weddingfurniture

Picking Your Palette

The questions to ask yourself when picking the palette for your wedding

Picking the colour scheme of your wedding or event, is like picking the colour to paint your house; it’s hard! Your palette will be visible in pretty much every facet of your wedding, from your attire, to your stationery, flowers, table décor, linens and even the food; including your signature cocktails and dessert choices. Yep, we aren’t kidding!

If you are struggling to decide on your dream palette, well this post is for you. Keep on reading for the inside scoop on how to pick the perfect palette for your special day.

 

Image: @annimariaphotography

 

Questions to ask yourself and things to consider: 

 

The Season

Think apricots, blue/greys or terracotta in Autumn, deep berry tones in Winter, or cheerful golden hues in Summer. These colours are seen in the natural environment, which will be visible in your photos and overall, will impact the aesthetic of your palette. If you are ever stuck on choosing a scheme, think about the season of your day and draw inspiration from the colours of the environment.

  

The Venue

Is your event taking place in a warehouse? Or outdoors in a vineyard? Or maybe by the sea? Even though there are no rules saying your chosen colour scheme can’t work in particular venues, just like the season, if you are stuck on choosing the right scheme, think of the environment of your venue of choice.

Earthy tones pair well with outdoor spaces; monochrome palettes work a treat in modern, luxe, white wall spaces such as inner city buildings and ball rooms; and the classic white wedding look, well that works just about anywhere!

Image: @alannahliddell

 

Event Formality 

Classic red roses or black & white go hand in hand with black tie, whereas eucalyptus, terracotta and dusty pinks rear on the rustic cocktail vibe. Your colour choice can even have an impact on the vibe of your event. If you are trying to create a fun, lively atmosphere where your guests are upstanding and mingling, then eye-catching bright colours are your go to. If you are after a more glamorous, suave vibe, then metallics and monochrome tones may be more your style.

  

Overall Aesthetic

Keep your event must-haves in mind.

If large floral arrangements are a must, then you need to consider what flowers are going to be available at the time of your event. If all that is available to you are sunflowers, but you are trying to channel a chic n classy affair, then you might need to rethink the direction you take your colour palette in.

 Use your must-haves as a starting point, rather than trying to figure out how to incorporate them into your event after you have locked in your colour palette.

Image: @natasjakremers

 

Spin the Wheel

If you have a solid colour, but don’t know what to match it with to develop your palette, then consult the colour wheel.

Try:

–   Matching opposite colours on the wheel;

–   Match neighbouring colours;

–   Match a saturated colour with a neutral colour, and throw in one or two softer complimenting colour for bulk.

Another tip: opt for a family of colours, rather than picking two or three of your favourite colours. Think, classic neutrals or; pale pinks or; dark jewel tones. Creating a family of colours will help you nail the perfect colour scheme across all of your elements, rather than trying to get every individual item to match perfectly.

 

Trend or Forever Fave?

When you look back at your wedding photos in 10 years’ time, are you going to love or hate your final choice? Trends come and go, but your wedding photos last a lifetime, so think about your photos when deciding on your colour theme.

Image: @keeprecreative

At the end of the day, you need to love the colour palette you choose. So even if all else fails, don’t overthink it, trust your gut and pick a palette you love!

 

Wedding Speeches 101

How to make the crowd laugh, cry and reflect in 10 easy steps

 

Have you felt the honour of being asked to give a toast at a wedding, only to realise you have never made a toast in your life and have no idea what to say? Don’t worry we have been there too.

 Whether you are in your best friend’s bridal party, the Mother of the Groom, planning your own wedding, or a guest at your cousin’s wedding, these few handy pointers are here to help you put together the speech of your life!

 

Image: @benandebony

 

1.Assess the room:

Think about your opening address and who you will be saying it to. Draw them in with a knee slapping one liner or instead ask them a question to gauge their attention. The trick; be sure your opening address fits the theme of the wedding, and your audience will relate to the tone of voice you are portraying. This will help you speak with intention and hook the audience in, to avoid the sound of crickets during your time in the spotlight.

