Planning a wedding is a labor of love, and setting up the decor is no different! Recently, I had the pleasure of transforming Hardwick Hall's enchanting floral chapel and picturesque lakeside marquee for a couple's big day. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what went into making their wedding decor dreams come true.
A Week Before the Wedding: Prep Work Begins
Every beautiful wedding starts with meticulous planning and preparation. About a week before the event, I began crafting a personalized backdrop for the couple. This involved creating custom lettering and spray-painting it to perfection. I believe these little personal touches make a world of difference.
The Day Before: Packing and Prepping
The day before the wedding was all about logistics. I loaded up the van with all the decor essentials, triple-checking that everything was accounted for. There’s no room for error when it comes to someone's big day!
The Big Day: Early Start, Big Setup
The morning of the wedding began bright and early. Arriving hours before the ceremony ensured I had ample time to set everything up without any rush.
Step 1: The Floral Chapel
First up was the foliage archway in the floral chapel. This piece is always a showstopper! Assembling the frame is the easy part, but adding the greenery to achieve that full, luxurious look takes a bit of creative flair and patience. I layered the greenery meticulously until it looked just right.
Step 2: The Lakeside Marquee
With the chapel ready, I moved to the lakeside marquee. Here, I started with the Layla Wall. This impressive feature consists of over 20 individual panels that slot into a frame to create a large, slatted wall. After assembling the wall, I adorned it with greenery and the couple’s newly married surname – a perfect personalised touch!
Next came the Evie canopy trees. These beauties require careful attention to detail to ensure each branch is positioned perfectly, creating a full and natural appearance. Finally, I set up the 5ft foliage table trees and added preserved foliage to the head table, completing the elegant and natural theme.
A Little Break and a Final Touch
After everything was set, I had a couple of hours to spare. Hardwick Park is a stunning place, so I took a leisurely wander around the grounds, soaking in the beauty and calm before the afternoon's final task.
As the ceremony ended, I returned to move the foliage archway from the chapel to the lakeside marquee. It now served as a gorgeous backdrop for the cake, a perfect repurposing that added continuity to the decor.
The Midnight Shift: Pack Up
Given the high temperatures that week, I decided to come back at midnight to pack everything away when it was cooler. It took about 2 hours to dismantle and pack up all the decor, ready for transport. The setup and takedown, not including driving time or loading/unloading of the van, totaled around 6 hours of hands-on work.
Reflecting on a Beautiful Day
Every wedding setup is a unique adventure, and this one at Hardwick Hall was particularly special. From the personalised touches to the lush greenery and stunning venue, it all came together beautifully. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing everything in place, knowing it’s set the stage for a couple’s perfect day.
Until the next wedding adventure, cheers to love, creativity, and beautiful beginnings!
Have This Look For Your Wedding Day!
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