Whether you want to have your wedding feel like a true reflection of you as a couple, or you want to get more bang

for your budget (and make your wedding lookmore expensive than it actually is), or you’re wanting your wedding to be like something from the pages of a magazine, the key always lies in the details of your wedding experience. Details always make the difference between a beautiful custom wedding and a cookie cutter disaster.

One major way to make your dream wedding is to have detailed surprises throughout your wedding and wedding-related events to dazzle your guests!  Here are just a few ideas for you to use some beautiful details in your wedding plans.

“Brand” your Wedding … think in terms of a logo for your extraordinary event.

Hire a graphic designer to create an incredible design for your wedding.  This can be a variety of fantastic designs, like a funky pineapple (hospitality), peach or cotton (southern or Georgia wedding), or it can be as simple as incorporating your initial or monogram in a creative way.  If you want something more traditional or less expensive, monograms are always an excellent choice and many stationers offer a beautiful selection so that you do not have to fork out the expensive of a graphic designer.

You may be thinking “where do I use a wedding logo“?  …Or maybe the better question is where NOT to use it?

For our clients, I suggest that you add extra details in these wonderful ways: Stationery, save-the-dates, invitations, thank-you notes, welcome notes and weekend itineraries, napkins, favors, menus, place cards, send-off signage, lighting (on your dance floor, side of a building, tent), and  even cake “jewelry.”

Stationery -  Making your wedding as personalized and informative as possible is KEY when creating your fabulous day. All of your stationery should include your theme (color, tone and formality), starting with the very first printed mailing your guests receive (save-the-date or invitation). Especially in this over-saturated world of technology, your beautiful (and well thought out) stationery pieces will leave a lasting impression while adding some major wow factor with those details.

It’s also a nice touch to include a wedding invitation that contains all events of the weekend (if everyone is invited, or specify the packet to only those invited to particular events).  This way, your invitation tells more of a story of the weekend rather than just inviting them in the old-school way. It’s more enticing to guests to be invited in a super-fun and fabulous way!

Welcome Baskets and Bags-  There’s no nicer way to greet your guests as they arrive from weary travel than to present them with a beautiful basket or bag filled with regional treats. Also, make sure to include a personalized note and weekend itinerary and/or suggested shops, restaurants, sites and activities to enjoy.

Menu and Place Cards- If you’re hosting a seated dinner or buffet with assigned seats, it’s always a nice touch to include personalized menu cards that also serve as a place card.  This way they not only know where to be seated, but also what they’re about to enjoy for dinner festivities.

Thank-you Notes-  Always tie your thank-you notes into your overall wedding theme to make sure that the last thing a guest receives from your wedding (usually after the occasion) reminds them of  how extraordinary and fabulous it was.

Well wishes- Guests love writing you beautiful notes of wishes or congratulations, so why not offer cards (even slivers of left-over paper from other printings) for your guests to write you personal messages and include in your wedding album later. It will be fun for all involved!

Signage-  If your venue has specified parking areas, multiple ballrooms or can be difficult to locate, make sure to provide ample signage that is not only tied into the whole theme (use your logo or even as simple as the same font or wedding colors), but also very useful!

If you just give a little extra thought to the details, your wedding is always sure to be a reflection of you, up your wow factor, and at the same time bring you that fairytale wedding feel that the magazines bring you!

Blessings,

© 2003-2013 Soirée! Ltd./Natalie Bradley Events

Want to use this post in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Athens Event Planner & Designer Natalie Bradley publishes the “Soirée Secrets” e-zine filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous wedding or event. Get your complimentary e-guide: ”10 Planner Secrets to Create Your Custom Dream Wedding While Saving Thousands” at http://NatalieBradley.com. Soirée by Natalie Bradley Events is an Athens, Georgia,  event planning and design company, serving Northeast Georgia and select destination locations.