 

2. Introduce yourself:

If you are making a speech at a wedding, chances are the majority of the guests will know who you are, though, this is not to say everyone will! Be sure to introduce yourself and make comment on how you know the couple, this will help to add purpose to your speech as a whole.

 

3. Congratulate the couple:

 Be sure to address and congratulate BOTH parties you are there to celebrate! Even if you have only met your best mate’s spouse a handful of times.

If you can’t think of a memory or story you experienced with them, think about things your friend has told you about them which makes them the perfect partner-to-be for your mate.

 

4. Read the room:

As the saying goes, this is a toast, not a roast…

Remember who is in the room, and choose your ‘funny’ stories wisely. In other words, leave the crude and embarrassing stories at home. Your besties’ new in-laws do not want to hear about what went on during your footy trip to Bali. Instead, make reference rather than recounting, you will thank us later.

This also goes for personal jokes, although they are great and hold meaning, they aren’t something the whole guest list will understand. So best to keep these to a minimum otherwise those crickets may appear.

 

 5. Remember your focus:

The couple! Or if you are the couple, show your appreciation to your new life partner and all of your loved ones who came to celebrate with you.

 

Image: @benandebony

 

6. Congratulate and thank:

An important one – hence the second mention.

Congratulate & thank the couple, the family, the bridal party and those who made the day possible.

 

7. Eject personality & bring the energy:

If you are shy and hate public speaking, we apologise in advance, but we highly recommend you smile, laugh, change the tone of your voice and praise the couple you are there to celebrate! This is what makes your speech heartfelt and sincere, we want to steer clear from monotone as much as possible.

If you are good at singing or if you are a poet, write something for the couple and perform it as your speech. Or, maybe dance is more your style? But remember, only go for something out of the box if it is relevant to the couple themselves.

And lastly, some liquid confidence will never go astray – though don’t go overboard. 

 

8. Less is more:

Get in, say what you need, and get out, no one likes a rambler, especially when the D-Floor is calling their name. The most ideal time for a speech is 3-5 minutes, so keep it short and sweet in order to keep your guests engaged.

 

9. Write it out and say it aloud:

 This one may seem like common sense, but there is nothing worse than forgetting to say something you wanted to tell the couple because stage fright got the better of you. It’s also a good idea to write out your speech as dot points on paper, in case you run the risk of your phone battery dying during the day. Plus, reading off of a phone is not the best look.

 And remember, practice makes perfect, so practise reading it aloud prior too. 

 

10: Don’t forget to toast:

Wrap up your speech by raising a glass to the couple, to love or to something relevant. Pause for a moment, take a sip, and relax knowing you have delivered a speech you are proud of.

 

Image: @tessaeckersley.photo

 

So, to sum up:

🎤 Practise makes perfect – we recommend against ‘winging it’.

🎤 Stay off the booze prior to speaking to reduce the risk of any potential embarrassment (a little is okay but know your limits).

🎤 Use note cards if you need to keep on track – this looks better than reading off of your phone and reduces the risk of your speech going missing because your phone died.

🎤 Remember your body language & eye contact.

🎤 And last but not least, don’t forget to toast 🥂

Round or long tables: What is the best choice for your wedding reception?

Wondering what table layout will work best for your wedding?

We wish we could say making the decision between round or long tables is an easy one. The truth is, choosing the best table layout for your wedding isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Your venue space & capacity, guest list, guest requirements, menu style and your overall wedding style all come into play.

We have made a good ol’ fashioned list of pros & cons for each table type, so you can way up the options and decide what is the best fit for your wedding reception. 

