options to do something cool and unique here. Take a look at the image above, designed by Always Yours Events. She used drapery to create a dreamy canopy effect with a slight beachy vibe, all within the confines of a typical ballroom. This is the perfect example that, though you may need to reduce your guest count, you can still keep your booking at your now too-large venue, while creating an incredible ambiance!
4) Of course, play with the table shapes and layout themselves!
The more space you have, the more variety in table shapes you can fit. Long, round, square — have some fun!
2) Less “typical” Bridal ATtire
the vibe of your wedding might be changed from how you pictured it — or maybe you’re just not a pouffy dress kind of girl. just because you’re having a wedding, don’t feel like you HAVE to dress a certain way — make your attire work for you. whatever your case, consider a little white (or not white) outfit that’s more to your taste.
My go-to recommendation for something like this is BHLDN. Below are a few of my faves, featuring mix and match separates including sweaters and skirts, jumpsuits, blazers and killer pants. You could also shop locally — a lot of boutiques will carry options that could be perfect for the ambiance of your wedding. Here in Winnipeg, Mad About Style does a white collection every spring/summer that always has gorgeous pieces with a slightly more laid-back, feminine vibe.
3) Live Music
I don’t really know what else needs to be said here: I’m forecasting More live music for 2021 and 2022 weddings, because it really contributes to the ambiance more than anything else.
To further personalize your event, the great thing about live music is that it’s very customizable to the ambiance that you want to create. Looking for a Top 40s dance party? Hit up Big City All Star Band. Want to keep things a little more casual, with an acoustic guitar and folk singer? I always love it when I’m setting up at the same time as Keith Macpherson is doing a sound check (pictured above from one of our August 2020 weddings). Winnipeg is also home to Luminous String Quartet, who are some of my faves to create a unique ceremony ambiance. Karen composes and arranges major hits into pieces for her string quartet, and they’re amazing. Give em a listen on Spotify.
4) straying from tradition and Doing things Your Way
Colour palette. style. forgoing traditions for tradition’s sake.
We’re seeing fewer cake cutting photo ops, fewer bouquet tosses, fewer corsages…if it doesn’t hold importance to you, then don’t spend another moment thinking about it (or another dollar on it).
Here’s some wise advice from Janelle of Lavenders Flowers:
“I knew I wanted our wedding to represent us for who we were in November of 2019, not worrying about what we may like or not like 20 years from now. Sure, future Janelle may or may not regret wearing a hat and having a rainbow color story, but who cares? Could you imagine what wedding my 10-year-old self would have dreamed up?!
My best wedding planning advice is to let go of the pressure to be or look a certain way and start having fun! Focus on what you DO want and ask yourself why certain things are important to you, write them down, then stick with it like a road map to your final destination. After all, it’s your day; make it something you're excited (not stressed) about!”
Forget about what’s “timeless.” In 10 years, will you care? No. So just do it the way you want. Use that vibrant colour palette that you love but scares you. Choose the dress that speaks to you when you twirl in it rather than going for something classic.
And speaking of non-traditional bridal attire…check out that Maison Corazon separates look from a shoot I styled back in the summer. Gorgeous, right? Photo by Esther Funk Photography.
5) Design Details
I said I wasn’t going to talk about the details much…but I had to throw a few things in. Here are some design and decor trends that I’m following and loving:
1) Leather Details
Like the placemat and sweet little name tag in the image above from Fete Collection, I’m finding myself OBSESSED with leather details and finding places to bring it into my designs. I have this idea for a leather envelope…not sure how functional that one is 😂 A much easier addition would be a camel leather chair in your lounge, rentable from Trend Decor here in Winnipeg.
2) Warm Colour Palettes
I used to be a cool tone girl. I loved pastels and lighter tones and have mostly decorated my home with them, but more and more I am finding myself drawn to warm tones, so much so that I included this is in last year’s trend round-up as well (like the bouquet below by Texture Florals — and note that it’s not JUST bright oranges…it’s just warm overall). Candles are a great place to bring this in — check out the toffee taper candles below and tell me you don’t love that touch of warmth!
3) Elaborately Floral-Ized Wedding Cakes
Whether the cake itself is simple or pretty heavily decorated, it deserves to be even more of a focal point than it already is. I’ve been loving seeing cakes be given a major floral treatment — maybe a ring around the cake (like the one below that I designed around a Jenna Rae Cakes confection), or ground-based florals that form the base of the cake table, or even a floral tier!
4) Monochromatic Colour usage
Now, you all know that I will dig into as much colour as you let me. But if you’re a little wary, a monochromatic look is the perfect way to have some fun without needing to be brave. Look at this monochromatic design below from Ashley Fox Designs — it’s simply different shades of the same pink hue. Playing with different levels of the same colour really allows the various elements to soar and I love how the texture is elevated here.
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
Getting married in 2022? Appointments to plan your dream florals are now available. Click the button below to get started!
