7 Common Wedding Styling Mistakes Couples Make (And How To Avoid Them)

There are SO many beautiful wedding ideas out there, almost too many actually! That’s why it can be so hard to know what actually works together. You can save hundreds of ideas and still end up wondering which one is actually your vibe and how you can pull it all together.

This is where I see couples making the same styling mistakes time and time again. Usually, they’ve got too many ideas and haven’t thought about how everything will work together in the space they have.

So, if you’re planning a wedding and want your styling to feel cohesive, considered and actually look as good in real life as it does on your Pinterest board, here are seven of the most common wedding mistakes I would avoid.

Using table linen that’s too short

This is an absolute no for me. If you’re having tablecloths, they need to reach the floor. Short table linen can make a beautiful wedding feel unfinished and can give the room a cheaper feel.

Your table linen is one of the biggest visual elements in your wedding reception, so it’s worth getting it right. If you have the budget for it, I would recommend also considering switching your linen to another colour or texture to really elevate your space.

My advice: See a wedding set up at your venue to check what the linen looks like or make sure you have the correct table measurements when hiring from a linen company.

Trying to style too many areas

Spreading your budget too thin has the opposite effect. Instead of really focusing on a beautiful design for the ceremony and reception space, you end up with lots of areas styled which don’t create any impact within your venue.

I’d much rather see couples invest in the areas where most of the day will be spent. They matter more than trying to fill every corner of the venue and the styling being lost or more having to be minimal on the tables.

My advice: Think about where your guests will spend most of the day and where your photos will be taken and focus on styling those.

Cutting corners on the finishing touches

The small details are sometimes the ones that make the biggest difference and I strongly believe that table settings should not be ignored. A beautifully styled table isn’t just about putting a centrepiece in the middle, it’s about how everything works together.

The napkin colour and texture, the plate selection, the cutlery layout and colour, the right amount of candlelight, the stationery.

All of these details create the finished look, if you’re looking for the luxury wedding styling finish, don’t ignore them.

My advice: a beautiful menu is one of my favourite finishing touches.

Too much signage

We just do NOT need signage everywhere and you really are wasting your money. A welcome sign, yes, if you want to create an entrance to your wedding, a table plan, yes it’s a must. Anything else is not necessary. We don’t need an order of the day, it’s actually quite limiting and doesn’t give as much flexibility throughout your day. Other signage scattered around all over can give a ‘non-luxury’ feel.

My advice: Research luxury fonts before having your signage made and make sure all of your stationery matches for a seamless look.

Not repurposing decor

If you’re investing in a stylist or a florist, we want to make sure you’re getting as much out of your money as possible and one of my favourite ways to do this is repurposing your ceremony decor.

For example, flowers used along your aisle for a backdrop can often be moved to your reception area behind your top table or floral centrepieces and some hurricane candles can move from the ceremony space to your tables.

My advice: Discuss with your stylist or florist designs that can be repurposed as some are too heavy to move

Adding DIY decor after hiring a stylist

This one is a tricky one because I completely understand that you would want to add personal touches to your wedding day and I’m not saying that you shouldn’t. In fact, I love when a wedding feels personal with unique touches.

Buuuut, if the favours, name cards or random items that you add to the table don’t fit the overall design, it creates a less cohesive look and can potentially undo the amazing styling you have paid for.

My advice: Chat with your wedding stylist about DIY items and send over photos so that they can guide you on what would match or give suggestions on how to add personal touches cohesively

Not planning your styling around the food

Food is a biggie! You’d be surprised at how quickly the tables fill up, with centrepieces, candles, wine, water, butter, bread baskets and then the crockery too. But adding sharing platters is a separate issue and if you do have plans to do this, you are always better to keep your centrepieces more minimal to ensure you have the space.

We couldn’t add florals and ten candles to a table with sharing platters because 1. The catering team would be so mad 2. Your guests will probably burn their arms 3. There would literally be nowhere to put the food.

My advice: Tell your wedding stylist as soon as you know you are planning to have sharing platters and they will advise on the design

Remember, not every style you love is the style for you. Select your colour palette and work from there until it all falls into place with your venue and your vibe.

Planning a wedding in Yorkshire and feeling completely overwhelmed by all the choices? I can take your muddled up ideas and turn them into a calm, cohesive wedding. Click this link to book a call with me HERE.