How to Turn Your Wedding into a Unique Branded Experience

Every couple has a unique romantic tale to tell — from the first meet-cute and blissful early-relationship dates to adventures around the world together. That’s why hosting a celebration that feels authentic to your love story is absolutely essential. One of the best ways to achieve that level of personalization is through one-of-a-kind branding. According to The Knot, branded weddings are emerging as one of the biggest trends of the year. Today, more and more couples are looking for ways to offer their guests a cohesive visual experience across the board — from their save-the-dates to the seating charts and everything in between.

Venturing beyond the color palette, many to-be-weds are also dreaming up bespoke creative touches like custom logos, personalized cocktails, custom hashtags, and so much more. Not only does this approach heighten a sense of exclusivity, it also helps your big day stand out from a sea of cookie-cutter weddings. Looking to dial up the branding factor at your own celebration? We asked Walters Wedding Estates’ planning extraordinaires to share their tried-and-true tips for branding that wows. Ahead, you’ll find their insights on how to customize and brand your wedding experience if you’re tying the knot at one of Walters Wedding Estates venues across Texas and Georgia.

Break out The Drawing Board

The word “branding” might seem like it should be more associated with starting a business rather than planning a wedding — but that’s exactly where approach and intentionality comes into play. Before you start zeroing in on the details, take a step back and reflect on what makes your love story authentically yours. Think of your favorite things to do as a couple — what strikes an emotional chord? Do you love to travel? Are you the outdoorsy type? Do you bond over food-centric experiences? Beyond hobbies, think about your unique aspects of your personalities, cultural backgrounds, and shared experiences. Reach for a pen and paper, and write your ideas down.

Define Your Color Palette

Start by choosing a color palette that resonates with both you and your partner. Maybe it’s a shade that has some meaning to you. If you’re travel enthusiasts, was there a particular color that stood out during your first trip together? For example, if you both have an affinity for beach-centric getaways, you can draw inspiration from stretches of white sand and dreamy ocean blues. Alternatively, maybe there’s a certain mood that you want to evoke for your big day — whether it’s the romance of pastels, or the boldness of jewel-like tones, or the sophistication of earthy neutrals. Your color choices will play a big role in informing your visual aesthetic.

Create Your Visual Style

Now that you’ve jotted down these broad-stroke ideas, and then narrowed them down to the most important elements that have shaped your journey as a couple, use them to build your visual style and branding elements that will appear on everything from your wedding stationery to your signage. Don’t worry about selecting hyper-specific items — instead, think about the words you’d use to describe your personal styles (together, as a couple). Maybe you’re drawn toward the modern and minimalist style; maybe you’re fan of the rustic and industrial. Again, pinpoint the words that describe you best: elegant, sophisticated, bold, bright, traditional, contemporary, and etc. With these descriptors in mind, our wedding stationery experts at Lyons Paperie, one of Walters Wedding Estate’s standout vendors, can craft custom logos and monograms for an ultra-personalized experience. What’s more, Emily Chappell Productions’ photographers can also help you select the perfect photography style to match your aesthetic vision.

Think About Your Paper Goods

Starting with your save-the-dates and ending with your thank-you cards, your stationery bookends your wedding experience. That’s why it’s important to establish a cohesive aesthetic across all of your paper goods, and set a consistent tone throughout. Working alongside Lyons Paperie, you’ll be able to weave your logo, color palette, and custom stamps into exceptionally crafted wedding invitations and save-the-dates — aka, one of the first glimpses your guests will get of your big day festivities. In addition to logos and monograms, experts at Lyons Paperie can also dream up custom illustrations and stamps, which you can feature in your menu cards, programs, napkins, and so much more.

Craft Unexpected ‘Moments’

The decor is where your branding will truly shine — so make it count by weaving in your branding elements into everything from your wedding florals to your tablescape and entertainment. For example, the team at The Design Haus can dream up showstopping floral arrangements using your wedding colors and logo as inspiration. You can also design a custom photo-worthy backdrop featuring your monogram or logo, elevated with blooms. (Bonus points if you create a branded hashtag for your guests to use on social media.) Extra touches could include branded wedding favors for your guests and custom apparel — think: branded t-shirts, hats, and robes — for pre-wedding festivities with your nearest and dearest.

Personalize Your Food and Beverage Offerings

Play up your branding through custom food and beverage offerings that reflect your love story. Want to celebrate your cultural background or a favorite travel spot you go back to year after year? Offer your guests tasting stations that feature cuisine from those destinations. (Better yet, set up a buffet with dishes from countries you’ve visited together.) Have a beloved pet you want to incorporate into your wedding? Create a signature drink based on your furry friend’s quirky personality. And don’t forget about dessert! Let the extraordinary bakers at The Jenny Layne Bakery tailor your wedding cake to your well-honed brand. With several packages to choose from, you can show off your monogram, logo, and wedding colors through a stunning multi-tiered wedding cake or an eye-catching dessert table full of delicious treats.