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
2019 and 2020 Wedding Trends
Happy New Year, friends! I’m writing to you from my maternity leave :) I’ll still have fresh content coming to you every few weeks (don’t worry…I pre-scheduled it all before baby came so I’m not actually working that much right now!) - I just didn’t want to leave you hanging. I always love to start off the year with a post about the upcoming wedding trends that I see and really like.
I’ll start this off by saying that I actually really DON’T like “trends.” I’ve never really liked shopping in the trendy stores for whatever style is in that month, for the reason that I’m more of a quality over quantity person. Most of the time, things that are earmarked as “trends” are styles and ideas that are mass-marketed (meaning, everyone is going to have them and they’re not special anymore), cheaply made (why would I spend money on something that is going to go in the trash?), and will likely generate a response from you in just a few short months or years wondering “why on earth did I do that?” When it comes to your wedding, I firmly believe in quality over quantity and I never want someone to look back on their wedding and think “Why did I choose THAT for my wedding?”
So all that to say, you can feel rest assured that when I write about the trends that I see, they’re more general style movements that will have lasting power and you’re not likely to regret choosing for one of the most important days of your life. I’m also mostly concerned about trends that play into your wedding flowers or overall event design. With that said, here are some of the “trends” that I am seeing a lot of, or would like to see more of, which I think would be a beautiful addition to your 2019 or 2020 wedding!
Wedding Colour of the Year: Mauve
This is hardly surprising. We’re moving into a slightly deeper, moodier take on the most popular tone of the last few years, blush. But like blush, mauve can be interpreted in more than one way. It can read pinkier, more purple/lavender, or more taupe-like depending on what direction you want to take it - I personally see mauve more as a muddy purple tone but I know a lot of florists who see it more pink. So, just be sure to have some picture or colour swatch representation to make sure that all of your aesthetic wedding vendors are on the same page when it comes to understanding your wishes for mauve.
Favourite flowers in mauve: amnesia rose, cappuccino rose, cafe latte rose, frittillaria, roseanne brown lisianthus
Mauve pairs well with an analogous colour palette, which means a grouping of 3 colours that sit right beside each on the colour wheel. So, shades of pinks, purples, and peaches, as an example, would allow mauve to be the perfect base colour.
Honourable Mention for Colour of the Year: Orange!
Yes, I’m surprising myself when I say this, seeing as orange has always been right at the bottom of my list. But, I’m seeing more and more of it being tucked in as an accent colour to weddings, bringing a shot of vibrancy that many of my couples seem to be craving. Even more surprising, I’m finding that I don’t hate it…but actually kind of like it!
Take a look at the Marchesa gown below, shot by KT Merry for Flutter Mag - orange is not the primary colour by any stretch of the imagination, but it plays a supporting role that awakens the other tones mixed throughout the gown. I have a wedding coming up this year with a similar palette that I CANNOT wait for!
I personally like to see orange used as an accent, as I often find it too aggressive as a focal colour. It pairs beautifully with blue, red, yellow, green, and anything in the peaches to coral range.
Don’t Miss Trend: Touches of the Tropics
If you follow any large-name floral and wedding designers on Instagram, I’m confident that you’ll have noticed one of the more recent trends that I’m saying you can’t miss: a touch of the tropics. I’m talking a dramatic usage of large palm leaves, ferns (both natural and bleached), and tropical flowers like anthuriums or orchids. Now, you don’t need to go all the way with a rainforest-inspired wedding (though I’m definitely not knocking that!) and you can easily work a tropical accent into a garden-inspired design.
Floral Design by Oh Flora (follow her for some gorgeous inspiration!), Photo by Lana Ivanova
Wedding Planning by Amorology, Floral Design by Isa Floral
Floral design by Nectar & Bloom
What’s Trending in Table Decor? Floral Centrepieces!
I’m pretty pleased to see a return to more floral-heavy centrepieces in the coming year. I’m seeing fewer and fewer requests for garlands, which I have to say I’m happy about - as much as garlands are gorgeous, they get pretty repetitive for us florists. My clients are typically asking for arrangements that are low to the table, as opposed to tall ones, and sometimes asking for styles in which you can’t even see the vase. Of course, just be prepared that a floral arrangement will have a price tag on it. I typically suggest a minimum of $75 for a floral centrepiece, with most of the inspiration photos that people are bringing me from Pinterest coming in around $300 each (generally I find a $125 - $175 budget to be PERFECT).
Photo by Laura Foote Photography, Florals by me!
…And Coloured Candles
I’d love to see more of my clients adding depth to their tablescapes with the use of coloured candles. A subtle taupe elevates the sense of elegance in a space, a petal pink emphasizes femininity, a warm toffee adds richness, a charcoal grey feels chic and big-city. See what I mean? So much depth can be brought to your overall reception design with the simple tweak that is a coloured candle. These are always going to be more expensive than your typical white candle, but I think it’s a worthwhile investment. Some of my favourite sources for coloured candles are Yummi (which is a Canadian brand, and in my opinion, the best!), Creative Candles, and Quick Candles. The set below is from The Floral Society (they recently started selling at Anthropologie!) and I LOVE them!
