Creating An Elegant Wedding: Secrets To A Chic Celebration

There are many ways to make a wedding chic. From the venue to the decor, the invitations to the food, and even the attire, there are numerous elements to consider when planning a chic wedding.

Chic weddings can be held in a variety of venues, from industrial-style warehouses to gardens, forests, and barns. The decor can include natural elements, vintage items, and rustic details, with a focus on clean lines, minimalist designs, and fresh greenery.

Chic weddings often feature unique and personalised touches, such as romantic quotes, DIY details, and creative use of lighting. The invitations and stationery can also reflect the chic theme, with neat fonts, brown card, string, and rough edges.

When it comes to food and drinks, a chic wedding might offer creative cocktails, seasonal and locally sourced dishes, and unique flavour combinations.

Overall, a chic wedding is about creating an elegant, stylish, and sophisticated atmosphere that reflects the couple's personalities and creates a memorable experience for the guests.

Industrial-chic: Transforming raw, abandoned spaces with modern décor

Industrial-chic weddings are all about giving new life to once-neglected or abandoned spaces like former factories, revamped warehouses, and converted lofts. The raw, unrefined structures with their exposed brick, peeling paint, visible pipes, and cement floors are transformed with modern décor, creating a unique setting for a wedding celebration.

Venue

To achieve the industrial-chic look, the first step is to find a "raw space" venue. This could be an old warehouse, a former factory, or a converted loft, providing a blank slate to work with. These spaces have character and allow you to build your wedding from the ground up while highlighting the inherent features of the venue.

Budget

It's important to be mindful of your budget when choosing a raw space venue, as they typically require renting essential items like tables, chairs, linens, and flatware, which can add up quickly. However, the good news is that industrial-chic weddings tend to be no-frills, so you can keep the flowers and décor fairly minimal.

Décor

When it comes to décor, less is more. The venue itself provides visual interest, so you don't need a lot of extra decorations. Focus on rich textures, mixed metals, architectural patterns, and sophisticated foliage to dress up the space. Here are some specific ideas:

• Acrylic or Lucite: Adding crystal-clear acrylic or Lucite elements, like ghost chairs or acrylic runners, lends a cool, contemporary vibe while keeping the focus on the surrounding elements.
• Geometric Patterns: The architectural nature of hexagons and other angular shapes makes them a perfect fit for the industrial setting.
• Mixed Metals, Stoneware, & Wood: Incorporate galvanized metal, gold, copper, stainless steel, reclaimed wood, and stoneware to enhance the industrial theme.
• Lighting: Ambient lighting is essential for an industrial-chic wedding. Consider statement chandeliers, salvaged-metal marquee letters, and Edison-style light bulbs for a warm glow.
• Greenery: Instead of elaborate floral arrangements, opt for an overflow of greenery, including vines, leaves, and other lush foliage.
• Minimalist Altar: Skip the floral archway and keep things simple with a minimalist altar, letting the venue's features shine.

Photo Ops

Don't forget to think outside the box for photo opportunities. Play up the juxtaposition of your wedding finery with the grittiest, grimiest, and most graffiti-covered backdrops for unique and memorable wedding photos.

Modern-chic: Clean lines, lucite décor, and fresh greenery

Modern-chic weddings are all about simplicity, clean lines, and a minimalist mindset to make a maximum impact. Here are some ideas to achieve this stylish and contemporary look for your big day:

Venue and Decor

When choosing a venue, opt for a blank canvas that already has a modern feel, such as an art museum, wine bar, loft, or industrial warehouse. The clean lines, heightened ceiling, and refined feel of these spaces lend themselves to a modern aesthetic.

Decor-wise, less is more. Focus on interesting textures and surfaces, such as acrylic/lucite, concrete, slate, marble, and metallics. Acrylic/lucite decor is a great way to add a cool, contemporary vibe without blocking the view. Think acrylic chairs, table numbers, signage, and table toppers. Geometric patterns and angular shapes, such as hexagons, also work well in a modern-chic setting.

Fresh greenery is another key element. Foliage, including herbs, plants, and greenery such as ferns, eucalyptus, ivy, and rosemary, adds a romantic, modern feel. It's a cost-effective and sustainable way to create a contemporary, dreamy atmosphere. Garlands, tall centrepieces, and potted plants are all great ways to incorporate greenery.

Food and Drink

Enhance the food and beverage experience with interesting flavours and pairings. Channel the excitement of a pop-up dinner with perfectly paired bites and sips at cocktail hour, curated wine pairings, or seasonal/locally sourced foods.

Fashion

For the bridal party, a minimalist and simple approach is best. A minimalist wedding dress with clean lines creates a perfect focal point for bridal portraits. For the bridal party, a mix-and-match approach with various chic dresses and suits adds a whimsical element.

Stationery and Details

Bold text set against a minimal design will project a simple and fresh design for your stationery. A modern font for your paper goods, like place cards and menus, can also make a major impact.

Pay attention to the small details, like flatware and glassware. Black metal cutlery and stemless glasses, for example, will add a contemporary twist.

Flowers

An all-white palette can bring the spotlight to other details, although fresh greenery also works well as a pop of colour. Bouquets can be all-foliage or include a small selection of complementary flowers.

Country-chic: Celebrating outdoors with a casual, friendly atmosphere

Country-chic weddings are a unique and stylish way to celebrate your big day. They are perfect for couples who love the outdoors and want to make the most of the natural world and the beautiful weather.

The Benefits of an Outdoor Wedding

Outdoor weddings offer a broader range of options for your location, allowing you to choose a place that has a special connection for you and your partner. You can opt for a garden, a forest, or even a barn, each providing a stunning backdrop for your ceremony and amazing photo opportunities. The open atmosphere and fresh air also contribute to a more relaxed and friendly vibe, which is enhanced by the slightly more casual attire typically worn by guests at country-chic weddings.

