Let’s get one thing straight. You do not need a £100k wedding to make it look luxurious. And you can absolutely spend £100k and still end up with a wedding that isn’t cohesive and looks random AF.
I’ve styled more than 90 weddings at venues such as Grantley Hall, Middleton Lodge and Saltmarshe Hall, and these are the things I’m always banging on about when it comes to making a wedding look expensive, polished and actually you.
1. Get your linen right
Please, for the love of all things wedding, get your linen right 😂
Floor length linen instantly makes a room feel more polished, while short, creased or badly fitting cloths can make even the fanciest venue look like a Tuesday night at a conference centre.
It sounds small, but it makes a massive difference.
2. Layer your tables
A plate, napkin and one centrepiece does not give luxury wedding table.
You want layers, textures, different heights, beautiful glassware, candles, florals and all those little details that make your eye move around the table.
Think less Primark window display and more The White Company display.
3. Add candlelight
I will obsess over candles until the day I die.
They instantly make a room feel warmer, softer and more atmospheric, especially once the daylight starts to dim.
If your venue allows real candles, use them. Your photographs will thank you.
4. Stop trying to make everything match
Your colours and textures should work together, but you actually want a bit of contrast so the room has depth and doesn't look like you've ordered everything from the same Amazon basket.
5. Get your proportions right
Chat with your florist and stylist about this one.
A tiny centrepiece on a huge table will look lost, while something massive on a small table can completely swallow the room.
It's not always about adding more, sometimes we need to chat through your food options, if you’re having sharing platters this will impact the table decor. We can still create impact while considering other aspects of the day.
6. Style the whole room
Don't just think about your tables centrepieces.
Your wedding should feel like one design, not a collection of pretty things that accidentally met at the venue. Think about how the decor will flow from the welcome area to the ceremony and then to the wedding breakfast. One part of the day can be the most important to you but we don’t want to ignore important parts.
7. Don't mix and match your styling
This is a BIG no, no.
If you've spent hours creating a full styling vision with your stylist, then decide you'll provide your own candles, DIY napkins and hire a few random bits from somewhere else, you're definitely going to lose the look you originally fell in love with.
It's like asking someone to style your outfit and then turning up in a completely different pair of shoes.
9. Don't copy somebody else's wedding
Pinterest is amazing, but it is also a dangerous place.
You can very easily end up with 100 screenshots of weddings you love individually that absolutely do not match at all.
Take inspiration, but make sure your styling works with your venue, your dress, your colours and the atmosphere you actually want.
So, how do you make your wedding look expensive?
It's not about buying the most expensive version of everything. It's about how everything works together. See our portfolio here for some inspiration on how to create this type of styling.
The linen, candles, flowers, colours, textures, proportions and little details all need to tell the same story and not be an afterthought.
If you want a wedding that feels calm, modern and cohesive, get in touch with us.
My 2027 diary is nearly full and key dates in 2028 are filling up quickly.