For obvious reasons, I didn’t style many weddings in 2020. It’s been a tough time for the industry and an even tougher time for the couples whose plans have been disrupted. Some people have been forced to postpone their weddings multiple times while others have had to deal with unexpected changes at very short notice.
Cat and Fred approached me with just two months to go before their October 2020 micro wedding at Deer Park Country House in Devon. Having originally planned a much larger wedding at another venue, they needed my help to create a celebration that felt just as special despite COVID-19 restrictions. Here’s what I learned from the experience…
Lesson 1 – Clever Styling Can Make a Micro Wedding
When Cat and Fred realised their big wedding wouldn’t be going ahead, they decided to move their celebration somewhere smaller. They wanted to avoid their 30 guests looking lost or overwhelmed in such a large space. Changing venues won’t be the best option for everybody. As a Stylist, I can find clever ways to make your existing venue work, rearranging things to feel cosy without sacrificing the overall look.
In the end, Cat and Fred’s wedding had to be reduced again to just 15 guests. When we were forced to make last-minute changes and shift the wedding breakfast to a different room, the décor and details seemed to take on even greater significance. With so many things beyond our control, placing flowers and candles exactly where we wanted felt good.
As the couple found themselves getting married at a completely different time of year, I also helped them adapt their original vision to suit the change in season, bringing in a vibrant autumnal colour palette, fresh fruit and seasonal foliage. The images throughout this post illustrate the visual impact these elements can create.
Lesson 2 – It’s OK to Go Big at a Smaller Wedding
During one of my earliest chats with the couple, we agreed a smaller wedding needn’t feel any less special. In fact, we could make bigger statements with florals and décor as the budget didn’t need to be spread as thinly over a large area.
It was important to Cat and Fred that those guests who were coming felt it was still a special day and not ‘reduced’ in any way. To reflect this, Brompton Buds and I set up a statement entrance hall complete with feature staircase and lanterns to welcome guests upon arrival.
Lesson 3 – Micro Weddings Are Still Magical
One of the things I loved about Cat and Fred’s wedding was how friendly and happy everyone was. Family members were milling about in the morning, popping their heads round the door to see how we were doing and even offering to bring us tea (all socially distanced of course!)
There were so many happy faces and beaming smiles. The joy I could see everyone experiencing was the same as at any other wedding I’ve been lucky enough to attend and style. So, take it from me, whether you’re forced into a smaller celebration or you choose one, your wedding day will be perfect.
Learn more about bespoke wedding design and styling or get in touch to discuss my semi-custom packages for micro weddings in collaboration with Emma Hewlett Floral Design and Keeping It Vintage.
Photo Credits:
Photographer // The Springles, Styling // Knots & Kisses, Florist // Brompton Buds, Venue // Deer Park Country House