WEDDING BLOG

Wedding Planning 101 – Creating Wedding Reception Lounge Areas

August 27, 2013 | Junebug Weddings

Wedding reception lounge areas are a trend that have taken the wedding world by storm, and now they are a key component on many couple’s minds as they plan their wedding. Providing a little seclusion from the main party, lounge areas allow your guests to mix and mingle in a more relaxed atmosphere than the traditional reception seating arrangements. We’ve put together some top tips on how to create a reception lounge area that is as inviting as it is functional. Read on!

(Photo by Jay Lawrence Goldman)

1. Mood Lighting
One of the most important elements to consider when designing your reception lounge space is the lighting. The most effective, not to mention the most budget friendly way to achieve lighting that feels warm and inviting is with candlelight. In the photo above, wedding consultant Mindy Weiss took full advantage of the fireplace at the Pelican Hill Resort and filled the lounge area with flickering firelight.

(Photo by Ben Chrisman Photography)

2. Getting Cozy
Create a feeling of privacy with sweeping fabric draped over the lounge area or enclosed in a luscious tent. Add a fun chandelier and you’ve got all the ambiance you’ll need.

(Photo by STUDIO 6.23)

3. Dividing Spaces
If your wedding reception is taking place in an open space, like the field pictured above or a large ballroom, structure the decor in a way that divides the massive singular space into smaller areas where guests can socialize. The lanterns hanging from the trees allow for the lounge area to be defined, but still open to the golden landscape beyond the celebration.

(Photo by Yvette Roman Photography)

4. A Pop of Color
Your reception lounge area is a wonderful opportunity to add a splash of color with some luxurious and lavish decor. If you’re having trouble getting your hands on colorful furniture, toss some vibrant throw pillows on a more neutral alternative. Adding an area rug is another great way to introduce color to your reception lounge area, as well as continuing to define the space.

(Photo by Holland Photo Arts)

5. Building Character
As you incorporate your overall wedding design concept into every facet of your wedding reception, your lounge area should be no different. Get creative! The wedding shown above used wine barrels as tables for a vineyard wedding. Keep in mind that while you should be clearly defining the space, you still want your lounge areas to fit into your cohesive plan for the entire wedding day.

Looking for more? Take a peek at all the reception lounge area design inspiration in our wedding photo gallery!

Brightly Colored Fall Wedding in Alabama by Christopher Confero Design

August 26, 2013 | editorial team

Oh the colors in Laurel and Vince’s brilliant fall wedding in Alabama! The orange, fuchsia and pink florals, the romantic setting and the sweet Southern charm were beautifully brought together by the talented and charming Christopher Confero. And that wedding cake by Gia’s Cakes! Wow! Read on for fall wedding details you don’t want to miss!

The Couple: Laurel and Vince

The Wedding: 10.6.12 – Anniston Country Club, Anniston, Alabama

The Goals: We didn’t want to stress out too much about the details of the wedding day. We wanted to make sure that our family and friends enjoyed themselves and that we did too.

The Design: I wanted everything to have a classic romantic feel to it. I don’t have very modern taste. When Christopher Confero and I first met he asked really good questions that made me feel like he had an idea of what I was going for. He also had me make a Pinterest board where I pinned everything that flowed with my style. It was comforting to connect with a professional who was able to take my visions and make them reality. Plus, he helped us add a personal touch that made things actually mean something to us. For example, we worked with Sonia Davis to design a monogram for our wedding invitations that had laurel leaves in it for my name. Now we are actually expecting a little girl in November and we are using the same monogram with her initials in her nursery. Vince’s mother is really talented with design and she came up with the initial design for our wedding cake. There were layers that mimicked my dress, my wedding bands, our monogram, etc. Little personal touches like this made special memories for us to look back at rather than just so say those were our invitations or that was our cake.

