When it comes to bringing your dream wedding day to life, it’s allll in the details—from the more visible accessories you wear down to the minute details that went into creating your custom-made stationery. By no means are the aesthetics of your details what your wedding day is all about, but the details are a place for you to get creative, think outside of the box, and bring your unique visions as a couple to life. And these details don’t have to be anything over the top, or have a high price tag in order to be luxurious; in fact, I’ve seen SO many couples elevate their day through the simplest of details. If you’d like to make your wedding day look and feel just a bit more luxurious, here are 8 ways to do so ✨

8 Ways to Elevate Your Wedding Details for Effortless Luxury

1. Serve signature cocktails in beautiful glassware

Unique glassware alwaysss gets me going as a photographer. What more could I ask for than to create artistic images focused around gorgeous glasses filled with colorful, handcrafted cocktails? You’ve probably seen your fair share of custom cocktails throughout your time scrolling through the “weddings” category on Pinterest, likely poured into traditional crystal glasses. But using pretty glassware allows you to kill two birds with one stone: elevated drinks for your guests to enjoy, and glassware that serves not only a delicious beverage—but serves looks.

There are plenty of ways to source one-of-a-kind glassware that’ll be sure to impress your guests: I’ve had couples find their glasses on Etsy, at vintage or thrift shops, or rent them from a local event company. Keep your eye out for special patterns, designs, textures, and colors that go well with your wedding color palette. 

And if you’d like to elevate your reception beverages even more, opt for a unique cocktail that has some sort of visual element to it—such as this “bubble cocktail” that one of my past couples incorporated into their tablescape. What a cool twist to the traditional cocktail, made even more magical by the soft, smoky effect that blew over the drink once the bubble had been popped!

2. Give your guests tasteful favors

Gone are the days of giving guests random, impractical knick-knacks that they’ll never use—it’s a waste of your money, and doesn’t really impact them in any way! I find that the best wedding favors are the ones that can either be enjoyed immediately (such as a yummy treat, maybe personalized with your initials), or ones that your guests will actually be able to get use out of after the wedding day. Some of my favorite unique wedding favor ideas include customized shot glasses, mini bottles of your favorite local spirits, small candles that smell delicious, or personalized matchbooks like the ones Charlotte & Quinn gave out at their intimate backyard wedding. Your guests will be leaving with either something they can enjoy + use in the future, or that they can snack on right away, rather than a trinket that will immediately be thrown away or tossed into a box in the garage, never to be seen again.

3. Get ready at a stunning location

Instead of getting ready at the random hotel your parents wanted you to book for your wedding day to keep costs down, consider prioritizing your getting ready location a bit more and opting for a luxurious hotel or Airbnb! I always tell my couples not to sleep on the getting ready portion of their day; I’m finding that more and more, couples are choosing to forego the getting ready coverage altogether or make it short and sweet—and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s personally one of my favorite parts of the day as your photographer. Especially when it takes place in a beautiful room with an abundance of natural light, elegant fixtures and furnishings, and beautiful decor.

Need a little help picking the right place to spend your wedding morning? Don’t miss my full guide to Choosing the Right Getting Ready Space for Your Wedding!

4. Opt for designer makeup and perfume

Photographing couples’ details and flat lays while they get ready is one of my all-time favorite parts of being a wedding photographer, and I always geek out when somebody has designer makeup and/or perfume ready for me to get creative with! If you know me, then you know I LOVE a good luxury brand, and am so deeply inspired by art, fashion, and all things extravagant. Got a vintage art book you want to incorporate into your details? Pass it over. An ornate piece of jewelry your grandma passed down to you? I want it! And if you’re willing to invest in designer makeup and/or perfume (or already have some on your hands), give it alllll to me. I know luxury brands like Gucci aren’t for everyone, but the best part about spending a little more of your budget on lavish items like this are that you’ll get to enjoy + use them for a long time—unlike many other parts of your wedding day that are temporary, just for the day!

