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Wedding Inspiration Ideas: “Less is More”

Planning the look of any event is a balancing act–more of one element means less of another. Strike the right balance and you create an affair to remember. But less of what? And more of what? Here is some wedding inspiration. Ideas to get your own creativity flowing.

Top 25 bridesmaids ideas for brides. Ideas about what to do with the bridesmaids before the wedding, what to buy them for gifts, and personalizing wedding party activities.

1. Less color, more shine.

Sequin and glitter tablecloth for elegant wedding table setting. | Photo: Yasmin Khajavi of Portland OR

Bling, shine, sparkle, pizazz. Whatever you call it, it adds a diamond-like glimmer to your event. There are certain ways to achieve this while avoiding a garish effect. (Unless, of course, garish is the look you aspire to. Then, by all means, break out sequins and glitter for all!)

Here, a sparkling tablecloth is offset by considerable lack of glitz elsewhere. Photography: Yasmin Khajavi of Portland OR. Clear acrylic chairs, the barest hint of floral color, and bare walls & windows combine to create an elegant look.

If a sequin tablecloth is too much, place bits of shine here and there and fill in the look with a theme. A Cinderella wedding is one example. Smaller details (shoes, carriage trim, faceted light crystals, and cake adornments) can sparkle. Create the rest of the look with gown design and storybook-related features.

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Sparkly sequin tablecloths. She makes them in all different sizes and a ton of colors. Nice for wedding reception bling on the guest tables or for the cake table, buffet, and desserts stand. There is a link on the page to buy them. #WeddingDecor #WeddingBling #WeddingDecorations #Tablecloths #TableDecor #EventTables #WeddingTables #SparklyDecorations #SparklyPartyDecor #PartyDecorations

Portia makes and sells sparkly tablecloths in all sizes and colors. You can get round, square, rectangle (banquet), and runners. Choose from 32 different colors. She says she will make yours in any shape, size, or color. They must be amazing. Her store has a five out of five-star rating and several hundred reviews. Order your sparkly sequin tablecloths here.

2. No color, more white.

A white wedding can be beautiful as all-white, even the bridesmaids dresses! | Photo: Samm Blake of Brooklyn NY #WeddingDresses #BridesmaidsDresses #Bride #WhiteWedding

The absence of color, a “white wedding,” can be inspiring as well. Ultramodern and traditional at once, all-white emanates luxury. Here, photographer Samm Blake of Brooklyn NY captured a lovely quartet displaying the look. Even though each dress is pure white, the bridesmaids are distinguishable from the bride. Other all-white details may include: tablecloths and skirts, chairs, centerpiece vases, place settings, cake and dessert, wall décor, and lighting.

Arrays of different colorless flowers can be quite impactful. Narcissi, ranunculus, tulips, hyacinths, hydrangeas, and others come in white. An alternate flower option is to go with a single type of flower, for uniform bouquets like those in the photo. Finally, you can add greenery for a more nature-oriented look. Gypsophila (baby’s breathe), with it’s tiny blooms and green stems, can do this.

3. Less skin, more structure.

Foundation garments under a wedding gown can make a difference. A good bridal corset actually does double duty. It helps the wedding gown look its best for the ceremony and doubles as lingerie that evening. There is a link on the page to purchase this one. #BridalCorset #WeddingCorset #WeddingGown #Bride #BoudoirWedding #CorsetLingerie

Let’s talk what’s underneath the dress for a moment—your foundation garments. While a skimpy bikini and bra works nicely for the honeymoon, this type of lingerie does little to provide a structure from which a gown can hang. Something like this bespoke bridal corset made by Henrika serves both as support during the event and eye candy later.

4. Less vivid, more pastel.

Pastel or otherwise subdued colors...pastel or mint green wedding cake, yes! | Bakery: Cake Studio in Manitoba Canada #WeddingCake #MintGreenWedding #PastelWedding

Shades of a single color can be lovely. But the absence of one end of the spectrum can produce a wonderful effect as well. A color scheme of pastels creates a soft and romantic feel, as demonstrated on this light green wedding cake from Cake Studio in Manitoba Canada. Pastel pink is also popular, especially combined with light blue.

5. Less detail, more silhouettes.

Silhouette wedding cake toppers are unique and can add a look of luxury to your wedding cake at minimal cost. This one comes in your choice of six colors, including metallics. #WeddingCake #WeddingCakeToppers #ElegantCakeToppers #UniqueWeddingCake #UniqueCakeToppers #UniqueToppers

The absence of detail is another option. Outlines, in the form of silhouettes or cut outs, create a bit more of a structured look. One can create an architectural look, a pattern, or person’s profile.

This Bride and Groom Silhouette Cake Topper from Lyla is an example of the latter (Lyla is another top-notch merchant. She is a five star rated seller with well over 6,000 reviews). Look for her many other designs as well, including personalized versions.