Hey there, lovebirds! As your best friend and unofficial wedding guru, I’m here to spill the tea on why wedding styling is an absolute game-changer for your special day. Trust me, when I say it’s more than just picking out pretty flowers and fancy linens—it’s about creating an atmosphere that’s uniquely you. So, grab a cuppa and let’s dive into the fabulous world of wedding styling!
Stylist vs. a Planner: Who Does What?
First things first, let’s clear up the confusion between a wedding stylist and a wedding planner. While both are essential for orchestrating your dream wedding, they play different roles.
Your wedding planner is like your personal fairy godmother, waving her magic wand to coordinate vendors, manage timelines, and ensure everything runs smoothly. They’re the logistical masterminds behind the scenes, handling the nitty-gritty details so you can focus on soaking up every moment.
Enter the wedding stylist, aka your aesthetic soulmate. Think of them as the visionary artist who brings your Pinterest board to life. They’re all about curating the look and feel of your wedding—from arbour design to chair style, décor and floral arrangements to colour palettes and mood boards. With their keen eye for design, they’ll transform your wedding venue into a breathtaking masterpiece.
What Does a Stylist Do Anyway?
Now, you might be wondering, “But what exactly does a wedding stylist do?” Oh, honey, buckle up because they do it all:
Conceptualising Your Vision
Your stylist is like a mind reader, translating all your wedding ‘must haves’ and ‘do not wants’ – into a cohesive wedding theme. Whether you’re going for coastal chic, traditional classic or contemporary glam, they’ll work their magic to capture the essence of your love story. They’ll ensure that every floral arrangement is flawless, every table setting is Instagram-worthy, and every corner of your venue is styled to perfection!
Creating Mood Boards
Picture-perfect inspiration boards? Check! Your stylist will whip up visual representations of your wedding aesthetic, helping you visualize every exquisite detail.
Choosing Décor Elements
From tablescapes and centerpieces to ceremony backdrops and lighting, your stylist will handpick décor elements that reflect your personality and style. They’ll hunt down the perfect linens, candles, and accents to elevate your venue to new heights of elegance.
Furniture Hire
Good stylists will have their own furniture on hand or use only quality vendors to source it. They will have collections that they can put together to create a look just for you.
Collaborating with Vendors
Your stylist will work with your reception and/or ceremony venues to create floorplans and details for the day. Good stylists will also make sure that any wet weather plans and general logistics are incorporated into your day so you are ready for any scenario.
FCF Tip – Put together Pinterest board with images from weddings you like as well as what you don’t like. This will give your stylist a clear idea of what to include and what to avoid. Check out our Pinterest board for your wedding inspo!
Why a Stylist is Your Wedding MVP
Now, you might be thinking, “Do I really need a wedding stylist?” Trust me, you absolutely do, and here’s why:
Your wedding should be a reflection of your unique love story, not a cookie-cutter template. A stylist will infuse your personality and style into every aspect of your wedding, creating a one-of-a-kind celebration that’s authentically you.
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but with a stylist by your side, you can kiss stress goodbye. They’ll handle all the design details, leaving you free to enjoy the journey without getting bogged down in the minutiae. Plus do you REALLY want to be counting out candles and tying fairy lights on your big day?
Let’s face it—everyone wants their wedding to be jaw-droppingly gorgeous. With a stylist’s expertise, your venue will be transformed into a breathtaking masterpiece that leaves your guests swooning and snapping photos at every turn.
Professionals only – Some wedding venues will only allow professional stylists to set up a wedding reception or ceremony. Stylists have their own insurance, know how to get the best out of the venue plus they make sure everything is set up on time and packed down at the end of the evening.
FCF Tip – Before booking your ceremony or reception venue, make sure you check if they allow DIY or you need a professional stylist to set it all up.
Wedding Styling Essentials for Your Big Day
So, what wedding styling elements should you consider for your big day? Here are a few key essentials to get you started:
Ceremony Décor
Do you want plinths or a traditional door frame arbour? Oh and chairs – white or timber? What style will go best with that beautiful round arbour you have your heart set on? A good stylist will design a ceremony that suits the ceremony location and you. Your stylist should be able to show you everything they will be using on your special day so you have a clear picture of what you are getting.
Floral Design
Flowers are the pièce de résistance of wedding styling, adding colour, and romance to your celebration. Work with your stylist to choose blooms that complement your theme and color palette. They can teach you the language of flowers (yes it’s a thing!) by preparing a style mood board that you can take to your florist to communicate your vision with them. Even better, at First Class Functions we have our own in house florist who can sit in on any styling meetings to make sure everyone is on the same gorgeous page!
Table Settings
Elevate your dining experience with beautifully curated table settings, including linens, cutlery, personalised menus, candles, table numbers and more. It’s all about those little details that make a big impact. When you know, you know 😊
Lighting
Don’t underestimate the power of lighting to create ambiance and drama. Whether it’s twinkling fairy lights, romantic candles, or disco balls, lighting sets the mood for your night.
Personalised Touches
Infuse your wedding with personal touches that reflect your love story, whether it’s custom signage, photographs of those who cant be there (yes pet photos are allowed!), wishing wells and guest books. Good stylists will not only take these into consideration for your day but arrange them so they are in the right spot on the day.
FCF Styling Tip – Budget in mind, your styling should make the reception venue shine. You don’t need to go over the top to do this but it needs to feel like a wedding, not a casual get together with a group of friends.
Why First Class Functions does more than style
Put simply, to make it easy for you! We know you might not have organised a wedding before, so we have created a space where you can get all your styling including stationary, furniture, chairs, arbours, linens, table numbers and florals from the one place. With our warehouse full of furniture and décor we can deliver, set up and collect everything you need.
We maintain everything to the highest quality, making sure that it is not only on trend but tied into your special day. For this reason we also have our own florist – because what is a wedding without flowers?! Using our expertise we tie all the florals for your big day perfectly to all your styling elements so it is all just filled with wedding gorgeousness.
Styling Checklist – things to consider when choosing a stylist:
- Have they worked at the venue/s before?
- Do they have photographs of work they have done at your venue?
- Do they include delivery and set up of your wedding?
- Will they work with you on a wet weather venue?
- Do they have a minimum spend?
- Are they local?
- Choose a stylist
FCF tip – Its important not to choose a stylist purely on price as styling is such an important part of your day. Make sure you see their work and feel confident in the team. Each stylist will have their own look and collections so choose one that reflects you.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your wedding should be a celebration of your love, your style, and your journey together. With the help of a talented wedding stylist, you can turn your vision into reality and create a day that’s as beautiful and unforgettable as your love story. So, let’s make some magic happen—because you deserve nothing less than perfection on your special day! Let’s connect.