5. Invest in custom stationery + paper goods

Just as high-end beauty products can really add extra luxury + glam to your detail photos, custom-designed stationery and paper goods do the same. I looove me a good letter press invitation, old-school printing techniques, rich ink and deep colors, coordinated suites that pair seamlessly with your color palette. . . there are SO many little ways to elevate your stationery that can make a big impact. Maybe you opt for that velvety-smooth paper instead of the regular paper; maybe you pay a little more for extra embellishments such as a drawing of your venue, silk ribbons, or vintage postage. Instead of designing simple place cards yourself, maybe every seat at your dinner tables has its own custom place card on the same luxurious paper as your stationery, as your menus, and as your signage. How about you add a beautiful envelope liner to the inside of your envelopes for that extra little touch of artistic beauty? Ooooh and you know what ALWAYS looks exquisitely luxurious, lavish, and old-timey? Wax seals! There’s no easier way to make your guests feel like they’re being invited to a royal ball at a palace in some fantasy land than with a personalized wax seal. 

6. Rent designer accessories

If you hand me your box of details + accessories to photograph when I get to your wedding venue and you’ve got designer accessories in there, I will truly love you forever. Being extra intentional about the way you accessorize your bridal look is such an easy way to elevate your outfit, and to show that you really paid attention to the smaller things. And notice how I said “rent” designer accessories, not “buy;” that’s because I wanted to shout out the incredible, incredible Aveil Bridal, a company that rents out chic bridal accessories for engagements, weddings, and honeymoons! Aveil has truly created such a unique and innovative way for brides to rock high-end accessories on their wedding day, with a large selection of luxury pieces available for a 5 or 10-day rental period. Their belief is that “looking like an icon throughout your bridal era shouldn’t be hard or expensive”—and damn if that isn’t exactly what I want my brides to remember. Whether you’d like a pair of luxury cat eye sunglasses to rock during your reception, a diamond bracelet to wear to your cocktail party, or a pair of genuine freshwater pearl earrings, they’ll help you make all your accessory dreams come true.

7. Incorporate unique tablescape touches

Want to elevate your tablescape and make your details extra personal at the same time? Think outside of the box when it comes to your tabletop details such as name cards, silverware, candlesticks, decor, and napkins. Instead of sticking with traditional white napkins, simple placards with your guest’s names, and floral arrangements, why not swap them for items that feel a little more personal; details that feel a little more luxurious?

I was obsessed with what Charlotte & Quinn did with their tablescape, using the most delicate and luxurious gold leaf oyster shells in place of traditional name cards. The gold paired perfectly with the greenery covering the table + tucked into every napkin, and the oyster added the loveliest local touch, paying homage to their home in the Pacific Northwest. These were the smallest of touches in comparison to the rest of the decor + design of their wedding day, but they made a huge difference in both their wedding photos, and their guest experience sitting down to enjoy a meal at the table.

8. Design your space with elegant light fixtures

Last but not least, opt for unique and elegant lighting fixtures if you’re able to! This one really depends on your wedding venue—some will have lighting fixtures already built-in and set up much before your wedding day, but if you’re able to be flexible with your lighting (such as for a backyard wedding, or a beach wedding where there isn’t any lighting previously installed), find a way to incorporate temporary lighting through beautiful fixtures. This might mean you find a crystal chandelier to hang from your wedding tent, invest in length strings of twinkle lights to drape over your tablescape, find a vintage lamp to add to your getting ready space, or maybe you rent a few boho pendant lights, disco ball lamps, or minimalist lanterns from a local rental company. There are SO many ways to elevate your lighting and make it a little more luxurious, flattering, and high-end. 

As your photographer (and as a lover of all things fashion, art, design, and luxury), I will be MORE than happy to help you brainstorm ideas, source pieces, and hire vendors who will help bring your unique vision to life. Get in touch here to get the process started; I can’t wait to help you create the wedding of your dreams with all the luxurious details🥂

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Curious about what your wedding could look like with a contemporary + luxury design? Take a peek at this Modern Luxury Wedding I photographed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle a while back!