Hiring a wedding decorator or designer is a crucial step in creating the wedding of your dreams. From guiding you through aesthetic decisions to executing your vision with precision, the right designer can elevate every aspect of your wedding. At Gold Park Events, we collaborate with the best professionals to ensure your wedding design is as unique as you are. Remember, the key to a successful partnership is clear communication, preparation, and trust in your designer’s expertise.
The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Decorators and Designers
Planning a wedding involves countless details, but one of the most important aspects of any wedding is design. While some couples may have an innate sense of style, others might need a little help bringing their vision to life. This is where a wedding decorator or designer comes in. If you have a clear picture of how you want your wedding to look and feel, hiring a professional can make your dream a reality. So, what exactly do wedding decorators and designers do, how much do they cost, and how do you choose the right one for your wedding? Let’s explore.
What Are Wedding Decorators and Designers?
A wedding decorator or designer is a creative professional trained in design, who specializes in transforming a wedding into an extraordinary visual experience. According to Cathleen O’Connell, owner of COJ Events in La Quinta, California, wedding designers work in tandem with other wedding vendors such as florists and wedding planners to enhance the aesthetic experience of your big day. They manage everything from floral arrangements to tabletop designs, stationery, lighting, signage, and every other visual element that provides a creative touch to the event.
It’s important to note that some wedding planners and florists are also trained as designers, but not all are. Be sure to ask for examples of their design-specific work before hiring. A true professional designer will develop a cohesive style and concept for your wedding, crafting a full visual experience that tells your unique love story.
How Much Do Wedding Decorators Cost?
The cost of hiring a wedding designer can vary significantly based on several factors, including your location, wedding size, and complexity of your design. Jacqueline Vizcaino, owner of Tinted Events Design and Planning in Atlanta, Georgia, offers the following rough estimates for wedding design services:
- Small Weddings: $3,000 to $8,000+
- Mid-Range Weddings: $12,000 to $25,000+
- High-End Weddings: $45,000 to $75,000+
These prices generally cover the professional designer’s creative fee but do not include the cost of materials such as flowers, furniture, lighting, or other decor elements. These additional costs will add up and depend on your specific vision for the event.
O’Connell recommends budgeting around 10-20% of your overall wedding budget for the designer’s fee, and if your designer is also acting as your wedding planner, expect their fee to be around 15-20% of the total budget.
When Should You Hire a Wedding Decorator?
For the smoothest wedding planning experience, it’s best to hire a designer as soon as you set your wedding date. In fact, Diane Kolanović-Šolaja, creative director and owner of Dee Kay Events, advises that hiring a designer even before securing a venue can help you find the right space that aligns with your vision.
If you’ve already chosen your venue, aim to hire a designer at least nine months before your wedding to allow enough time to order rentals, flowers, and other necessary materials. This ensures that your vision will come to life exactly as you imagined it.
How to Choose a Wedding Decorator for Your Wedding
Choosing the right wedding decorator or designer is crucial to the success of your wedding. Here are some tips on how to make the best decision for your big day:
1. Understand What You Need
First, be clear about the role you need. A wedding designer is responsible for creating the overall concept and vision of your wedding. They will design everything from the layout to the aesthetic choices and coordinate with other vendors to bring the vision to life. A decorator, on the other hand, focuses on the physical setup of the design — essentially bringing the designer’s vision to fruition. Make sure you understand which professional you need and what their specific role will be.
2. Research and Make Sure You Connect
The most important factor when hiring a wedding designer or decorator is ensuring that you’re on the same page stylistically. Vizcaino explains that couples often struggle to articulate their vision using vague terms like “romantic” or “elegant.” A skilled designer will guide you through choosing a style that best reflects your vision and make sure the design complements your personality.
If you feel like the designer truly understands your needs, that’s when you know you’ve found the right one. Kolanović-Šolaja stresses that finding someone who “gets” you is a huge part of the process. The right connection will make the entire process more enjoyable and less stressful.
3. Book Early
Wedding planning can take over a year, so it’s important to book your designer as early as possible. Kolanović-Šolaja emphasizes that the top wedding designers are often booked a year or more in advance. If you want the best designer available, you need to secure them as soon as possible to ensure they are available for your wedding date.
4. Set a Realistic Budget
Weddings are expensive, and design elements can make up a large portion of your total costs. Vizcaino suggests setting a clear budget for your design and sharing the elements you want the designer to focus on, whether it’s floral arrangements, styling tablescapes, drapery, or any other design elements.
Be realistic about your expectations and communicate what’s included in each designer’s package. This way, you’ll know exactly what to expect and can be open to creative suggestions that might help stay within budget.
5. Be Ready to Make Choices
Design is a collaborative process, and you will be required to make a lot of decisions. Expect your designer to ask you questions about colors, textures, the flow of events, and sensory elements like lighting and sound. Kolanović-Šolaja reminds couples that wedding planning can feel like learning a new skill, so be prepared to step out of your comfort zone and work closely with your designer to make informed choices.
How to Coordinate With Your Wedding Decorator After Booking
Once you’ve booked your wedding designer, communication is key to ensuring everything runs smoothly. Here’s how to maintain a successful working relationship:
1. Share Your Vision
The most important thing you can do is communicate your vision clearly. Provide inspiration boards, photos, or Pinterest links to help your designer understand exactly what you want. Vizcaino stresses that designers are the experts, and your input will help guide them in making the best decisions to stay within your vision and budget.
