How to create an aesthetically stunning atmosphere that will make your wedding stand out during the pandemic ?

Reception Aesthetic

Series Blog 6 / Part 2

As our couples are being forced to lower their guest count given our current health climate, most of The Blushing Details couples are reallocating their funds to make their wedding aesthetically stunning. This allows their guests to escape from our present reality for a brief moment by creating something that is stunningly beautiful while also hypnotizing, delighting, and creating fun talking points for years to come. The most important thing is to incorporate your personality in the aesthetic décor, drink, and food.

The Blushing Details centers on capturing all the little details that can go unnoticed on your special day. We believe that every client is unique and distinctive in many ways so our mission is to design an event that encapsulates the personality and uniqueness of our clients.

**Floral Aesthetic**

Many times, flowers can be quite expensive if you use premium flowers during the off season. Couples can now reallocate their funds to make the most out of their flower budget. Here are some options you can allocate toward.
o Spending on more premium flowers for your arrangement
o Larger show pieces for your centerpieces
o Showcase your sweetheart with a more elaborate design and arrangement
o Add more flowers & props to refine your wedding aesthetic
o Add flowers design to the ceiling or chandeliers
o Add more premium and/or special elements to your wedding bouquet and boutonniere
o Decorate your sweetheart chairs with flower garland or dress it up with beautiful fabrication
Photo by Monica Linda Photography

Upgrading

Another great option for most couples is reallocating their funds to upgrading a few items and rentals

o Designer chairs

o Draping the entire room and ceiling

o Creating a seating chart or escort card that’s more special and meaningful

o Custom Backdrop behind your sweetheart table or Large Display for photo opt (see below description)

o Adding more hours to your open bar services

o Upgrade more premium wine and bar options

o Instead of a chicken entrée, why not a steak, seafood or a dual option?

o Add a late-night snack

Brooke's_Babyshower_112.jpg — **Tablescape Aesthetic**

Couples can also allocate their funds to their tablescape to make it more Pinterest worthy
o Table Setting: Adding a pop of color in your linen, napkin, charger, fancy flatware, and glassware
o Play up your tablescape with mat, leaves, and tiles in replace of charger
o In lieu of favors, place diverse items such as greenery, flowers, leaves, fruit, tile place cards, birthstones, perfume bottles, pictures of the guests you've photographed with and menu on top of your napkin or charger
o Dress up your Table Numbers and Menus by giving them a name that matches your theme and aesthetic, photos of all the adventures you've done together or if you are both art lovers, print your favorite artist and incorporate that on your table and menu
Photo by Camryn Clair Photo

Plexiglass Design Element

We do not yet know what the future might be for how food and drink services will be presented. We may need a Plexiglas barrier (sneeze guard) to block the guests from any type of bar or self-service buffets. The best way to incorporate safe guards, along with being compliant and safe, is by altering / implementing some design elements to include plexiglass. Why not brand your wedding with a wedding monogram name or special design that goes with your wedding aesthetic? Hire a graphic designer to help come up with a design idea or custom monogram and have your local printing company create some decals for you. Also, hire a professional person to help you place it on the plexiglass. The best recommendation is to print on static cling as it is easy to place and remove on any clear glass or plastic. Other Resource Static Cling Monograph Etsy & Custom Order Uprinting

**Theme Event**

The Blushing Details is such a sucker for fun and purposeful theme weddings. You can intertwine your theme with amazing performers and games to enlighten your guests (see above entertainment ideas). Once you have a solid idea of what direction you want to go with for your theme, it makes the overall planning process a lot easier. Try incorporating different elements to make your wedding a bit more unique and in sync with your personality. Here’s a few possible wedding theme ideas you can select from:
o Whimsical Theme: Disney, Garden, Fairytale, Celestial & Musical theater Theme: Hamilton, Oz, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago & Favorite Movie/Show Theme: Pride & Prejudice Theme, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter
o Color Theme: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Nautical, Natural & Elegant, Romantic, Vintage, Traditional/Classic, Bohemian, Glamorous, Modern, Alternative, Rustic & Cultural and Tradition
o Music Theme: 20’s Jazz, 50’s Swing, 70’s Disco, pop culture & Era Theme: 80’s Theme wedding, Art Décor, The Great Gatsby
Photo by Larrisa Bahr Photography

Large Display

Large flower displays along with large props and awesome neon signs with your name on stage in 3-4 areas in the reception space will definitely allow your guests to take come pretty incredible pictures. With everything expertly set up, your guests won't have touch or reorient the setup. They just pose and shoot. Of course, lining up for the photo must be at least 6ft for physical distancing. Large displays are also a nice photo opt for the guests to keep them busy too. It will help utilize the overall reception space if you are forced to reduce your guest count if in a bigger space as well.

Brooke's_Babyshower_323.jpg — **Pictures Display**

The Blushing have done this for a previous fundraising event and we think it would be a great idea for a wedding. We displayed a large 20" X 30" picture frame of some fun action pictures of volunteers, pictures of prior events and pictures of some celebrity guest speakers. This way it could showcase what the non-profit organization has been up to in a highlight fashion. Couples can create a small display by incorporating some of their engagement pictures, travel pictures, pictures of both of you as a child, family pictures, remembrance of a loved one, etc. through-out the reception venue. It would also help utilize the reception space if you're forced to reduce your guest count if you're in a bigger venue. Resource Custom Order Uprinting
Photo by Camryn Clair Photo

Stylized Studio Like Photobooth

Hire a professional photographer to actually take guest photos on a studio set with black and white stylized photos or changeable old fashion background from the 90’s. Attendants will need to mark a physical distancing maker for guests to line up for pictures or a Coordinator can call on a group by a table number to make their way to the photobooth. Halogen Picture

133 MLP_StyledShoot_LARiver-31.jpg — The Blushing Details

Don’t worry if you decided to skip the reception all together. You can create a memorable food basket that includes locally custom-made glassware, wine, food, snacks, desserts and drinks, so your guests can take it home with them. No matter what you are planning to do with Entertainment and Aesthetics during the COVID-19 Pandemic, make sure that you incorporate your personality into the overall aesthetic, décor, performance, drink, and food.
Written by Carol Banh Keiner -Principal Planner & Creative Director

Check Out the Next Blog Series #7 on How to Navigate Canceling and Postponing your Wedding During Pandemic? - by Kiss and Say I do & Perfect The Events