Wallpaper Wedding Decor

Martha Stewart Weddings is a top place to go for inspiration and ideas for weddings and events. All you artsy, crafty, DIYers out there - you know whats up. The Winter 2012 edition shared a lot of great tips and ideas, one of which I thought was really cool. Using wallpaper for your decor. How cool is that? Especially, when there are so many different types out there to choose from. Hope these bring you some inspiration!



{Using wallpaper for your runner, backdrop and chair covers can add a touch of style}

 

 {Create envelopes with ease}

{Use graphic patterns for table decor}{Choose a pattern & style you can work with}

{Create decorative favors or items you want to include in the decor}
{Pick a pattern & style that matches your theme and create a photo area for your guests}

Classic Black & White Weddings

There are tons of people out there that dream of a classic black and white wedding. Sure, it can be beautiful, but that is if it's done right. Every designer has their own opinion of what looks good and what doesn't so this is clearly my own. I try to inspire people with unique ideas and push them to customize their personal spaces and events so it represents them. Hopfeully resulting in great design.

We all know Kim Kardashian recently got married. Her wedding was a huge event that cost way more than I will make in 3 lifetimes. I guess since she had endless funds you would expect her big day to look spectacular. I think it was the opposite. First of all, there was nothing done that was special or unique. Second, there was way too much of everything. Totally overdesigned. Third, from the photos I saw it looked kind of boring.

Those are three things a wedding should not be. And what ever happened to the romance and intimacy of sharing your vows with the one you love? Obviously, that wasn't on Kim's mind. Here are a few elements of her day that surely didn't inspire me.

Colors
Even though this was a black and white wedding, I feel the black overpowered the white immensely. It makes everything look so dark and masculine. The seating area looked like an event for a mens magazine more than a wedding. The ivory bouquets just fade away and its too bad because they were one of the very few elements that were actually pretty.

Overdone Elements
I'm not a big fan of big and tall centerpieces but as long as people can see each other and talk its not the worst it can be. Unfortunately, what was done here just added to the abundance of overapplied design. How many chandeliers can you have before the whole place looks gaudy and old fashioned? Less than what Kim had for sure. These were over the top and unessasary. None of it looked classic at all.



Stuffy Atmosphere & Bad Design
The tables had so much stuff on them I wouldn't be surprised if the guests felt a little claustrophic. The first thing I noticed about the photo below was the table card. It looks like clip art and somewhat cheesy. Again, that unique artsy design element was nowhere to be found. On paper elements such as invites, seating cards, etc...is where your creativity can soar. But I guess if you're not creative or have a good designer doing the work, it just won't be successful.



Cake Design
And then we get to the wedding cake. Granted, you don't have to have one. My fiance and I are having cupcakes instead because they are more our style. Plus, a little more fun. However, you should want your cake to match the style of the event which Kim did do. Unfortunately, this was a disaster as well.

Personally, I don't like when people think they are king and queen status. This cake was friggin huge. But at least it could've looked somewhat beautiful if it was all white. Those two black sections just ruin the whole thing. A better way to incorporate the black is to use it for the ornate details which was actually quite gorgeous. It would of made them stand out more without being so overdone.

























So, to sum it all up: Never have too much of something. Regardless of what you think or like, it will look overdone. Just because you love a certain pattern or color doesn't mean you should see it everywhere. Why suffocate your guests with an overabundance of one element when you can incorporate numerous ideas into your design. It will only reflect your creativity. Also, remember that classic means clean lines and smart design. You can have a luxury feel at your event without going overboard and looking gaudy and old fashioned. And you can certianly have a classic feel without it being black and white.

Be smart and do your research! Here are a few classic weddings that were done right. A little inspiration to leave you with :)

Beautiful Banners

Being a lover of anything handmade, it is no surprise I would love banners. Not only are they easy to display but there are so many out there, the possibilities are endless. Plus, you can make them yourself. If you are not as crafty as you wish you were, here are some I came across on Etsy that I think are really great.

These would be an awesome addition to any event. Having items that are unique and handcrafted really add a sense of style like no other. Have fun shopping around and I hope these give you some inspiration to design with confidence and style.

Betty and Barclay



Barbara A Ryan



Bnute



Earmark





Postscripts



Funky Junk Art

Woodland Wonderland

There are so many ways to create a rustic woodland feel in your home. The same goes for events but you want it to be subtle. Try not to overdo it. Sometimes I see events, both weddings and parties, that are a little over the top. When creating a nature theme its best to present the design as authentic as possible. I mean, that's the beauty of nature. It's natural, organic and simple. So when there is a plethora of natural elements such as trees, plants, grass and other real or handmade items inside an interior space, it just doesn't look right. You might as well go outside and have the event there. I don't get the point.

Besides, I personally think it often ends up looking tacky, cheap and way too crafty. If people want that look, fine, but just know having the event outside will always be more authentic. If you want that woodland, garden theme than take a few elements you love from nature and showcase them in the simplest ways. Remember, a little goes a long away and too much can take away or distract your guests from the true meaning of the event.

Also, be careful not to be so literal. I saw an episode of My Fair Wedding last week that, in my opinion, was unsuccessful. I think David Tuterra is a good designer but he always seems to do too much. This one particular show, the California bride wanted a winter wonderland wedding. Already, she has the location against her. David set up the ceremony outside and along with other winter elements, he had a few girls in weird winter costumes move their hands around like it was snowing. It looked horrible and tacky. I thought she said she wanted a winter theme, not Halloween!

The reception was held inside a large modern hall located on a university's property. The place was nice but the brick red rug threw the whole theme off. Although I thought the birch trees, lighting and various beads were too much it wouldn't have looked as bad without that rug there. I was waiting for Santa to arrive, haha. Everything was white and here you had this red rug that you couldn't miss. This is one reason why I don't like renting halls or other venues like this one. There are certain elements the venue has you cannot change. So you either have to work around it or have an eyesore.

Here are some inspirations to lead you in the right direction.































Poppies & Posies Events

Invitations

So you have something to celebrate and you've decided to throw a party. It can be a birthday, a baby or bridal shower, engagement party or just a little get together to catch up with some friends. There is one thing you must have. Invitations! Yes, you can buy them and fill in the blanks or have them personalized with your info online, that is somewhat easy. The real challenge is making them meaningful.

Sure you can send out simple invites. No problem. However, when a celebration comes around that is truly one of a kind, you should put a little more effort into it. Just think of the event and the decor involved. Your invitations should reflect the event so your guests get a little sneak peak as to what is up ahead. It is also nice if they reflect you or who the event is for.

Personally, I feel the invitations and save the date's if you're planning a wedding, should excite your guests. Don't you want them to count down the days? Sure! Especially, if it's a big event. I mean, you're celebrating for a reason. This is your chance to show some style, uniqueness and authentic design. Start putting down the bricks and lead your guests down the yellow brick road, all the way to your fabulous event.

There are no rules except one: make sure the text is readable. If your guests can't make it out, you might not have everyone come, haha. I love designing items like invitations. Like cards and stationary, you have a certain amount of space to work with so you don't really need to think about size. It's all about the design. So this is why I say make it spectacular. It's the first thing people will see!

Here are some invitations I found that I feel are really great. I hope they inspire you as much as they did me. Remember, think out of the box and explore your options. Research, research, research! Get creative and have fun.