How to Choose Your Wedding Style: Five Tips for Creating the Perfect Atmosphere

One of the first creative decisions in wedding planning is defining your style. It sets the tone for the entire event, influencing everything from florals and decor to lighting, attire, and how the day feels. With so much inspiration available, it can be easy to get overwhelmed or pulled in multiple directions.

The most cohesive celebrations often begin with clarity. Below are a few ideas I encourage couples to consider when shaping their wedding style.

Start with Your Own Story

Your wedding should feel like a reflection of you and your partner. That does not mean incorporating every personal detail, but rather finding a design language that feels natural and aligned with your shared aesthetic. Think about the spaces you love, the colors you return to, or the parts of your story that feel grounding. A favorite flower, a tone from your home, or a subtle reference to heritage can guide the overall design in a way that feels honest and intentional.

Consider How You Want the Day to Feel

Mood is just as important as style. Do you want your guests to feel relaxed and connected, or energized and celebratory? The emotional tone of the event should inform your decisions about materials, color palette, layout, and lighting. Soft textures and warm candlelight invite intimacy. Bold color and dramatic form suggest movement and energy. Begin with the feeling, and the visual decisions will follow more naturally.

Let the Venue Inform the Vision

Most venues come with their own atmosphere. Rather than working against that, use it as a starting point. The architecture, the light, and the surrounding landscape can all offer clues about what will feel harmonious in the space. A historic estate, a private home, or a museum will each call for a different tone. The goal is not to match the venue exactly, but to design in a way that feels grounded in the setting.

Use Visual Tools with Intention

Platforms like Pinterest can be incredibly helpful when used thoughtfully. Pin freely at first, then return with a critical eye. Look for patterns across images—repeated tones, materials, or shapes—and remove anything that does not reflect your actual style. This curated collection can help your planner and design team understand your vision without chasing trends or getting lost in detail.

Work Collaboratively with Your Florist

Florals are often one of the most expressive parts of wedding design. A good florist will help you translate your style into a visual plan that works with your venue, your season, and your priorities. Share your ideas early, then be open to adjustments that enhance the overall design. Whether it is through color, shape, or placement, floral design plays a key role in defining the atmosphere of the day.

Final Thought

Your wedding style is not about following trends. It is about creating an environment that feels intentional, well balanced, and connected to your story. At Branches and Blooms Design, I work closely with each client to develop a floral plan that supports that vision so the day feels cohesive, personal, and exactly as it should.

Photo by M2 Photography

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Designing with Intention: How to Prioritize Your Floral Budget for the Most Impact

Floral design shapes the atmosphere of a wedding in ways that are both visual and emotional. It brings cohesion to the space, supports the setting, and reflects the tone of the day. But creating something meaningful is not about volume. It is about focus. The most thoughtful designs direct the budget toward what carries the most presence and purpose.

Here are a few guiding principles I return to when helping clients build a floral plan that feels intentional, refined, and aligned with their celebration.

Begin with the Atmosphere You Want to Create

Consider how you want the day to feel, both for you and for your guests. Is the tone romantic and moody? Light-filled and joyful? Structured and elegant? Once you define the emotional direction of the event, it becomes easier to make decisions with clarity and purpose.

Prioritize Areas of Impact

Rather than placing flowers throughout the entire space, focus on a few locations where design will be most visible and most meaningful. A ceremony installation, a thoughtfully styled head table, or an immersive reception layout can anchor the aesthetic and shape the overall experience.

Use Lighting to Support the Mood

Florals and lighting work best in partnership. Candlelight adds warmth, depth, and movement, allowing flowers to interact naturally with the space. Even minimal arrangements can feel layered and complete when paired with intentional lighting.

Be Strategic with Table Design and Guest Count

Table layout influences how floral design is experienced. Fewer tables with stronger visual moments often feel more cohesive than spreading smaller pieces across a larger space. If your guest count is high, alternating centerpiece styles or focusing florals on shared spaces can help preserve both impact and budget.

Trust the Process and the Palette

Once I understand your style, your setting, and your priorities, I will create a design plan that brings everything into alignment. We will focus on what matters most, make use of what is in season, and design in a way that feels intentional rather than excessive.

Final Thought

Floral design should support the feeling of the day. When approached with care and clarity, it becomes part of the experience. It helps define the space, supports the tone, and allows the celebration to feel visually complete.

