Ask Abby: Pier Decorations
It’s been SO long since we’ve had any Ask Abby questions featured, so I figured it was time for a fresh start. Rather than doing a whole day, I am just going to feature 3 questions this morning with the hopes that you guys will be able to help a girl out and give these brides some guidance. The first, comes from Jen….
Q. I love your website, I’ve used it for inspiration in putting together my wedding and creating a “look”… Well I’m getting married on a pier in Poland on the 4th July, my colours are navy and red(entirely coincidental), I’ve already got the dresses, favors etc sorted but am at a loss on how to decorate the pier. The look so far has been contemporary, the invites are modern, I’m wearing the J Crew Goddess dress and the reception is outdoors at a museum.
I don’t want it to look too “4th July” as I’m Australian and my fiancee is Polish. As far as the pier is concerned I know that we have to provide a table for the document signing but that is about it, so decorating options are pretty endless, any ideas?
I’ll have my ideas later today, but in the meantime, we’d love to hear YOUR thoughts!
A. Well, in all of the many, many weddings that I’ve seen, my favorites are those that don’t go overboard with the decor. With an already incredibly beautiful pier, I would definitely recommend keeping it simple. At the most, lanterns with tons of candles to form an alter of sorts, with simple white/green flowers tucked within the candle arrangment. For height, you could do something like this on a tall table.
Here is an example where the couple kept it simple, using their natural surroundings as their decor…
This amazing wedding was sent to us by Mindy of Cotton Idea Studio and photographed by Trever Hoehne
Day or night? Definitely some type of lantern hanging down the pier with candle light inside. Something modern and unexpected. Think metal. If lanterns are not your thing tall vases filled with water and floating candles. I'd bring in any natural elements from the surrounding landscape with your floral design -- but with a modern twist. Keeping all the florals white would help to alleviate the dreaded red white and blue look you are not after.
J Crew Goddess dress is A-MAZING. You could also channel a bit of the fabric's flowey feeling and use white draping along the pier. The effect would be totally dramatic -- especially with a little wind and candle light!
You can order a life saver ring with your names and wedding date on it, and use it as a "guest book" that everyone can sign. I also like the idea of keeping all the florals white.
Varying sizes of Seaport lanterns would tie in with the "pier" theme but with simple white candles would be contemporary. />
White voile bunting would create a celebration look without the "4th of July" aspect. />
Create a focal point by flanking either side of where you will stand at the "altar" by having varying sizes of wooden pillars and setting hurricane lamps filled with flowers.
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p12583/index.cfm?pkey=coutdoor%2Ddecorative%2Dlanterns
http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/products/white-voile-bunting
Without knowing the scale of the pier, I'm thinking Wedding Feather Banners if they wouldn't overpower the area. They could be attached to the posts along the pier, or just at the end to create a nice "alter." This website has a list of companies that carry them: http://www.funkites.com/weddingbanners.htm .
I agree with the idea of decorating the end of the pier with panels of white silk or sheer linen (either gathered or left loose) with enough spacing to see the water beyond. Also pillar candles in hurricanes lining both sides of the pier could be stunning, inexpensive and eco-friendly.
I'm getting married in a gazebo on the waterfront http://www.decidio.com/local-businesses/v-52-officiants/virginia/Alexandria/law-office-of-virginia-vile-74298.html " rel="nofollow">(http://www.decidio.com/local-businesses/v-52-officiants/virginia/Alexandria/law-office-of-virginia-vile-74298.html >) and am facing a similar decorating dilemma. We're going to decorate the last two dock posts by floating flowers in large clear dishes (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90124402 " rel="nofollow">http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90124402 >). We also got two small lanterns (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/26472200 " rel="nofollow">http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/26472200 >), but I'm not sure candles will stay lit with all the wind. For the gazebo itself, I bought wide, sheer white ribbon to wrap around the front two pillars, and very thin white and silver ribbon to hang in swags from the ceiling. Aside from that, just rose petals strewn on the dock. We'll greet guests with champagne as they arrive. I agree, with a beautiful outdoor setting, less is more.
Wow, thank you for all the beautiful ideas, the white flowers fits in really well and I love the idea of flowy fabric billowing in the breeze!
I agree that we should let the beauty of the place speak for itself, I'll use the design elements suggested to create the aisle and "altar" space, otherwise keeping it simple and natural. We're getting married in the daytime, otherwise the lanterns and candles would have been lovely...
Just found out there will be a tall ships festival at the time of our wedding so should look beautiful!
Thanks again for all your help!