So there you have it: Some of my favourite “trends” for the 2019 and 2020 wedding season! I’d love to incorporate some of these design ideas into my work so if you see something you like, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m a believer that a design style has to be in keeping with the setting that the wedding is taking place in, so it might be tricky to tuck in bits of orange if you’re getting married in a ballroom with a burgundy palette, but let’s talk :)
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
My 2020 waitlist has already been started, and couples interested in full event and floral design will be contacted first about their dates. I offer a limited number of dates for event design each year, in order to allow me to work closely with each couple. Combining event and floral design is the perfect option for couples who live out of town, or couples who feel they need a little extra help in creating the visual plan for their wedding day. Click this link to learn more!
How to Choose a Gorgeous Wedding Colour Palette
Your colour palette is one of the most important things when it comes to the visual experience of your wedding, and there are a number of things to consider when you're first choosing the right combination. I'm going to briefly walk you through a few of the top things to consider, and then tell you where I think a lot of couples go wrong.
1) Your venue. Let's face it, a lot of venues have some BIZARRE and very noticeable colour palettes already going on. Purple and orange carpet, anyone? I've seen it (at more than one venue...barf). You definitely have to keep the built-in colour palette of your venue in mind when selecting your colour combination.
2) Your favourite colours! Are you drawn to warm tones or cool tones? Neutrals or bright colours? Do you like contrasting colours or complimentary colours? Pulling out a colour wheel is a great way to identify some possible accent colours. Check out this post for some great help.
3) How you can tie these together in a way that is unique, interesting, and not boring? Like all trends, colour combinations tend to go in cycles. And like everything that pops up on Pinterest, most colour combinations become VERY overdone. That doesn't mean these colours aren't great...it just means that the chances of your wedding looking a LOT like everyone else's are pretty high. Take, for example, navy/blush/gold. It's a great combination, but because of how overused it is, it doesn't lend anything personal or unique to your wedding style.
Okay, so what is it that I find most people do wrong when it comes to choosing a gorgeous wedding colour palette? They play it too safe! There's no need for you to stick to just 1 or 2 colours, or a palette which is predictable, or sticking to a combination that is overly seasonal (you don't need to use only white and green in winter...just do whatever you want!).
HERE'S MY TOP TIP FOR DEVELOPING A GORGEOUS WEDDING COLOUR PALETTE:
Don't be afraid to expand on your colour palette to find the right accents.
1. Take the colour palette progression photos above as an example. I started with a pretty basic colour palette: white and green. Now, there's nothing wrong with white and green but it's really hard to make a white and green bouquet different from the last white and green bouquet.
2. So, I added in a touch of burgundy foliage and berries. This added a bit of depth and texture at the same time, but it's not too much and if you're a bit afraid of colour, this is a great level for you.
3. Now, if you're ready to go a touch farther, layer in a bit of soft pink. This can be just an accent, or it can be bolder, too. Bonus points if your pink blooms have a touch of that burgundy tone, like the centre of these gorgeous lisianthus.
4. And finally, if the idea of adding in colour doesn't stress you out, then just go for it: add in some yellow. In almost every palette, I find that a delicate hint of yellow brings life and excitement.
Here's another example, with a fall palette!
If you're unsure of how to develop your wedding colour palette, flowers are a great place to work in accent colours without needing to have different tones splashed throughout the decor. And if you need a second opinion or some different suggestions, I'd love to talk with you.
I'm now booking 2018 weddings! Click the button below to send me an inquiry. I can't wait to hear from you!
Cielo's Garden Open House
Calling all 2016 and 2017 couples getting married at or interested in Cielo's Garden!
OPEN HOUSE: Wednesday, May 18
5-8 pm
Appointments available but not required
Cielo's Garden is one of my absolutely FAVOURITE wedding venues in Manitoba. The clear topped tent is so unique and really allows for the beauty of our summers to take centre stage, and the stone chapel in the woods is SUCH a dreamy place for a ceremony. Seriously, this place is just amazing, and I'm so excited to have quite a handful of amazing weddings there this year. I can't wait to show you everything that I've dreamed up with my brides!
On Wednesday, I'll be there at Cielo's with some floral tablescapes and ceremony decor, showing you different ideas for the room to be worked with at different budget points. I'll also be available to schedule flower consultations for your 2017 weddings, and I'll be hanging out with my pal Amanda of Amanda Douglas Events, who is one of Winnipeg's very TOP wedding planners and coordinators. She offers both day-of coordination and full wedding planning, and she also loves working at Cielo's (and FYI, we love working together!).
And now, here are a few pretty pics from a wedding I did at Cielo's last summer with Amanda and with Simply Rosie Photography!