2. Keep Your Designer Informed of Any Changes
It’s important to keep your designer in the loop for every decision you make, even the small ones. Vizcaino advises that a cohesive experience is the goal, so ensure that your designer knows about any changes to your plans or ideas, as these might affect the overall design.
3. Put in the Work
As much as wedding designers work to make your vision come to life, they cannot read your mind. Kolanović-Šolaja emphasizes that you need to stay involved throughout the process. Respond to emails promptly, make decisions, and stay on top of your to-do list. If you don’t communicate with your designer or delay important decisions, it could result in missed opportunities or delays in the setup.
Conclusion: Bringing Your Wedding Vision to Life
Hiring a wedding decorator or designer is one of the best investments you can make to ensure your wedding is everything you’ve imagined. From crafting the perfect visual story to executing your vision flawlessly, the right designer will make your day unforgettable. At Gold Park Events, we collaborate with the best professionals to create stunning, personalized weddings that reflect each couple’s unique style.
By following these tips, you can confidently choose the right wedding designer and decorator to transform your dream wedding into a beautiful reality.
KNOWING OUR EXPERT WEDDING STYLISTS
We are a small family-run business that specializes in LUXURY WEDDING VENUE STYLING in MILTON KEYNES, WEDDING VENUE DRESSING, and WEDDING STYLING AND DÉCOR in the region. Our focus is on QUALITY, DETAIL, and RELIABILITY. We are committed to delivering a professional, creative, and enjoyable experience to all our clients. The most exciting moment for us is when our clients see their wedding styling and décor for the first time – that extraordinary and exceptional moment is what we live for!
A luxury wedding venue styling can elevate your wedding day with extra sophistication and beauty. When you choose us, you’re not only getting BEAUTIFUL STYLING, but also the expertise of a professional designer and wedding stylist. With years of experience working on luxurious weddings, our team can help you create a look fit for royalty. From stunning floral arrangements to elegant table settings, we can work with you to design THE PERFECT LOOK for your special day.
We proudly serve all areas within Milton Keynes, including Aylesbury, Marlow, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, and many more. No matter where you are located, we’ll help bring your dream wedding to life.
MEET THE BOSS
She is the co-founder, creative director, and floral designer behind the scenes. Wedding styling and décor are her passion, and she thrives on creating breath-taking wedding designs. Every day, she’s immersed in incredible color palettes, mood boards, beautiful fabrics, and stunning textures – she absolutely loves it!
Working with her amazing brides and grooms fills her with excitement. Setting trends and creating new color and texture combinations is her life’s desire. Designing magical wedding themes and creating amazing floral displays are what fuel her creative spirit.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU WITH WEDDING STYLING AND DÉCOR IN MILTON KEYNES
Her exclusive WEDDING STYLING COLLECTIONS provide everything you need to create the wedding of your dreams. All of her packages include design, setup, and breakdown the following day. She has created six beautifully curated collections for you to choose from:
- SILVER ROMANCE
- CRYSTAL GLAM
- GOLD ELEGANCE
- MODERN RUSTIC CHARM
- WARM METALLICS
- SIGNATURE BLACK INDUSTRIAL
Each collection can be customized to match your specific wedding theme, and these packages offer an easy and streamlined way to book your wedding venue styling and décor. She also offers VIP DESIGNING AND STYLING SERVICES for couples who wish to create something truly unique and tailored to their needs.
WEDDING PROP HIRE IN MILTON KEYNES
If you are looking for specific props or full venue dressing, she’s got you covered. She offers a wide selection of LUXURY WEDDING PROPS to add those special finishing touches to your wedding day:
- LUXURY STARLIT DANCEFLOORS – Perfect for your first dance and a picture-perfect backdrop.
- RUSTIC GARDEN GAMES – Fun entertainment for your guests to enjoy.
- PEACOCK CHAIRS – A luxurious addition to your venue styling.
- BALLOON INSTALLATIONS – Customizable designs that bring a pop of color and elegance.
- ARTIFICIAL FLORAL BACKDROPS – Ideal for creating a stunning, themed photo backdrop.
- PROSECCO AND DONUT WALLS – A fun and classy way to offer refreshments at your wedding.
These are just some of the beautiful props available for your event, and she can work with you to add any specific elements you desire.
WEDDING FLOWERS IN MILTON KEYNES
FLOWERS are central to the styling and décor of any wedding. As a WEDDING FLORAL DESIGNER, she believes that flower design is a unique relationship between CREATIVE VISION and PERSONALITY. It is more than just arranging flowers – it’s about CREATING THE EXPERIENCE, BRINGING EMOTIONS, and telling your BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY through stunning floral displays.
Whether you need FLORAL INSTALLATIONS, BRIDAL BOUQUETS, CENTERPIECES, or WEDDING PARTY FLOWERS, she provides everything you need to make your wedding a true masterpiece. She specializes in:
- Bridal Party Bouquets
- Wedding Centerpieces
- Cake Flowers
- Buttonholes
- Ceremony Flowers
- Floral Arrangements for Tablescapes
Contact her today to discuss your floral ideas and how she can bring them to life at your wedding.
CREATE YOUR DREAM WEDDING WITH US
Ready to bring your wedding vision to life? Whether you are planning your wedding in Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Marlow, or anywhere across Buckinghamshire, she is here to help create the most magical day of your life.
Contact her today to schedule your appointment or book a Zoom consultation. Let’s design the wedding you’ve always dreamed of!