DESIGN EXPERT |
southhousedesigns.com
Make An Entrance For Your Guests
By Diane Sudhoff, South House Designs Photography by Kim Pluskota
Styling assistance, Lindsay Alexander, Bittersweet
Ahhhh, the entrance. Every bride dreams about it -whether it be a grand, formal entrance or a simple solo stroll. The music is planned, the walk - or perhaps the wedding party “impromptu” dance - is rehearsed. Yes, every bride knows first impressions are lasting impressions.
While planning, don’t forget about the entrance for your guests. The tone for the entire celebration is set
by their first impression as they arrive at your venue. So stage this area to welcome your guests with a sneak peek of what to expect.
In most cases, you will not be there to greet your guests as they arrive. Your entrance decor should do it for you, so certainly give it your style, your personality.
Maybe your personality is sweet and laid-back, and you’re planning a Spring wedding filled with fresh, rustic charm.
So you might welcome your guests with the same baby’s breath, hydrangeas and boxwood topiary you are using throughout your day. A sweet white-washed chapel birdhouse adds a bit of structure and a nod to the main purpose of the day. An old frame renewed with a fresh coat of white paint hanging on the iron gate adds necessary height and draws attention to the personal touch of your hand drawn new joint monogram.
And more personal touches might include the date, a special sentiment, etc.
Maybe your personality is laid-back casual, but with a bolder, more colorful edge, and yours’ will be a Fall wedding.
So now, your entrance might build off a rustic screen door you’ve propped against an arbor support post. A mix of sunflowers, twisted twigs, ferns, green moss and fall leaves tie in with the flowers used throughout the day.
The addition of the large rustic lantern and earthenware jug adds structure, balance and a mix of textures.
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And for that all important personal touch - the Spot-to-Jot on the jute bag celebrates the beginning of your Happily Ever After with the banners celebrating that you have “Tied the Knot”.
Your personal touch might be simply the vows you are about the make - in your handwriting. Could it be any more poignant and classic?
TIPS FOR A GREAT ENTRANCE:
HEIGHT: Find a way to add visual height. The tall black iron gate all but disappeared in the foliage and shadows until we add the bright white frame. The propped screen door became the backdrop and height for our Fall wedding. Tables as risers with tall plants provided free-standing height. And don’t forget to take your display to the floor.
BALANCE: The most interesting displays have layers of textures
and shapes and include a combination hard and soft surfaces. In our Fall display, the round moss ball balances the glossy hard surface of the jug; the angular hard surface of the lantern on the ground balances the soft curves of the jute bag and extends the verticality of the angular screen door.
MOVEMENT: Eye movement, that is. If a display is engaging, it
keeps your eye moving and keeps you interested. This is most easily accomplished by weaving the same or similar color throughout the display. And by incorporating negative space, you give the eye a resting spot, which also highlights what is adjacent. In the Fall display, the gold of the ribbon, leaves and sunflowers keeps your eye moving in a large circular pattern taking in the whole display. We placed the jug and moss ball a bit away from the jute bag to create negative space. Rather than hang the banner at the very top of the door, we brought it down to integrate it with the rest of the display, but yet have enough negative space for it to be prominent.
PERSONAL: There are very few events as personal as your
wedding day. This day is about celebrating who you are as a couple. Find a way to incorporate your new life together. CONNECT WITH US
DIY WEDDINGS |
diyweddingsmag.com
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