How to Plan a Maximalist and Colorful Wedding
Maximalist, colorful weddings are all about being extra — think of dramatic installations, mixed fabrics, textured linens, and an extravagant wedding gown. If this sounds like your dream wedding celebration, this guide is for you. Explore how to plan a maximalist celebration that everyone will discuss for years.
1. Find the Right Venue
Your venue serves as the foundation for your dream maximalist wedding. Ideally, you want to look for a place with unique details — think of chandeliers, installations, and paintings. Restaurants, art museums, castles, and mansions are excellent options.
Other details to consider include a checkerboard dance floor and creative tiles. For inspiration, check Moroccan, Italian, and Spanish designs. These opulent elements will always outshine wooden or carpeted floors.
Proudly Pink Book Wedding Venues
2. Choose Bold Color Combinations
Layer colors to create a visual impact on your wedding day. Having a maximalist celebration doesn’t mean going overboard. Commit to only three main colors and one accent color to ensure all elements look cohesive. Aside from your entourage’s outfits, you can incorporate the colors on flowers, furniture, centerpieces, table designs, signature cocktails, and favors.
Consider your wedding venue’s colors when finalizing your color palette. For instance, a dark brown scheme will dull the room if your location has rich green curtains.
Consider these playful color combinations:
- Rainbow palette: Pick three focal colors and use one or two remaining colors as accent hues.
- Jewel palette: Incorporate the colors of jewels, including amethyst purple, sapphire blue, topaz yellow, and emerald green.
- Prints and patterns: Can’t think of specific colors? Go big with patterns. Incorporate florals, stripes, diamond patterns, or leopard prints. Be careful not to go overboard — add at least two colors to balance the visuals.
- Fruity combination: Think of colors that remind you of fruits — bright green, yellow, orange, and red.
If you have one color in mind, consider adding its complementary color. Complementary colors are on opposite sides of the color wheel, meaning they create an eye-catching combination. Examples include blue, orange, red, green, yellow and purple.
Wedding Flowers, Décor & Hiring
3. Get a Creative Cake
Maximalist cakes can manifest in various ways — a four-tiered cake, layers of extravagant decorations, or metallic details. Hire a baker who can transform your vision into a reality. The most important consideration is to make your cake a jaw-dropping masterpiece. Think of a design that’s “too pretty to eat” — but it’ll still be delicious!
4. Go Extra on Your Bridal Style
Feature varying shades, textures, and even colors on your wedding gown. This is the perfect time to get creative. Discover some ideas to make your wedding ensemble unique:
- Incorporate bold colors: Insert fun prints or patterns on your wedding veil, sleeves, or dress train. Feeling brave? Go for an entirely fun-colored gown.
- Wear extravagant accessories: Go all out with your accessories. Wear a statement headpiece, fingerless gloves, a lavish necklace, or a dried flower crown.
- Have fun with your makeup: Ditch the usual “glowing bride” makeup. Try an unexpected eyeshadow, a bold lipstick, or glittered eyelids. Share your inspiration with your makeup artist to create a unique look.
5. Invest in Bold Design Choices
Make your venue as lively as your and your partner’s personalities. Consider the following decor ideas:
- Balloon arches: Fill walls or arches with balloons. This is a no-fail way to make your wedding an unforgettable one.
- Floral installations: Create a floral arch, fill chinoiserie vases with vibrant blooms, or line the aisle with your favorite flowers. You can never go wrong with too many floral installations.
- Neon signs: Light up your after-party venue with colorful neon signs featuring fun phrases or your names. Watch your guests line up and snap photos beside it.
6. Make Your Invitations Pop
They say first impressions last. What better way to make a statement than with an eye-catching wedding invitation? It’s the first wedding element that your guests will see and engage with. Experiment with unique shapes, textures, and colors to make it architecturally stimulating. Consider adding lace details, laser engraving, crystal decorations, velvet ribbons, or vellum wraps.
Add insert cards when sharing information about after-wedding events, such as after-party and post-wedding brunch. Depending on the stationary and printing method, a set of 100 cards can cost around $150-$500.
Wedding Invitations & Stationary
7. Implement a Fun Dress Code
Allow your guests to join in the maximalist fun, too. The dress code for a maximalist event shouldn’t feel like a “code.” Encourage your guests to unleash their creativity within reason and your desired theme. However, remember that not all guests will be comfortable getting creative with their outfits. Don’t forget to send outfit inspirations to ensure a more cohesive vibe on your big day.
Embrace Your Inner Maximalist
Create a celebration that’s as vibrant as your and your future spouse’s personalities. Bring a maximalist wedding to life through bold colors, extravagant decor, and fun fashion. Your wedding is sure to be a memorable one.
Author bio: Cora Gold is a wedding writer and editor of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She writes about wedding trends and inspiration for publications including Brides and Love Inc. Connect with Cora on Pinterest, X and LinkedIn.
