Little Details That'll Take Your Wedding to the Next Level

From invitations to cakes, Rustic Wedding Chic’s Maggie Lord showcases the details that make weddings magical.

-AS SEEN IN BRIDAL GUIDE MAGAZINE-

Flowers & Desserts

Wedding reception flowers
Photo: Susan Elizabeth Photography

The dessert table and cake design are places where couples can add a little more fun into their day. A lush buttercream creation... a sweet mini-cake... a multi-tiered confection — each can assume center stage with ease.

Wedding flowers
Photo: Josh Goodman

Mini wedding cake
Photo: Love in Theory

Flowers take a starring role as well. Not only do you walk down the aisle with them, they can inspire the backdrop for the rest of your decorations. Start gathering ideas for your flowers and bouquets early on in the wedding planning process.

Bridal bouquet
Photo: Christine Grace Photography

Wedding centerpiece
Photo: Erin Johnson

Find a flower you can use in your details. Look closely at your dress or lace. Is there a flower design within? Or choose a flower you love and have your baker work a fresh or spun-sugar version of the bloom into your cake

Almost naked wedding cake
Photo: Erin Johnson

Printed Matter

Save-the-dates and invitations offer hints of what’s to come. A phrase like “black tie,” images of a canoe on a lake or destination wedding information lets your guests prepare for a beautiful day.

Wedding invitation suite
Photo: Susan Elizabeth Photography

Begin the invitation design process by looking to your wedding location — perhaps you can find a vintage postcard of the locale as a jumping-off point.

Wedding invitation
Photo: Lillie Fortino Photography

From florals to stripes, wallpaper can be a great source of inspo.

 

Tropical wedding invitation

Pull out your parents’ or grandparents’ invites and study them closely. You might fall in love with the font, paper texture or design.

 Wedding invitation suite
Photo: Love in Theory

Signage, table numbers & escort cards tell guests such things as where to go, where to sit and what’s on the menu.

Wedding direction sign
Photo: Christine Grace Photography

Online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon Handmade are great resources for paper goods — both custom-made and stock items.

All you need is love sign
Photo: Anée Atelier

Flower girl in wagon
Photo: Josh Goodman

Tablescapes & Decor

You said "I do," and now it is time to celebrate — and eat and drink!

Metallic wedding reception table decor
Photo: Erin Johnson

Once you know if you are using round, square, rectangular tables or a mix of shapes, you can focus on the details like which linens you want to have on each table, along with dishes, flatware and centerpieces.

Wedding reception table
Photo: Anée Atelier

When it comes to dishes and dinnerware, look for vendors who offer a variety of vintage china, modern styles, patterned dishes, even clear glass. Go mismatched or matchy-matchy — it’s all good!

Wedding reception table
 Photo: Christine Grace Photography

Be sure to factor in barware and glassware Just as we are seeing new trends with dishes, we are seeing them with glassware as well, from stemless champagne glasses to colored glass and copper mugs for specialty libations like mulled cider and Moscow Mules.

Wedding reception table
Photo: Christine Grace Photography

Excerpt from Modern Romantic Weddings, by Maggie Lord, by permission of Gibbs Smith.