Keep it Simple and Stunning 3 - Some final tips

Over the past several days I've been talking about keeping it simple and stunning -- that is, your wedding, of course! Here are a few final thoughts on focusing on simplicity in your wedding design.

Simple weddings should have a unifying theme.

Whether you use color, a culinary focus, ethnic customs, a Celtic knot or a Zen garden, choosing a central theme that works in your setting is a guarantee of a more harmonious mood for your wedding celebration.

A wedding focused around a Celtic knot may have all sorts of variations of a Celtic theme. You could carry out your simple 1-2-3 colors in various shades of green, serve Irish soda bread hors d'oeuvres and concentrate on Celtic music.

A Zen-style wedding might feature an invitation printed on rice paper, or a sake and sushi cocktail. You could have floating orchids on the tables and wedding party favors of Asian candles, and packages of green tea.

When all the design choices fall into line with an overall theme, from fonts to foods, the result is not only more appealing, but it also simplifies the planning process.

Know your design priorities.

The possibilities in designing a wedding setting seem endless. Too many choices and you can go into design overload! Make wedding checklists of the things that are MOST important to you as far as your wedding is concerned. Flowers? Music? Food? It is sometimes really hard to choose and every couple feels differently about which details are most crucial.

(Hint: The wedding planner book may look whimsical, but it is the contents that are key. Have one for your spouse and another for your main assistant and that way you are all on the same page!)

Write down your priorities and stick to them every step of the way. Discuss your priorities up front with each of your vendors at the very first meeting! Make sure they understand what you are seeking, and are willing to provide it for you. If not, find another vendor!

Use your setting as your reference point. Don't try to make it something it is not. If you are holding your wedding reception in an industrial loft, don't try to have a botanical garden wedding. Trying to turn the loft into an English country garden defeats the purpose of simplicity. If you want the botanical garden wedding, go to the botanical garden site. If you are inflexible about your setting, be prepared for complications - and for things not working out the way you envisioned them.

Simplicity is well-planned.

Knowing your priorities is the key to maintaining your design and your sanity, but be open to new possibilities along the way. The best way to keep glitches from happening is to evaluate these priorities from the start, review what you really want and then make your changes early on. Once the invitations are sent, and the wedding linens are ordered, your flexibility becomes limited. If you set these priorities first and tinker with them then, you will likely avoid any major changes and huge expenses!

Simple is better.

Take the time to apply these KISS principles. Focus your budget, preferences, and approach on smart details and gracious warmth, rather than stiff pomp and circumstance - it's not a royal wedding.

You will be rewarded with a simple, stunningly beautiful wedding day free of headaches and stress. And in 50 years, you will be able to celebrate your anniversary looking back on a treasured memory and toast each other's good sense to go simple yet stunning!