All About the Details - Charger Plates

When it comes to designing any type of event, be it a party or wedding, the little details are what really makes your space shine. One of our favorite ways to incorporate details that amplify the elegance and overall look of an event is by using charger plates. This simple addition of a decorate plate is a great way to add to your decor without being overwhelming and creating a great base for your table settings.

Photographer: Erin Hughes Photo

Chargers are the large, decorative plates that are placed under the main dishes your guests will use to eat off of. They are mainly used for decoration, but they serve a few practical purposes as well. Using a charger in your place settings helps to space out your plates and makes sure your guests won’t be too cramped next to each other. They also catch any food that may spill off the sides of the plates, keeping your linens looking clean all night long. Chargers are especially useful if you have a buffet and guests take their plates with them to collect their meal; their place setting remains present with the charger and it will be easier for them to find their seat when they return.

Photographer: Manya Photo

The main purpose of a charger plate is decorative. They come in so many beautiful designs and colors, and add a lot of style to your place settings. Incorporating a charger provides a pop of color and texture that keeps your table from looking too bare, especially when the dinner plates have been cleared away. To add to your decor even more, you can coordinate your chargers and napkins for pulled together look, or even contrasting colors or designs for more of an eclectic style. Chargers can also be used as a base for candles or floral arrangements, which is a great way to tie together your decor together and create a beautiful base for your pieces. 

Photographer: Kathryn Colby Photo

While the big picture is extremely important to the overall look of your event, adding those little details, like chargers, is what makes everything come together. Whether you’re looking for more pops of decor to tie in your theme or ways to bring out your wedding colors, chargers are an elegant option for any type of event. 

Canopies: Beautiful, Practical, and Everything In-Between

When you were young, did you ever dream of having a princess-style canopy bed? We did, too. While not all of us may be able to pull off a canopy bed as adults, you can at least bring the whimsy and romanticism of a canopy to your wedding and fulfill that dream, just for a day. A canopy is the perfect way to not only satisfy your inner child, but add elegance to your wedding and protect your guests from the elements.

Canopies are incredibly versatile, which is what makes them such an amazing addition to your event. They can be utilized indoors or outdoors, rain or shine, in any shape or size, and can be made with a variety of materials. The most popular form of canopy is found at outdoor wedding ceremonies, either highlighting the front of the ceremony space with an arch or four post structure, or a larger tent that stretches the entire ceremony area. An outdoor canopy creates shade to keep your guests from being sunburned, but at the same time allows for light to pass through the space, keeping you from feeling closed off or claustrophobic. You can also choose for your canopy to be open sided, creating more movement and space, or closed off on all sides, which can protect your guests from the rain. In case of inclement weather, a tent or canopy made from canvas or plastic sheeting keeps you and your guests warm and safe from the rain. 

An indoor canopy is a great way to break up the space in your venue and allow to decorate in ways that might not have been possible previously. By hanging a canopy from the ceiling of your venue, you can create light and depth with simple fabric and make space for hanging lights. Canopies can also be used to highlight areas of your ceremony and reception such as the sweetheart table, buffet, or dessert tables. There are endless types of designs you can incorporate into your space, such as maypole, where the fabric begins at the outer sides of your space and swoop together to meet in the center, zig zags running across the ceiling, or parallel draping. 

Guided by the Light: The Perfect Lighting for Your Event

Photographer - Kelly Waterman Photography

Lighting is a key aspect to any event and is one of the first things guests will notice when they arrive. Not only does it set the mood, lighting also highlights your space in the perfect way. Check out these different types of lighting to find out which one is best for you!

Uplights: Uplighting is the #1 way to create an ambience for your event and is extremely popular in the wedding and event worlds. Uplights are stationed throughout the space with light shining upward, usually onto a wall or ceiling. This creates a subtle and romantic glow that is great for photos and dancing, and the best part is, you can choose and even customize your colors!

Static lighting is one type of uplighting, and it is exactly what it sounds like: stationary lights with a fixed color scheme.

Intelligent lighting, also called programmable lighting, is another type of uplighting that changes colors, which creates dynamic movement throughout the room. 

Wash lights: This type of lighting is a projection of color throughout the whole room, created by placing colored gels over the lights. There are many types of washes and the color combinations are completely customizable. Wash lights are great if you want your wedding or event colors to really stand out and catch the eye of everyone in the room. 

Pattern lights: Similar to wash lights, a pattern light is projected over the ceiling and tables of the space to create texture in the room. This can really liven up your space, especially if the walls or ceilings are a solid color and you’re looking to jazz it up. 

GOBO lights: Projects a stencil or template onto any surface in the room. They are most often used to project the couple’s names or initials, but can be used in any way you like. They are the perfect addition if you are looking for that extra bit of personalization to really make your space pop.

Pin spot lights: Used to bring focus to one or multiple areas in the space, pin spots are a beam of light that is directed at the spot to create a lighted focal point. They are often used to highlight table centerpieces, especially florals, and bring the eye of the guests immediately to the illuminated point. Pin spots create a dramatic scene of illumination and are perfect if centerpiece design is a key aspect of your decor.

Whatever your goals may be, lighting is the perfect way to achieve them while elevating your wedding or event!