4 Ways to Incorporate Your Locations in Your Wedding Design

We all know that the wedding venue you choose is important and that it plays a big factor in your design decisions.  But, don’t forget that your locations matter too.  If you haven’t checked out our most recent Facebook live and why your location matters in your wedding design, you definitely should!  Because today we’re building on it with 4 ways to incorporate your locations in your wedding design.

Before we dive in, remember that your location isn’t just where you’re getting married, but where you’re from, where you grew up, where you live and your favorite places to travel.  Think about the locations that have had an impact on you and what you love about them.  This will get your brain working and juices flowing for the ideas below.  So, let’s dive in…

4 Ways to Incorporate Your Locations in Your Wedding Design

#1 – Food and Drinks

(Photo credit: Christie Pham Photography)

The easiest way to incorporate your locations into your wedding design is through your food and drinks.  Couples don’t think of food and equate that to their design, but remember, design goes much father than the aesthetic.  Your wedding design is the experience you create for your guests.  And a big part of that is the food and the drinks.

There are specialty foods and drinks in every location across the world.  And I’m sure you’ve come across dishes, ingredients or drinks that stand out to you.  Think about those favorites you’ve had over your life and what they mean to you.  And then incorporate them into your design.

It could take the form of a specialty cocktail, an appetizer, a type of wine, a dessert, a late night bite, a warm drink or the entire meal itself.  Or even the food and drinks for another event you’re hosting like your rehearsal dinner or day after brunch.  And remember, you don’t have to pick a theme, you can mix and match and include multiple locations in your food and drinks.

#2 – Style

When you think about a location, not only does it have certain foods or drinks associated, but a certain style as well.  Now style isn’t just about fashion, but that quality and feeling to it that reminds you of a location.  It could be the architecture, the details, shapes or materials.  Perhaps it’s easy and breezy.  Or maybe it’s layered and textural.  Or it’s comfortable and approachable.

Every person’s take on a location’s style is different as well.  What you see and what speaks to you may be completely different than another person’s.  And that’s ok!  It’s just a matter of tapping into the style of that location that you feel (and like) and using it in your wedding design.

For example, having just come back from Charleston, to me the style feels very open and welcoming yet still structured and defined.  One way I could use that style in a wedding is in my floorplan and how I set up tables and the flow.  Or it could be in the details we use on the stationery pieces.  Or it could be the linens and rental furniture we choose.  You can also use multiple styles together in an eclectic, but harmonious way.  Or different styles for different parts of your wedding.

#3 – Colors

Another easy way to incorporate your locations in your wedding design is through color.  Like style, there are also colors associated with a location.  Close your eyes and think about the locations you love and images and colors that show up.  Maybe they’re bright bold colors or shades of blue or grey and white.

You can then bring these colors into your wedding design.  It could be one of your main colors or accent colors that you use here and there.  Maybe it’s something you only incorporate into your flowers or invitations.  Or maybe it’s the main color in your ceremony backdrop.

Once again, don’t be afraid to incorporate multiple locations in your colors and have multiple wedding colors.  This can be scary for some, but if you choose your wedding colors strategically they’ll all work together and give your design more depth and interest.

#4 – Culture & Traditions

(Photo credit: Day 7 Photography)

Incorporating a location’s culture and traditions is one of my favorite ways to design a wedding.  I enjoy it so much because it’s typically not an aesthetic element, but an experiential one.  Think about the locations that have mattered to you over the years and what people do there that you love.  Maybe it’s how they greet one another and the words they use.  Or maybe it’s a tradition that they consider to be good luck.  Or perhaps it’s a celebratory ritual or item that has gotten passed down through the years.

What’s great is you get to pick and choose the traditions you want to share in your wedding and what is meaningful to you.  Your guests will love getting to experience something new and learning something about the locations that matter to you at the same time.   For destination weddings in particular, it’s wonderful to include a local tradition or cultural element to celebrate the place you’ve chosen to get married in.

One last note about incorporating culture and traditions is don’t forget about your own as well!  If there are cultural, religious or familial traditions that are special to you, make sure you include that in your wedding design as well.  It could be in your ceremony or reception or in just some small act that you do.

There are so many ways you can incorporate your locations into your wedding design, but these 4 ways are a good place to start.  You can incorporate it subtly or boldly, it’s up to you!  Have fun with it and use it to create the unique and fun wedding you want.

Now I’d love to hear from you!  How do you plan on incorporating the locations you love in your wedding design?  Let me know in a comment below!