If you are unsure where your floral budget will have the most impact, that is part of what we will explore together.

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Why You Should Consider an Eco-Friendly Florist for Your Wedding

Floral design can be a reflection of your values as much as your style. For couples who care about sustainability, choosing an eco-friendly florist is one of the most meaningful ways to align the celebration with what matters most. From sourcing practices to design methods, every part of the floral process can support a more thoughtful and responsible approach.

Below are a few reasons why sustainable floral design is worth considering for your wedding day.

Kim Spangler designs an eco-friendly wedding arbor construction without floral foam or single use plastics

Seasonal and Local Sourcing

Locally grown, in-season flowers reduce the environmental impact of shipping and support regional farms. They also bring freshness and a natural sense of place to each design, helping the celebration feel rooted in its setting and time of year.

A Low-Waste Approach

Sustainable design avoids single-use plastics and floral foam. Instead, it relies on reusable or compostable materials like chicken wire, water tubes, and carefully structured vessels. These techniques allow for flexibility and beauty without unnecessary waste.

Mindful Sourcing Practices

Whether flowers are grown on-site or sourced through wholesalers, attention to growing conditions and labor practices matters. Sustainable floristry emphasizes transparency and care, both for the environment and for the people involved in the process.

Support for Local Ecosystems

Designs that incorporate regionally appropriate plants and flowers tend to support pollinators, reduce water use, and promote biodiversity. These choices are not only environmentally sound but often more visually interesting and authentic to the setting.

Design with Purpose

Eco-conscious floral design does not rely on excess. Instead, it focuses on materials that are thriving, available, and well-suited to the environment. Working within these constraints often results in more creative, personalized designs that reflect the couple and the place they have chosen to celebrate.

A Meaningful Choice

There is peace of mind in knowing your flowers were designed with care for the environment. Every decision, from sourcing to setup, is an opportunity to reflect your values in a tangible, beautiful way. For many couples, that sense of alignment adds depth to the celebration.

Final Thought

At Branches and Blooms Design, sustainability informs every part of the process. From what is planted in the garden to how installations are built, the goal is to create floral work that is thoughtful, refined, and reflective of the people and place it is designed to celebrate.

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What should I look for when booking a florist?

Floral design shapes the atmosphere of a wedding in quiet but powerful ways. It sets the tone, enhances the space, and creates visual moments that stay with you long after the day ends. With so many talented florists to choose from, knowing who to trust with your vision can feel overwhelming.

Below are the qualities I recommend looking for when deciding who will bring your wedding flowers to life.

A Portfolio That Reflects Your Style and Setting

Spend time with each florist’s portfolio. Look not only at the flowers themselves, but at the venues, compositions, and scale of the designs. Do their projects align with the type of wedding you’re planning? Whether you’re drawn to soft and romantic or sculptural and refined, your florist should have a clear point of view that resonates with your own. Range is helpful, but consistency is key.

Collaborative, Responsive Communication

Your florist should make you feel understood and supported from the start. During your consultation, notice how they listen, ask questions, and help shape ideas into a cohesive plan. Good design is collaborative, and strong communication helps you move through the process with trust and clarity.

Custom Design That Adapts to You

Every wedding is different, and your floral plan should be built around your space, season, and priorities. A thoughtful florist will make recommendations tailored to your venue, guide you through seasonal choices, and adapt the plan as needed while maintaining the overall design integrity.

Transparency Around Budget

A professional florist will offer clear pricing and help you make the most of your budget. They should guide you toward high-impact decisions, identify where to focus your investment, and offer options that suit your goals. The best designs come from honest conversations and smart planning.

Reputation and Professionalism

Ask how the florist approaches timelines, logistics, and day-of coordination. Read client reviews and look for signs of consistent, reliable service. You’re not just hiring a florist, you’re choosing a creative partner to handle one of the most visible and perishable elements of your day. Their ability to plan, execute, and follow through matters as much as their design work.

Final Thought

The right florist will bring more than flowers to your wedding. They will bring clarity, intention, and a point of view that makes the entire experience feel cohesive and personal. At Branches and Blooms Design, I work closely with clients to create floral plans that reflect the tone of the day and the beauty of the space. If that feels like the kind of partnership you're looking for, I would love to hear more about your plans.

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