Our Wedding: the decor

Welcome to the first instalment of Ben + Courtney Get Hitched, a new feature to chronicle our planning process in the months leading up to our September wedding. I'm going to be honest and candid in these posts, sharing both the ups and the downs of our experience. Won't you join me in my adventures as a party-planner-turned-bride-planning-her-own-wedding?


part one: the decor.


A few of the first things we decided upon were our colour palette and several key elements of our decor. We're getting married on Okanagan Lake in the heart of BC's wine country. It is important to us that our end-of-summer wedding be a celebration where every guest feels welcomed and comfortable. When I asked Ben how he envisioned the decor and style of the wedding he responded with "functional" and "simple" (he's such a boy); I've incorporated his interpretation with my vision of "classic" and "rustic." What we've come up with is something that I think fits in with the Okanagan landscape perfectly.

{key decor elements}

1. paper lanterns. we will be hanging these throughout the venue for a laid back, summer patio party feel.
2. birch. not 100% on how we're going to incorporate it yet but it will be present.
3. arbour. we'll be married under one on a beach front patio.
4. jute + burlap. runners for the aisle and/or tables.
5. menu board. the only thing I don't like about buffet dinners is the fact that it's impossible to know everything that's being served. solution: menu board.
6. sparklers. duh.
7. neutrals. we'll be using pattern and colour sparingly to ensure it packs a punch against the neutral colour palette.
8. bunting. again, I'm not sure where this is going to be incorporated. but it will be incorporated.
9. vintage + rustic elements. in the spirit of DIY, personalized details, I'm on the lookout for clever and tasteful ways of incorporating vintage pieces into the decor.

So there you have it: the first sneak peak at our planning process. Much, much, more to come...


(Photos courtesy of 1. save on crafts 2. photo by Armor & Martel via Elizabeth Anne Designs 3. photo by Michael and Anna Costa via Style Me Pretty4. photo by Jonas Peterson via Once Wed 5. design by Lesley Weiner via Good Design Makes me Happy 6. photo by Pam Cooley Photography via Style Me Pretty 7. photo by Kristyn Hogan via Elizabeth Anne Designs 8. toast via this is glamorous 9. photo by Eleise Theuer Photography via the knot).