Addicted to magazines like InStyle Weddings or glued to the TV when ET Canada features a celebrity wedding? If you love the glitz and glamour and want to have your own celebrity-style wedding (without the celebrity cost), read on for some tips on how you can be the star of your own celebrity wedding!
Step One
Flowers, flowers and more flowers - Look at any celebrity’s wedding pictures and you will see lots and lots of blooms spilling all over the place. These are a staple in celebrity weddings. Think about Preston Bailey and how abundant flowers are in his celebrity weddings. Flowers are everywhere from the table centrepieces to the aisles, to favour boxes, to chair backs. Tall, dramatic centrepieces scream celebrity and attract a lot of attention. Lower centerpieces can also give you that star look with dramatic or unique wedding flowers. Celebrities choose imported flowers such as Lady Slipper Orchids, which can take a huge chunk out of your budget. Try similar flowers that are less expensive, like Stephanotis or Cymbidium Orchids, which give you the same effect. A great money-saving tip is to not focus so much on the centrepiece, but add the attention to each place setting by placing a single flower on a napkin or charger plate; this will be a lot less expensive than having all the stems you will need for an elaborate centerpiece. I have suggested hydrangeas many times before and can never stress this enough. They are large and take up a lot of space, so you need less, and adding extra greenery and seasonal blooms will really make your budget smile!
Step Two
Treat your guests to welcome baskets. - Celebrities make sure out-of-town guests are treated well from the start. Welcome baskets are luxurious and are often filled with specially chosen items for guests to enjoy. Each room receives one upon arrival and contains items such as gourmet treats, bottles of beautifully packaged water, brand name slippers, monogrammed stationery and an itinerary for the wedding weekend with a list of the best places to visit in that city. On a budget? You can still make guests feel welcome by just placing some water and a treat with a welcome message and itinerary in each room.
Step Three
Multiple wedding outfits - This is a very popular trend in celebrity weddings. The bride may stay in her wedding dress for the ceremony and part of the reception, but then changes into something a little more fun, something a little sexier or just a gorgeous dress that is easier to move around in. Besides, it is the bride’s day and this allows her to have another reveal! I do love the dress change, but I think it's a good idea to wait a little. Wait until you've had your first dance and cut the cake, as you will be photographed for these important moments and you will want to be in your wedding dress. Also, grooms have changed out of their tuxedos and into sharp suits later on. Grooms are important, too!
Step Four
The entertainment must be top notch. - This defines a celebrity wedding. Celebrities hire big-name bands and celebrity DJs, or they hire both 15-piece orchestras and a DJ. Rather than having a traditional organ at their ceremony, they will have an impressive live band or singer and go all out at the reception in the evening. Get the same effect for less and hire a very talented piano player to use the venue’s piano or classical harpist or soloist. I often use the harp, flute and cello for ceremonies. Besides the sweet sounds coming from these instruments, the aesthetics of the trio is like stepping into a wedding from a movie scene.
Step Five
The party doesn’t stop! - Celebrities don’t stop at midnight when most wedding receptions often start winding down. They party until the wee hours of the night, so if you want to do it like the stars do, rent some lounge furniture and create that after-party lounge feel. Think low tables, sophisticated leather furniture, tons of pillows and glowing candlelight all around. Make sure the bar is nearby, sweet treats are passed (maybe a midnight snack, too) and that the DJ is playing some great tunes to keep the guests grooving all night long.
Step Six
Lighting is key. - You know when guests gasp as they enter a room? It's thanks to the clever lighting that gives the room that wow factor. A room that is not lit, versus the same room that is professionally lit are two different worlds. Lighting is vital to create that party mood. Pin-spot lighting is a basic necessity to light up your table’s centerpieces, but look at celebrity wedding photos and you will see that many add colour to their lighting that can change throughout the night. Many also add their monogram or personalized patterns that move from the dance floor to the walls. Lighting can indeed be a costly item in your budget, but if you have to have this, check out venues that already have lighting installed. Most should have at least pin spots and LED lighting bars to wash up on the walls. Really on a budget? Dim the lights low and go crazy on candles!
Step Seven
Most importantly, brides and grooms, smile your superstar smile and show everyone just how happy you are!