WHAT IS YOUR WEDDING AESTHETIC? | HOW TO FIND A STYLE THAT SPEAKS TO YOU
You can find wedding inspiration galore on Pinterest and social media, but sometimes that almost makes it harder to nail down your signature wedding style. The problem is that they all look so beautiful in photos—but in actuality, some wedding aesthetics may not authentically reflect you as a couple. They’re pretty; but it’s not you.
One of my favorite parts of being a full-service wedding planner and luxury wedding designer is figuring out creative ways to infuse personality into every detail. We’re not here to carry out our vision—we’re here to carry out yours! Your wedding should be both beautiful and authentically characteristic. To do that, our specialized wedding planning team will walk alongside you every step of the way, listening to your story, interests, hobbies, tastes, and style to ensure your wedding day is a completely personalized experience unlike any other.
When you book with Bustle Events, we’ll go in-depth into your style preferences. But for now, here’s a bit of inspiration and a few helpful tips to help you narrow down your signature style and wedding aesthetic. From there, you can choose a location and venue that will complement the wedding aesthetic you’re going for (and we can guide you in that as well.) These are broad categories to help you home in on a general style before putting together all of the details.
FIRST, SELECT ONE PREFERENCE FROM EACH PAIR—MAKE A NOTE IF YOU FIND YOURSELF SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE:
o Modern or Classic Wedding Styles
o Soft or Bold Lines & Accents
(Preview this soft and romantic Tuscan-inspired wedding at Black Swan Lake or this bold black and white wedding at Hotel Californian to see the difference.)
o Colors or Neutral Shades
(If you’re considering color, check out this funky fresh wedding we designed at Parker Palm Springs.)
o Whimsical or Sophisticated Style
(View this floral affair at Beaulieu Gardens for a bit of whimsical inspo.)
o Natural Landscape or Luxury Venue
o Trendsetting or Traditional Design
o Glamorous or Understated
o Formal or Relaxed
o Artistic or Minimalistic
o Organic or Refined
BACKDROPS SET THE TONE. YOUR VENUE OR LOCATION WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THE OVERALL WEDDING DESIGN.
AESTHETIC WEDDING VENUE STYLES INCLUDE:
INDUSTRIAL-CHIC WEDDINGS
Like most styles, there’s quite a broad array of what can fit into “industrial-chic.” If you’re a California resident, I love this guide by Here Comes the Guide to Bay Area industrial-chic venues. They range from the stunning Design Center Galleria atrium to artistic spaces like The Pearl, which is beautiful both inside and out and has a rooftop garden with oceanfront views. This style feels a bit vintage and rustic—but not overwhelmingly so.
URBAN WEDDING STYLE
Urban wedding venues are similar to industrial-chic venues, but they’re a bit more sophisticated and upscale with more modern touches, cleaner lines, and less exposed brick, wood, and rustic details. Instead, glass, concrete, steel provide aesthetic urban character. An urban style is generally more polished than a less-finished industrial style.
**Want something in between industrial and urban? I’m especially partial to the San Francisco Ferry Building because it has plenty or character and history, yet it feels fresh, modern, spacious, and has incredible lighting! View a recent Ferry Building wedding here.
COASTAL WEDDINGS
If a barefoot beachy wedding suits you, great! But coastal vibes don’t have to scream seashells and sandy toes. You can go a more sophisticated, elegant route as well. The key to coastal wedding is of course oceanfront views, whether that be right on the beach itself or taking in the sunset from an exclusive beach club ballroom like or historic estate. Did you know Ernest Hemingway had a Key West retreat? And you can get married there. Check it out here.
RUSTIC WEDDINGS
Rustic weddings usually take place at picturesque estates, beautiful historic properties, and scenic vineyards. Typically, rustic wedding ceremonies are held outdoors, and the reception feels a bit more relaxed for a family-style type celebration.
GARDEN WEDDINGS
Will you fall for Filoli Gardens like this couple? Garden weddings are a perfect balance of soft natural details and clean, elegant design. The paved pathways and manicured gardens offer a bit more structure and sense of luxury than other larger countryside or pastoral venues. They’re natural, but not quite rustic. Garden weddings offer an intimate and romantic experience. (Can you spot the bagpiper in this wedding?)
TRADITIONAL WEDDING VENUE OR BALLROOM
Maybe you prefer to focus more on the celebration itself and the people you’re with by having your ceremony at a chapel, church, or other traditional ceremony site and then inviting your guests to the formal dinner reception at a local wedding venue and ballroom, such as the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, which can host up to 1,800 people!
HISTORIC WEDDING VENUE
Historic wedding venues can provide a unique wedding experience as well. Most historic venues feature distinctive time-period architecture that will play into the overall wedding design and serve as the backdrop for your photos. Most guests will find it interesting too as they stroll the grounds and learn about the property’s rich history.
DESTINATION & EXOTIC WEDDINGS
Sometimes you just have to see it to believe it. Take a peek inside this one-of-a-kind Cabo wedding at the Cape Hotel. We incorporated a tasteful vintage travel theme with bold modern accents to complement their exotic destination wedding. This wedding is the perfect example of how styles can be combined without clashing. And we can help you do the same!