Image: @emmamacaulayphotography

Before we dive into the pros and cons debate, the first point of call is to check in with your venue. Confirm the capacity limit and do a walk-through of the reception space so you have a clear vision of what the space looks like, where the entry and exits are, the bathrooms and the power points. Trust us when we say, all these things will impact the floor layout.

Sometimes, venues often have their own furniture for you to use, which helps to make your choice of tables a whole lot simpler. If your venue space is a blank canvas, it’s still wise to check with the venue as to what their recommended floor plan for your number of guests may be, especially if they are coordinating or catering your wedding themselves.

Image: @thedayweddings

 

Round: Pros

– Round tables can’t be joined together, therefore there is less table top to be styled meaning less budget you will need to allocate to decorative items. So a pro for your budget!

– Round tables better accommodate conversation – guests can more easily chat to all parties on the table, rather than being restricted to the guests next to them or directly opposite.

 

Round: Cons

– Round tables tend to have the ‘been there, done that’ connotation. They are perceived as more traditional, which might not work with your wedding style.

Image: @parishawkenphoto

 

Long: Pros

– Long tables are communal – they can be joined together to create even longer tables, decreasing the overall number of tables on your seating chart all together. It might sound silly, but this can also decrease the chance of some of your guests getting upset with the table number they were put on.

– Long tables allow for more styling options –  think larger floral arrangements, table raisers, candle & posy vase combos.   

– Long tables more often than not sit more guests, which is a big tick if you are hiring tables, chairs & linen!

 

Long: Cons

– Not so easy to mingle. Long tables make it harder to strike up conversation with multiple guests during the seated service, other than the ones sitting next to you and directly across.

– Accessibility – getting to your seat can be difficult if you are sat in the middle of the table. If you are going for a long table layout, be sure to take this into considerations when drafting your seating plan. Seating your elderly guests in the middle of your long tables probably isn’t the best choice.

– Speaking of seating plans, it could possibly be a little more difficult putting together your seating plan with fewer tables to group your guests at. Word of advice, start this as early as possible and have a glass of wine handy!

 

Image: @holiiandash

 

 

4 Wedding Traditions to Leave Behind in 2022

Have you ever wondered why some wedding traditions are still going strong?

Tempted to toss tradition at your wedding and make your own rules?

Dropping customs that don’t resonate with you means you can discover more authentic ways to mark those important wedding moments.

Swap these for something more your style. And maybe spark a new trend!

 

1. Walking down the aisle 

Don’t like the idea of being walked down the aisle?

Swap it:  Walk down the aisle with your partner and both your families. It’s symbolic of you entering an equal partnership and future together.

 

2. Wearing a white dress

White not your colour? 

Before Queen Victoria made the white dress viral in 1840, brides wore whatever they wanted. It was usually something they could re-wear, and colour was the norm.

Swap it: Do you feel amazing drenched in green sequins? Go for it. The choices are boundless (and more affordable).

Photographer: Ben and Ebony

 

3. Ghosting your partner before the wedding

Not seeing (or even meeting) your future spouse until the ceremony was once common practice. 

It was feared the groom would back out when seeing his future wife (hence the veil only being lifted after the vows). 

Yup. Not a lot of romance there. 

Swap it: Help each other get ready. It’s a deeply intimate way to connect, build anticipation and slow down before the wild day ahead.

Photographer: Lindsey Taylor Photography

4. Bridal party

In Ancient Rome, legal marriages needed 10 witnesses. Cue bridal posse.

Here’s another fun fact. The bridesmaids would wear the same gown as the bride, and the groomsman would dress identical to the groom. 

Why? 

This was thought to trick evil spirits and prevent them finding and cursing the couple.

Swap it: Deviate from the norm with a more diverse squad. Bridesman? Groomsmaid? How about your pet chihuahua? Or is your nan your main girl? 

Photographer: Pete The Photographer Co

 

So, make (or break) the rules. When it comes to your day, we advocate doing what’s culturally significant and important to you. 

Want to read more wedding tips and advice like this?  Check out our other posts