Wedding Planning Advice for Your Personal & Event Style

From what to wear to how to make your guests feel special, discover expert wedding advice!

Gather expert tips, trends, and ideas for your nuptials on bridal style, personalizing invitations, incorporating unique details, preparing for catering costs, and much more!

real wedding photo le meridien charlotte nc la cosa bella events shimmer gold linen sweetheart table white hydrangea and orchid flowers
Photo: Geoffrey Photography Studio

Summer is here, and wedding season is back! The pandemic has changed the wedding industry immensely in more ways than one; however, it's also led to couples wanting to host events that mean even more than they did before. Whether you and your beloved want to celebrate with hundreds of friends and family in a grand affair or you're a couple who would prefer to have an intimate wedding like many couples were forced to have due to Covid, we always recommend hiring a wedding planner to help organize the celebration. 

Whether you've hired an expert or you're planning the nuptials yourselves, we always share the advice of our esteemed Editors Circle members – who are some of the very best wedding professionals in the industry – to provide expert advice from planners, floral designers, bridal stylists, and more on a range of topics, both on the website and in the magazine. Trends are constantly changing, as are expectations from your guests, so it's important to look to the pros to know what to do.

When it comes to planning, you may not know where to start, so we've gathered tips and suggestions from the nation's top wedding planners, floral designers, and bridal stylists on a range of topics to inspire you. Read on for ideas that will help you to have the wedding celebration of your dreams – you'll find advice on everything from choosing a bridal gown and chic accessories, to selecting a color palette and style, to making your loved ones feel extra special regardless of your guest count. 

Happy planning!

Less Is More

"The new age of minimalism is trending as 'less is more.' Brides can wear clean and simple lines with a boost from an array of sleek angular, textured, and unevenly shaped metals." - Belle Manjong of BBelle Style

Minimalist White Gown with Back Jewelry

Photo courtesy of Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.

Keep It Personal

"Handwritten personal notes will be the new invitation. With so many things changing and less guests at each event, I think people will be more thoughtful with their invites. This lovely new stationery might read more like a letter versus a formal invitation layout." - Jeannette Tavares of Evoke Design & Creative

Calligraphy Thank-You Note from Couple

Photo by Branco Prata; Planning & Design by Evoke Design & Creative

Focus on Smaller Details

"I think intimate parties will be a huge trend to come out of the Covid pandemic. There will be more focus placed on all of the small details: tailor-made floral designs, handcrafted invitations, detailed personalized place settings, and curated menus." - Kristine Polstra for Edge Design Group

Intimate Wedding at One Table

Photo by Vue Photography; Floral & Event Design by Edge Design Group

Consider Unique Colors

"If you’re looking for ways to include the Pantone 2021 colors of the year at your event, try 'Illuminating' to brighten up your floral design with its vibrant yellow hue. There are a lot of premium flowers that can look great! As grey has always been an elegant choice for table linens, use 'Ultimate Grey' velvet linens to upgrade your tablescape through both color and texture." - Hovik Harutyunyan of Harutyunyan Events

Reception Table with Grey Linen

Photo by Dmitri Shumanev Production; Planning & Design by 
Harutyunyan Events

Expert Catering Tip

"For catering, ask for a line-item estimate rather than just price ranges because catering managers often do not know exactly what you would like, so they will provide you with broad ranges to review." - Beth Helmstetter of Beth Helmstetter Events, Inc.

Gorgeous Reception by Beth Helmstetter Events

Photo by Lauren and Abby Ross; Planning & Design by Beth Helmstetter Events, Inc. 

Stay True to You

"It’s so easy to get lost in the hottest new wedding trends and lose the essence of a couple in the process. I love finding unique, catchy, and sometimes witty ways to incorporate personal details. Of course a custom monogram is nice, but try to go a step further! With this couple’s last name being Schuck, I jumped at the opportunity to create an oyster bar." - Rikki Ladenheim of Rikki Ladenheim Events

Custom Tray for Serving Oysters at Wedding

Photo by Laurie Bailey Photography; Planning & Design by Rikki Ladenheim Events

For more wedding ideas and expert advice, find out how to plan the most amazing intimate wedding, discover more expert tips for your wedding color palette and theme, find out if it's okay to wear black to a wedding, and learn how to plan like a pro with this virtual wedding-planning series from celebrity event planners! We also encourage you to follow @InsideWeddings on Instagram and Pinterest for daily wedding inspiration!

Opening photo by Geoffrey Photography Studio; Planning & Design by Gina Myers of La Cosa Bella Events; From Real Wedding: A Luxury Fall Wedding with Hindu & Western Traditions