For those of you in the Niagara region, what are you thinking of this weather?! Brrr! I am so ready for it to be warm again, like it was in March when I worked with an amazing wedding decorator to create this blog post all about (you guessed it!) wedding decor.
I had the privilege and honour of meeting up with the talented Michelle from Set the Mood a few weeks ago. On my way there, I had driven through some massive dark clouds and a down pour of rain, the first telltale signs that spring was on its way and here to stay (or so we thought!). Surprisingly, as I drove into Niagara Falls the clouds miraculously parted and the sun came out, making for some wonderful light to illuminate Michelle’s gorgeous show room.
We shared many laughs and had a great conversation over some yummy peppermint tea while I snapped some photographs. I loved being able to hear all about the exciting new trends for this year’s wedding season; Michelle is a very experienced wedding decor professional here in Niagara, where she expertly applies her skills to create eye-dropping tablescapes, backdrops and more!
I’ve even had the opportunity to experience firsthand to see her in action. When my husband and I said ‘I do’ almost three years ago, we chose Set the Mood to handle our wedding decor. As a bride, Michelle was absolutely amazing to work with! She was able to find table cloths, centerpieces and chair covers that matched our colours and overall theme perfectly. The draping she did on our head table was perfect—and the best part? It was all set up and taken down without myself or my hubby-to-be having to worry about it! So thank you again, to Set the Mood for providing such a stress-free, amazing experience.
And what better way to learn about wedding decor, than from an industry expert herself?
Michelle was kind enough to answer a few questions for us here at Lorie Marie Photography and has provided some great tips for planning your big day,
1.) Tell me a bit about yourself;
I am a creative, outgoing, laid back personality. I have been crafty and artistic my entire life, growing up as a child I was always creating and had my mom and grandmother footsteps to follow in. I grew up in Burlington, Ontario and moved to the Niagara region about 12 years ago. It was a big change but I have grown to love all of the natural elements we have to admire and share in this beautiful region. I have spent the last 10 years refining my skills as a wedding decorator/florist and have almost reached 100 positive reviews on Wedding Wire from past clients. My greatest strength and what I love best about my job is being able to see a clients vision and help bring it to life.
2.) What inspires you?
I am inspired by everything beautiful but love to watch and see what my favorite decorators/florists are doing; Preston Bailey, David Tutera and Karen Tran are amongst my favorite and are a great inspiration.
3.) What kind of services/products do you offer couples?
I love to offer my exclusive full service option – decor, flowers, ceremony and centerpieces; this option allows for the couple to use one vendor and one cohesive look.
I offer many different decor/flower options, chair covers, specialty linens, table draping, backdrops, ceremony decor, lighting, centerpieces, bridal flowers, money boxes; down to the smallest accessories, like votives.
4.) Do you set up the decor? Do you offer any DIY (Do It Yourself) options?
I offer both options, although I do HIGHLY recommend full service and that you do not spend your special day setting anything up, this is your day to enjoy!
There are some couples that are having more intimate backyard weddings and have the time to setup their decor, DIY may be a great option for these couples.
If family or friends want to help and are just setting up one item, like crystal centerpieces or chair covers, then this does not become an un manageable job as is a great way to minimize the budget.
5.) What is your favorite decor trend for the 2016 Wedding season?
There are so many different trends popping up; I love to see things a little less traditional, different table setups, mixing metallics, lots of lighting.
My favorite trend is how many people are using grey and champagne as their neutral and keeping with softer tones and just simple pops of color.
So much can be said for how you use color, shades and tones in decor.
6.) How far in advance should couples start choosing their wedding decorator?
You should always have your venue prior to booking a decorator, so that you know what you will need and the space you are working with.
All vendors differ with how far in advance they are booked, this also varies on the busyness of the weekend you are choosing.
I book on average 1 year to 8 months in advance.
7.) Any do’s/dont’s or helpful tips?
DON’T spend to much time on Pinterest instead create your own styles, trends and DIY’s.
DO remember to enjoy this planning time, it should be a happy and exciting time in your life.
And if you have any more questions for Michelle, or would like to book with her for all your wedding decor needs, you can visit her website or Facebook page through the links listed below:
