Style Me Pretty – Guest Blog by Parallel Venues
As regular readers of the Snapdragon Parties blog will know, we use it to share information about carefully curated luxuries, to share inspiration or helpful tips about how to host amazing events. We occasionally invite one of our trusted partners to write a guest blog and this week I am delighted to introduce you to Laura Caudery, Director of Parallel Venues, part of a family-owned property company. Laura runs two stunning stately homes, Fetcham Park in Surrey and Cams Hall in Hampshire, both of which make a stunning backdrop for the most spectacular events. Laura shares her insights on how to decorate a venue:
Everybody wants their event to create a visual impact with styling being at the forefront when planning, especially with the advent of blogs showcasing inspiration from around the world. But it’s often this that leaves people – brides especially – feeling overwhelmed. With so many great ideas, where should you start?
When you’re styling a marquee, it’s quite literally a blank canvas and you have the creative freedom to embrace any style. If, however, you aren’t so savvy with a carte blanche of design options, I recommend looking to the interior decoration of your venue for design inspiration.
I always advise our clients to work with the existing décor at our properties, whether the elaborate gilded accents of Fetcham Park’s Salon or the muted tones of the Oval Room at Cams Hall. It provides a framework from which to start and you will find that working with, rather than against, the existing colour and décor will enhance your own styling.
Being honest, I also think it saves money. One of the benefits for our clients is that with such elaborately decorated interiors, if you do too much, it actually starts to compete with what’s already there and look ‘fussy’. By subtly enhancing the existing features – which presumably you like as that’s what drew you to the venue in the first place – you can maximise your results. A bit like the way a great make-up artist will enhance rather than cake your best features!
Whist clients might think that limits them, a recent shoot that I organised with Couvert Bespoke Event Hire and Jay Archer Floral Design shows that a variety of colours and accessories can be used. Each element helps create a very different, distinctive look, yet they work with the décor scheme to enhance the visual and dining experience for guests.
From coloured votives that match both your scheme and the internal décor to golden candelabrum highlighting gilded accents, there are a myriad of ways to take a lead from a venue’s features when styling your wedding.
Food presentation has never been so exciting, so instead of the usual round white china plates, why not opt for metallic chargers or beautifully blown glass serving ware. Vintage china with pretty patterns will never look out of place in grand surroundings and is as appropriate for an informal afternoon tea celebration as it is after dinner with petit fours.
Flowers will always be vital to any event, both in terms of adding atmosphere as well as complimenting the rooms in which your celebration is being held. A good florist will be able to add to the space, rather than detract from it, and could also incorporate colours from your floral centrepieces elsewhere, as in the choice of your linen colour.
Far from being limited by your surroundings, the existing features in a wedding venue ought to provide you with the inspiration to step outside the box when planning how to add beautiful touches and stunning details to your day.