Wedding Inspiration

is a wow factor right for your day?

As a wedding planner when I start to talk about wedding inspiration and your WOW Factor part of me feels like the wedding planner, Franc from Father of The Bride. Especially the scene where he demands that Steve Martin’s character renovate his entire house and bring in swans for his daughter’s wedding. 

You do NOT need swans at your wedding!

When looking for WOW factor wedding inspiration you want to find the cross-section of; One what you can afford. Two, what tells your story. Three, what will guests love.

Before you dive into your WOW factor you want to have a solid vision for your overall design. I suggest couples start thinking about their WOW factor at the 8 month mark.

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WOW Factor Wedding Inspiration

guest experience

When your guests feel taken care of they are more relaxed and able to enjoy the wedding. Greet them in their hotel with something special. If a box loaded with goodies doesn’t fit within your budget go for one special item like a bottle of sparkling cider or home made snack mix in a nice package. Think beyond a paper bag filled with bottles of water. {image credit: White Loft Studio}

I love to take something simple and make it special. For an outdoor wedding or cocktail hour plan for a hydration station where guests can help themselves to water without standing in the bar line. I love to style a simple bookshelf with water jugs, potted plants and simple signage. {image credit: Lindsay Connors}

Nearly every couple I meet says they want their wedding to turn into an epic dance party. To keep the energy high on the dance floor brainstorm something to pass late night. We’ve done LED batons, bags of popcorn, shots of kahlua with cookies, french fries. Give your guests what they didn’t even realize they needed to fuel the final hour of your reception. {image credit: Sweet Monday Photography}

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WOW Factor Wedding Inspiration

must-haves

Every guest will see your table numbers and I know you can do better than an impersonal serif font number on a piece of paper. How can you infuse your personal style or story into your day-of elements? I love to use 3 dimensional objects like vintage chair, wood, wine bottles or personal pictures.  If you’ve had enough with the wedding inspiration brainstorming I’ve created 9 day-of Styling Collections you can just click and purchase. Your welcome! {image credit: Sweet Monday Photography}

If you aren’t planning for a charger plate (which most venues don’t include) I love a great menu card. Look for one with a color or texture that compliments your overall design and place it in the center of each place setting. Menu cards are included in each of the 9 Girlbossbride day-of Styling Collections.{image credit: Sweet Monday Photography}

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WOW Factor Wedding Inspiration

sentimental impact

One of our grooms led his future bride through a scavenger hunt with paper origami cranes. When I heard that little tidbit I knew we had to incorporate cranes somehow, someway into the day. Ultimately, we decided to line the aisle with beautiful purple origami cranes as a surprise to the bride. {image credit: Ashley O’Dell Photography}

One of our brides who was getting married at her childhood home had a soft part of the peony tulips her grandmother had gifted her mother and were planted throughout their gardens. The only problem was tulip season came early and come wedding weekend there were few left. We snipped the best ones and displayed them in milk glass bud vases on the bar backs. {image credit: Ashley O’Dell Photography}

Sadly, one of my bride’s mothers had passed away a few years before the wedding. To pay tribute to her the bride and her bridesmaids choreographed a dance to her favorite song which was a surprise to all the guests. When they hit the dance floor we projected a picture of her mother dancing and for a few minutes it was like she was at the party. I was obviously crying through the whole number. {image credit: Lindsay Connors Photography}

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WOW Factor Wedding Inspiration

timeline and floor plan magic

I have spent A LOT of time talking about floor plans here on the blog. I’m a big believer that they are one of the most economical ways to add a WOW factor to your day. Incorporate a few long banquet tables and you have wedding inspiration magic! {image credit: Sweet Monday Photography}

create a WOW factor. My biggest secret is an opening dance set. After your introductions go right into your first dance. At the end of the first dance invite everyone onto the dance floor for a 10-15 minute dance set BEFORE dinner. Trust me on this one, it will create the magic and energy in the room you’ve been dreaming of. {image credit: Amy Bennett Photography}

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