Adding a Lounge Setting to Your Wedding Reception

Trends are a huge topic of conversation in the wedding industry. I am sure if you have planned or are currently planning your wedding you hear that term throw around all the time. A trend, in basic terms, is a general direction in which something is developing or changing. For example, right now, in 2020, we are seeing elopements and micro-weddings becoming very popular and thus, a big trend. However, that is not the trend I want to talk to you about today. This trend is something I started seeing really take off just within the last 3-5 years or so and I hope it doesn’t go away anytime soon because I love when couples incorporate a cute lounge setting into their reception space and décor. I think the element of a vignette can really add to the intimacy and story behind a wedding. Whether you have an indoor venue or an outdoor venue the possibilities are truly endless with what you can design based on the feel you are trying to accomplish with your big day, and let’s be honest all of your friends will love another space to sit, relax and drink.

Here in the Inland Northwest we are blessed with a few different rental companies that specialize in exactly this. All three of the wonderful companies I am going to mention are run by some powerhouse women who are also phenomenal designers. Each and every one of them can take whatever theme or style you tell them and turn it into magic. This first picture is a vignette designed by Toni Olson at Artifact Rentals. The bride wanted something that was soft and romantic, and loved the color blush. What you can’t see on the other side of this photo is a gorgeous lake just beyond the deck railing, so she wanted somewhere her guests could relax while also enjoying everything the venue had to offer. Toni came in without much direction and placed these pieces perfectly, so that everyone could do just that.

This next picture is full of pieces from Sarah’s collection with Patina Rentals. For this event Hannah Smith, the photographer, and I simply showed Sarah pictures of the space and what kind of feel we were hoping for and let her do the rest. I love seeing what these ladies come up with when they are given just enough direction to get started but are also able to have a little creative freedom because that’s when magic like this happens. As you can see, this space is naturally rich and moody, so adding little elements of boho, almost art deco, really created a space for people to sit back, relax, and have a good time.

This picture is from a vignette designed by Mikhaela with the Attic Rentals. This event was hosted in late spring/early summer, so naturally the color scheme was a little more on the whimsical side with lots of pinks, peaches, greens, and accents of dusty blue. What you can’t see behind the lens of this photo is space for a dance floor. We wanted to create a setting where people could relax and enjoy each other’s company without feeling like they were missing out on the party atmosphere. Again, all I did was give Mikhaela the color scheme for this event and I loved every piece she provided to create this space. With this venue being more of a woodsy, barn setting I love the dark wood elements she paired together while still creating a romantic and inclusive feel.

This last photo is from the stylings and rental inventory of Pine and Poppy Rental owned by Megan and Kyle Poppe. Megan and Kyle were married in 2017 when I was managing the Hayden Lake Country Club and they ended up bringing in furniture pieces from Oregon. They felt like there was a gap in the industry that they could fill so they started their own rental company, and let me tell you, I am here for it! They also have beautiful pieces to offer, like the ones pictured in this photo. This wedding was in August at a private residence. The couple wanted to make a splash by incorporating some bold colors into their design scheme – I would say it paid off!

As you can see all 4 of these vignettes were very different based on the goal and design for each event and client, but every one of them knocked it out of the park! If you have been considering incorporating this kind of lounge setting into your décor dreams, I would say GO FOR IT and give one of these ladies a call. You don’t need something extensive to make a huge impact, but your guests will love that you provided a space like this for them to sit together and enjoy as you take those next steps towards your great new adventure!

If you found this article helpful and inspiring, and want to learn about what I can do to make help create your dream wedding, head on over to the services page for my packages and pricing information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or leave a comment below!

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