Have you ever wondered what the term “event designer” means? A role that typically used to be delegated to the florist or the caterer, event design is a “relatively” new term within the wedding industry. So much more than picking out flowers or table linens, event design encompasses the entirety of the wedding experience. From the moment your guests receive their save the date until the bride and groom’s exit, there are endless opportunities for an event designer to bring the essence of the wedding to life. And today we are going to break down what it means when you hire an event designer to be a part of your wedding vendor team.
Floor plan Design
One important element of our event design services is floor plan creation and management. More than just sticking some tables into a room and calling it a day, floor plan design is a critical aspect to the flow and feeling of your event. Over our many years, we have found what does and does not work, and what can majorly alter your guest experience. We work with the entire vendor team on the floor plan, everyone from the caterer, to the bar service, to the rental company reviews the floor plan to ensure that all aspects of the event are considered.
When creating our floor plans we try to think of creative ways to utilize the space we’re in. We especially try to come up with unique ideas that have not been thought of before when working at the popular venues in Augusta. This may mean having the event flow opposite of how it has in the past, using spaces for ceremony that may normally be used for reception or vice versa! It may mean putting the band in a completely different location, or adding a cool feature bar in an unexpected location.
The floor plan is our jumping off point for the rest of the event design, it shows our client their limitations and possibilities. And it can take many iterations to get the floor plan to its final state.
Cohesiveness
When a guest attends a truly exceptional wedding there is something almost inexplicable about the feeling one has when you leave. It may be that the wedding felt so completely reflective of the couple. Or maybe it’s that every need of the guest was anticipated and considered. However we strongly feel that the weddings that truly shine are the ones that have a cohesive thread running through it from beginning to end that ties it all together.
This starts from the very beginning of the event design process. A motif, a monogram, or other element used in the save the date or invitation design, in turn can then be used on the cake, or embroidered onto a dinner napkin, or printed onto coozies! We love when we can carry a color, a pattern, or texture throughout the design. Subconsciously your guests pick up on these details as they become so interwoven into the overall wedding day. That is why we prefer to be a part of our client’s wedding planning journey from the very beginning, to ensure that everything is designed in a thoughtful way.
Something that is important to keep in mind is that this may mean pulling back as well, not incorporating certain ideas, or trends, because at the end of the day it may not be truly reflective of our couple. Our end goal is a wedding that feels intentional. That every aspect has a reason or meaning behind it that contributes to the overall feeling we are trying to encapsulate for our clients and their guests.
A Beautiful Wedding
It would be remiss not to mention that one of the biggest reasons our clients hire us is because they want a beautiful wedding. They want a wedding filled with special details, gorgeous flowers, beautiful linens, and that “wow” factor that your guests get walking into a tent. Our favorite part of the process is that moment our clients get to see their vision come to life. That is what makes our job rewarding!
A classic Greg Boulus Events wedding is one that has first and foremost, beautiful flowers. That’s a given as that is where our beginning is rooted. However we realize that this is not the only element that is important when creating a beautiful atmosphere. A beautiful textured linen, up-lighting on surrounding landscaping, votive candles, decorative pillows, are all elements that add that extra layer of design that makes a wedding feel even more special then it already is!
So yes, while an event planner/designer is hired to not only make your wedding feel and run seamlessly, it is also to make your wedding beautiful. Over the years we have cultivated our little black book of vendors that we entrust to bring our visions to life. Depending on the client, we will recommend the use of different rentals, lighting, venues, linens, draping, etc. We have curated a list of the best of the best in the region to ensure our weddings come together exactly how we, and our clients, have imagined. Access to our preferred vendor list is one of the biggest benefits to utilizing our planning and design services.
At the end of the day, our goal as your wedding designers to create an event that is so completely reflective of you, that is beautifully understated, that your guests leave thinking “wow, wasn’t that something.” It is important to keep in mind though that the most important element of a beautiful wedding day is the unseen element. It is the feeling one has when all your loved ones are in one place, at one time, celebrating with you. That is something we try to remind all of our clients at one point or another during the planning process, and is something to keep at the forefront of your mind when planning your big day!
We hope that this post has helped anyone wondering exactly what an event designer does and how it differs from an event planner. If you have any more questions about our services, please feel free to reach out to us! We would love to be a part of your special day.
Photography by Ashley Seawell Photography, Robin Gerrard Photography, Lauren Carnes Photography, Laura Fulmer Photography.
