Planning a wedding is an exciting yet challenging task that requires attention to detail, organization, and creativity. While many couples successfully navigate the planning process on their own, there are some common wedding design mistakes that can occur when they don’t work with a professional wedding planner. In this blog post, we’ll highlight these mistakes to help you avoid them and ensure that your wedding design is everything you’ve dreamed of.

Lack of Cohesion

One of the most common pitfalls is a lack of cohesion in wedding design. Without a wedding planner’s guidance, couples may struggle to create a consistent and harmonious theme throughout their wedding. From mismatched color palettes to conflicting decor styles, the result can be a visually confusing and disjointed event. To avoid this, it’s important to establish a clear vision and theme from the beginning and make sure all design elements align with it, including the venue!

Overlooking the Venue

Not considering the venue’s existing aesthetic is another mistake couples often make when planning their own wedding. Each venue has its own unique characteristics, whether it’s a historic ballroom or a picturesque garden. Ignoring these features can lead to design choices that clash with the surroundings. For example, we’ve seen couples get married in a glitzy ballroom but all of their decorations had a rustic theme. While the decorations themselves were beautiful, the vision as a whole felt off. Taking the time to understand the venue’s ambiance and incorporating it into your design decisions will create a cohesive and visually pleasing atmosphere. On the flip side, if you feel strongly about certain decorations, make sure you choose a venue that will fit with this style. Another example — we’ve seen couples who wanted a romantic, glam style for their flowers and decorations, yet went ahead and booked a warehouse-style venue. Unless you have upwards of 20k to spend on floral and decor, you won’t be able to transform a blank slate venue to fit your vision. We recommend thinking carefully about both your venue selection and what you want aesthetically, and how the two will fit together.

Underestimating the Importance of Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and ambiance of your wedding. Failing to pay attention to lighting design is a common oversight when planning without professional help. Insufficient lighting or improper placement can negatively impact the overall atmosphere of your event. Be sure to consider different types of lighting, such as pin spots, uplights, gobos, and intelligent lighting to create the desired ambiance and highlight key areas.

Neglecting Tablescapes and Centerpieces

Tablescapes and centerpieces are focal points of any reception and can greatly enhance the overall design. Without a wedding planner’s expertise, couples may overlook the importance of these elements or struggle to create visually appealing arrangements. Taking the time to curate stunning tablescapes and centerpieces that complement the overall theme will elevate the entire dining experience for your guests. There are certain rules of thumb that wedding planners know when it comes to the sizes and placement of tabletop elements.

Overcrowding Spaces

When planning their own wedding, couples sometimes underestimate the space needed for guests to move comfortably. Overcrowding can make your venue feel cramped and hinder the flow of the event. It’s important to carefully consider the number of guests, the layout of the venue, and the placement of furniture and decor to ensure ample space for everyone to enjoy the celebration. Not to mention, safety measures such as making sure emergency exits and kitchen doorways are not blocked by tables.

While it’s entirely possible to plan a beautiful wedding without a professional wedding planner, avoiding these common design mistakes is crucial. By paying attention to cohesion, venue aesthetics, lighting, tablescapes, and space planning, you can create a visually stunning and memorable wedding day. Remember, taking the time to carefully consider these design elements will ensure your wedding reflects your unique style and vision, leaving you and your guests with cherished memories of your special day.