Who doesn’t love to party? Yet “party” means something different to everyone. Since weddings have become so diverse, the traditional sit-down dinner and dance are being replaced by wedding space trends in an interactive and social setting. This has transformed the elements of what was considered “the standard” reception, and the introduction of a more designed environment has had a major impact. We’re seeing these intricate details transfer into your soirée, no matter the size.
When it comes to your wedding vibe, think about the gathering place you want to create for your guests. The best memories are always made when friends and family gather. It seems as if every family or friendship has a favorite gathering place. In some families, it might be the kitchen. In your friendships, it might be a cozy corner coffee shop. No matter where or what your gathering place is, it is an important piece of creating those special moments and memories that last a lifetime.
Think of your venue as the ultimate gathering place where those closest to you will come together to celebrate you and your love. Your guest list is unique to you and your fiancé, so your space for the celebration should be unique as well! It is important to think about how you can best utilize your reception space to create an interactive area for each of your guests to create their own memories. “Gather” won’t mean the same thing for all your guests. For your grandparents, it might mean a relaxed lounge in a quiet area of the room. While your younger guests might gravitate towards a collection of high tops near the fabulous customized bar, above
Creating several lounge options in various locations is hot in wedding space trends and allows your guests to choose the kind of environment they prefer. A lounge generally starts with developing an environment. Set off an architectural feature like the fireplace, below, by flanking with a modern mid-century sofa and brightly-colored chairs. Dividing the space into multiple areas will make the overall reception feel more intimate, leaving a spot for dancing, lounging, eating, and mingling.
Providing varying nooks allows guests the chance to enjoy each other’s company. People naturally like to form conversation groups and combining furnishings in clusters and pods of seating allows them to do this effortlessly. Adding accent pillows allows you to customize the look of rental pieces.
To display statement pieces of floral, we often add elements like the oversized coffee tables below, which also provide guests a convenient place to set down their drink. Lounges can easily be added around your dance floor for people to enjoy the entertainment. They can also be created in quieter surroundings where guests can have intimate conversations. Some designs can be very elaborate and some quite simple. It all depends on the room you are working in, your design aesthetic, and your vision of how your guests will enjoy their evening.
Instead of the cocktail hour with high-top tables and passed hors d’oeuvres, we suggest creating a varied landscape with a built-out bar. Include soft seating with furniture to define an environment that feels more relaxed and inviting for your guests.
Simply dimming the overhead lighting and using uplighting can signal that the hurried activities of the busy wedding day have mellowed and now it is time to kick back, relax and enjoy a cocktail.
Lauren B Photography
You can also consider moving parts of the festivities outside. For this setting above, we opted to create outdoor seating for guests to enjoy the coveted summer weather. Sleek modern white arching benches created a statement piece on the terrace. To reinforce the modern aesthetic look, cylindrical cocktail tables were grouped in clusters along the perimeter. The contrast between the glowing looped benches and cool blue accent lighting added to the futuristic feel of this environment.
For more wedding trend ideas, check out our Wedding Trends Look Book publication filled with endless ideas for your day.