Planning Your Country-Chic Wedding

The beauty of a country-chic wedding is that it can be as simple or as extravagant as you like. The natural setting already provides a beautiful backdrop, so you can keep your decor minimal or go all out with a diverse range of pot plants and florals. The brown color of trees and wood in a forest setting, for example, is one of the easiest to match when it comes to decorations. A barn wedding is a great option if you want to blend the indoor and outdoor worlds, with the main seating hall under the shade and the buffet or drinks table outside.

What to Wear

Country-chic weddings are a little less formal than traditional weddings. For men, the general attire includes slacks, a button-up shirt, and deck shoes, with the option to add a bright-colored suit jacket. Women typically wear short, cute, and pretty dresses, exposing some skin to stay cool during the spring and summer seasons. Ankle booties, certain sandals, or wedges are ideal footwear choices, providing more stability when walking on grass or dirt. For cooler seasons, women can opt for long dresses with matching dress shoes or short dresses with tights and boots.

Shabby-chic: Incorporating a slightly worn, homemade feel into the décor

Shabby-chic is a laid-back, understated style that can be easily incorporated into your wedding décor. This style is perfect if you have trouble deciding on a single "look" for your wedding, as it allows you to choose a variety of pieces that each have their own personality and reflect your taste.

To achieve a shabby-chic aesthetic, opt for soft pastel colours such as pale pink, peach, mint green, and touches of gold and brown. You can also use a combination of matte, neutral/pastel, and metallic shades like chalky white, clotted cream, milky coffee, antique champagne gold, and metallic gunmetal.

For your table settings, consider using wicker or woven basket trays as placemats, along with antique goblets, pewter flatware, and spongeware. You can also use colourful brick-patterned tablecloths, brass vintage plates, and centrepieces made from navel oranges and cornflowers.

Shabby-chic centrepieces can be created by arranging delicate flowers like baby's breath in lace-covered, painted cans. For a bolder look, choose large flowers like Viburnum with deep green leaves, and display them in a distressed white wooden basket. You can also convert an antique pitcher into a vase for your flower arrangements.

Mason jars are a popular choice for shabby-chic weddings. Fill them with herbs for a dreamy ambiance, or hand-paint them with distressed brownish matte jute and attach faux white roses. For a nautical theme, paint ceramic mason jars in shades of blue and fill them with flowers.

To add a personal touch, write personalised messages or emboss monograms on burlap table runners. You can also line your tables with mementos, photos, and collages, or opt for fabrics in classic colours held together with twine or ribbons.

When it comes to backdrops, repurpose white-washed, weather-beaten doors and line them with metallic pumpkins and white floral accents. For a more formal look, hang garlands on pastel-painted walls, along with wooden boxes of greenery.

Vintage shabby-chic flower décor features freer styling with a modern touch while retaining a vintage, garden, or farm-like feel. Combine untamed garden roses with giant clustered hydrangeas, star-shaped ranunculus, dahlias, and wildflowers to create a bright or subdued colour scheme.

Shabby-chic is a versatile and budget-friendly option that allows for a lot of creativity. With its emphasis on individuality and a mix of old and new, it's a perfect choice for couples who want to add a unique touch to their wedding.

Vintage-chic: Using old items with a distressed or worn look

Vintage-chic is all about using old items with a distressed or worn look, but with a modern touch. This theme is a great choice for those who want a timeless, budget-friendly wedding with a DIY feel.

Vintage-chic weddings are a wonderful way to channel the look and feel of a past decade or time period. You can go for a general old-world feel or choose a specific era to emulate, such as the opulence of the 1920s or the romance of the Victorian era.

• Use vintage stamps on your invitations. Choose postage with symbols, landmarks, or people that represent your chosen time period.
• Let the era inform your attire. Do your research and choose outfits that reflect the fashion trends of the time. You can also accessorize with heirloom jewellery or a birdcage veil.
• Embrace the beauty looks of the time. For an old Hollywood feel, style your hair with a sweeping side part and cascading curls, and go for a flawless complexion with defined eyes and a bold red lip.
• Carry a muted floral arrangement. Dark, moody flowers will add to the vintage vibe, especially if you're going for a Victorian-inspired function.
• Arrive in a vintage vehicle. Rent a classic car from your chosen era, such as a 1970 Lincoln Continental, for a fun photo prop and a memorable entrance.
• Display signage in antiquated frames. Welcome your guests with a sign presented in a gilded frame with a distressed gold hue and intricate border.
• Adorn your altar with collector's items. Decorate your ceremony setup with antique objects like candelabras and engraved silver urns.
• Use vintage card boxes. Scout flea markets for vintage suitcases or opt for birdcages, which are low-maintenance and easy to personalise.
• Create a vintage backdrop. Repurpose white-washed, weather-beaten doors and line them with metallic pumpkins and white floral accents for a unique photo backdrop.
• Incorporate vintage table decor. Use wicker trays or woven basket trays as placemats, antique goblets, and vintage plates. You can also decorate with classic literary works, displaying leather-bound books as centrepieces.
• Set the mood with vintage centrepieces. Convert an antique pitcher into a container for rose flower centrepieces, or line mason jars in cheese boxes and fill them with flowers.
• Hang mason jars filled with flowers from the chairs.
• Use vintage suitcases as card boxes.
• Choose vintage-inspired wedding attire.

These ideas will help you create a charming and elegant vintage-chic wedding, adding a touch of nostalgia and escapism to your special day.

Frequently asked questions