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Heirloom Event Co. | Chicago | Michigan | Midwest | Wedding Planner | Wedding Florist

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Heirloom Event Co. | Chicago | Michigan | Midwest | Wedding Planner | Wedding Florist

  • Meet Abby
  • Approach
  • Services
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact

How to Plan Your Wedding With Style and Substance

February 20, 2017 Abby Giffin

Weddings are a wonderful time to bring together family, friends and acquaintances to share in the experience of your marriage.  They also are large scale events with a lot of moving pieces and a short time frame. The mentality that it’s “just one day” often leads people to choose items for their wedding that feel disposable.  

“It all gets thrown away tomorrow, so it doesn’t really matter” - This statement makes my stomach turn.

Let me pose this question to you: If you fill your day with disposable items that you don’t care much about, how will that lead to a long, strong and stable marriage?  Planning your day with style AND substance means that you’ve thought through your guest experience, edited down your details, and designed a day that feels quintessentially like “you two.”

How to incorporate both style and substance to your day:

  • Plan your timeline to maximize time with your guests (And this one can be free!)

    You wedding day will go by so fast.  You plan for months, wait in anticipation, and then it feels like it’s over in the blink of an eye.  One thing you will never regret is to plan as much time as possible to spend with your guests. There are a lot of ways you can get creative so as not to take away from other important items like photos and hair and makeup. One of my favorite ways to do this is with a first look and portraits earlier in the day. A first look is a personal decision to make with your partner, but it opens up a huge block of time after your ceremony to spend with your loved ones.  The other way I love to see this done is with casual before or after events. A welcome party, morning after brunch, or Friday afternoon activity extends the time you have to spend together outside of the formality of the wedding day.  Choose a hotel with a complimentary happy hour or breakfast service and extend the invitation to your guest to join you in the lobby during that time.
     
  • Subtle Hints > Themes

    Nothing feels more disposable than themed party decor.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a good themed party! This type of decor has a time and place, but not here. Think about the overall look and feel you’d like to have at your wedding. Gather up your inspiration and ideas and lay them out in front of you.  Edit out anything that feels overly themed.  Replace it with colors, textures, sounds, even tastes that bring out that same feeling.  Event design is a 360 experience, incorporating all of the senses.  This one is a little more advanced. If you’re feeling lost, consider the help of a designer to help you infuse subtle personality to your design.

  • Incorporate your favorite things throughout the day

    When making decisions about what will make up your wedding day. Make it your favorite things! Consider serving your favorite food, or a late night snack from your favorite local taco stand.  If you don’t love cake, but always have a blueberry pie on your birthday, then mini-pies for all! Choose things for your wedding day that you would pick in real life. There is no better way to make the day feel like you, and your guests will love being treated to your favorites!

Do you want to infuse your wedding with personality and meaning?

Contact me here to learn more about my event design and planning services and how I can help make your day thoughtfully beautiful.



Header Image by Nikole Marie Photography

In Planning Advice
← 5 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding PaperHey Abby? // How To Plan Your Wedding When There Are Bigger Things Happening in the World? →
 
Abby McKinney | Heirloom Event Co.

Hello! I love working with couples to create beautiful wedding experiences, hot cups of tea, and searching out distinctively stylish inspiration for life. I married my favorite person and we're currently fixing up our first home and loving on our three dogs. I believe in thoughtful connections and real life tangible beauty you can hold in your hands. 

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Heirloom is a boutique studio offering wedding planning, wedding floral & design with
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