The Look: I wanted to be comfortable and feel like myself. I went into Diane’s with the idea that I wanted a strapless dress with no beads, no lace, no crystals, no big train – just a simple dress that wouldn’t get in the way while I was dancing with my new husband. I was so thrilled to get just that. Keeping the dress simple made it easy to accessorize. I wore my mother’s pearls and some fabulous glittery Kate Spade shoes. My bridesmaids wore gorgeous one shoulder fuchsia gowns. The colors were so vibrant and pretty that day. I love looking at the photos.

The Moments: It is so hard to pick! My wedding day was so much fun for me from the time I woke up until we went to the airport for our honeymoon. I loved watching the backyard evolve as they worked at bringing in the flowers and setting up for the ceremony. I also had a good bit of downtime with family and bridesmaids while we were all getting ready that was really special. I would say the most memorable moment for me was saying our vows. We were so blessed to be able to have a close friend officiate our wedding and I think having someone we were so comfortable with made us really able to focus on each other and what we were promising, rather than everything going on around us. I have watched the video of our ceremony so many times and I never can make it through without tearing up.

The Advice: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Planning a wedding is overwhelming and it is easy to let it get to you. If you’re able to hire a wedding planner, do it! I had no idea what a relief it would be having someone there to help throughout the planning process. Christopher worked with wedding professionals that he knew he could trust and that was great. There are so many choices and it is nice to know you’re working with someone that has proved themselves in the past. I think our biggest wedding planning success was having a carefree wedding day. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t stress along the way, but that day was perfect. We were both so happy and had such a wonderful time with the people we love.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Wynter Photography
Event Planner: Christopher Confero Design
Ceremony Venue: Family Home
Reception Venue: Anniston Country Club
Videographer/Film Maker: Wages Films
Officiant: John Carter
Invitation Designer: Sonia Davis Designs
Catering: Classic on Noble (ceremony) and Anniston Country Club (reception)
Floral Design: Designed by Christopher Confero Design, Produced by Jackson | Durham
Cake: Gia’s Cakes
Wedding Dress: Diane’s Formal Affair
Bridal Accessories: The White Room (veil)
Bridesmaids’ Apparel & Accessories: Diane’s Formal Affair
Groom’s Apparel & Accessories: Mr. Burch Formal Wear
Groomsmen’s Apparel & Accessories: Mr. Burch Formal Wear
Hair: Leslie Ashley, Icon Salon
Makeup: Tim Lybarger, Dior
Live Music: The Ryan Kinder Band
Transportation: Vintage Auto (getaway car) and Apex Valet (valet)
Rentals: Event Rentals Unlimited (ceremony) and Top Notch Events & Rentals (reception)
Lighting Design: Christopher Confero Design, produced by AG Lighting
Linens: I Do Linens
Ice Sculpture: Ice by Design

Thank you Laurel and Vince for sharing your spectacular day with us!

Looking for more orange and pink weddings? Check out our image gallery for more inspiration!

Pink, White, and Gold Beach Wedding at Montage Laguna Beach, California

August 22, 2013 | editorial team

champagne gold ivory light pink white

We are in love with this Laguna Beach wedding designed by Mele Amore and photographed by Erik Clausen. With a gorgeous coastal backdrop and a naturally serene color palette, Linghui and Tianhua’s beach side nuptials proved to be a night to remember.

The Couple: Linghui and Tianhua

The Wedding: 5.4.13 – Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, CA

What three adjectives best describe your wedding? Intimate, romantic, unforgettable

What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? I used Pinterest a lot to gather ideas. I sent all the pictures I liked to my incredible wedding planner and she used those photos as inspiration to help define the style.

Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding? All my vendors were awesome, but in particular, the best decision I made for my wedding was hiring Mele Amore to plan my wedding and Erik Clausen as my photographer. As for the reception, my favorite memories are from the speeches our friends wrote and walking down the aisle in my gorgeous wedding dress.

What specifically drew you to Erik Clausen and his imagery?
I browsed a lot of wedding blogs including What Junebug Loves when I was looking for a photographer. I saw Erik’s work and it stood out so much compared to others because his style is mostly documentary. I hate posing and I didn’t want a bunch of stiff portrait shots. After falling in love with his style, I did what any modern bride would do: I googled him and found his website. The rest is history.