Even one memorable statement piece at your wedding will leave your guests saying “wow” for years! Whether it’s your cute desserts, the amazing floral installation, that stunning lit dance floor, or luxe invitations — our advice as Certified Wedding Planners in South Dakota, is to choose 1-3 things to “surprise and delight” your guests. Whatever your budget and style allow, choose something that will make a large impact (and be photographed a lot) to get the most out of your investment!
Here are 15 of our favorite ideas for how to decorate your wedding to make it as memorable as possible, all from real weddings Hitch Studio has had the honor of helping with:
- Having cold sparklers blast off during your first dance. Talk about a show-stopper. The crowd starting cheering when these when off! Because there is no actual flame or fire at all, most venues allow them! Check out the dance floor too — it’s a starlit dance floor that adds a “cool” factor to your dance party!
Photo by Erica Lynn Photography // Cold Sparklers by Pinnacle Productions // Lit Dance Floor by DJ Jer
- Showing off a statement piece like a champagne wall. What a perfect way to toast the couple — or have a cute idea for a seating chart. Everyone’s name and table number could be tied with ribbon to each champagne glass or attached to a cute straw. The options are endless with a fun wall like this!
Photo by Erica Lynn Photography // Champagne Wall by Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals - Wearing a dress that surprises. We know that cat eye (peaked) necklines, detachable sleeves, linear beading, high halter necklines, waterfall trains, and textured fabrics are all in style for 2023. What about this two-piece dress and this dress with ribbon detail on the sleeve?!
Photo by Erica Lynn Photography // 2-piece dress by Freebird Bridal // Ribbon detail dress by Bridal Gallery - Choosing bold, fun colors for your wedding. One wedding chose bright blues, pinks, oranges! This other wedding chose a celestial theme, so we featured a fun cake and stages of the moon as well as this fun moon detail behind their kings table! Want to see other fun color combinations? Visit our portfolio page.
Tablescape photo by Anna Behning Photography // Stationery flat lay photo by Erica Lynn Photography // Table Decor and stationery by Hitch Studio - Doing floral installations in unexpected places — like this vintage car, row boat, and pedal pub, all of which were used for “getaways” at the end of the day! What about putting florals on your welcome display, above the ceremony, or attached to a photo backdrop? All could use some amazing flowers!
Vintage car photos by Anna Behning Photography // Canoe photo by Up North Photography // Florals by Hand Tied - Putting together amazing table settings always add a thoughtful touch, especially when the name place cards and favors at each place setting are as cute as these! Guests LOVE when you go the extra mile to make them feel welcomed.
Photo by Erica Lynn Photography // Table Decor and stationery by Hitch Studio // pink stemware by Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals // Napkins by Ideal Tent & Event Rentals // Gourmet cookies by Aunt Megs - Using chairs and furniture other than the standard seating at a venue. What a delight for guests when you decorate your wedding reception with trendy seating options like these head table plush chairs and these guest chairs!
Photos by Erica Lynn Photography // Chairs by Ideal Tent & Event Rentals // Pink chairs by Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals - Sending custom calligraphy letterpress wedding invitation set with envelope liners, thick luxe cotton paper and beautiful glitter band details. If you have your heart set on making a statement with your wedding invitations, THIS is the way to do it.
Photography: Erica Lynn Photography // Letterpress by Smith & Smith Co. // Calligraphy by Andrea Alvarez Reno // Stationery Designer: Hitch Studio - Serving desserts that aren’t cupcakes seem to delight any sweet tooth! If you and your fiance aren’t cake lovers, what DO you love? These mini bundt cakes, cheesecakes and/or mini tartlets? What about an entire dessert bar?!
Photography: Erica Lynn Photography // Bundt cakes by Nothing Bundt Cakes - Surprising guests with sparklers or fireworks at the end of your night makes great send-off pictures! There are options for flame-free options if your venue doesn’t allow them also. Check out this recent blog for tips on using sparklers on your wedding day!
Photography: Erica Lynn Photography - Bringing the outdoors indoors — like this greenery hanging inside the wedding venue! You can include fun lighting as well — bistro lights and wicker hanging lights, as well as dance floors to really bring the space together.
Photo of couple: Chelsea Jean Photography // Venues: Midway Camp // Schade Vineyard + Winery Tent // DEC - Involving your pet! Wow, do people love dogs. Especially dogs dressed up for a wedding! People will want photos with your pet too. Haha!
Photography: Erica Lynn Photography // Venue: Brookings Country Club - Displaying an adorable seating chart. Guests love knowing they already have a place to sit at a wedding reception. Why not make it cute, with favors (like these little blankets in baskets) beside the seating chart?! The best part? Hitch Studio can make sure your seating chart matches your invitations, save the dates, programs, and more!
Photography: Erica Lynn Photography // Venue: Schade Vineyard + Winery Tent - Decorating with really tall florals helps bring the ceiling down — and candlelight from the table helps make conversations more intimate with guests. You might think tall florals are “too much” for your venue, style, or budget, but they really do help fill the space and add elegance. We HIGHly recommend it.
Photography: Erica Lynn Photography // Florist: Flower Mill // Photographer for black set up: Rhody Ray Design - Serving a stunning non-traditional cake. Making a statement with your balloon send off! Offering a cool way to “sign” your guest book by using a vintage phone to leave a message on your audio guest book and then making it into a vinyl record. This last tip is to do ANYTHING that fits your personality as a couple to make your wedding stand out, be memorable, be personal, and make a statement. The sky is the limit and Hitch will be meet you there!
Did you like what you saw here? Let’s make some memories together. Reach out to Hitch Studio for your complementary meeting where we get to hear all about YOU, your wedding details, and talk about ways to make your guests say “WOW” at your wedding. We can’t wait! Email us today!