FLORISTS, EVENT DESIGNERS, AND SPECIALTY RENTALS
INSPIRATION
As you plan your designs, please use your event’s inspiration board as a jumping-off point for all creative decisions! This will help to keep a consistent event while still allowing you to let loose and show off your style! Keep in mind, not all of your tables have to be the same. We love when designers do something a little different with every table, as long as it comes back to the cohesive elements shown in the inspiration board. Have fun with this and get as creative as you’d like! You are welcome to run any ideas by your Production Manager if you feel unsure about something, whether it’s a question about design or logistics. They can also connect you with the venue contact, who can give you specifics on limitations on lighting or hanging.
Click here to read more about using your inspiration board.
WHAT TO PROVIDE
You are fully in charge of all that goes on top of your table. Some designers choose to just provide a centerpiece, while others choose to include place settings, glassware, etc. We strongly encourage a full table setting as that is more desirable for blog features. We encourage collaboration among vendors, but it is not guaranteed. You can bring in props and decor on your own. The catering and bars will provide any necessary serviceware for food and drinks, but guests may sit at your designed tables and use the napkins or disrupt the settings. We make an announcement to discourage this, but every once in a while someone gets a little confused. You can choose to leave the place settings out for photos and then scoop them up before the event (so that they are not used or damaged), or you can leave them out throughout the evening.
USING OUTSIDE VENDORS
If you choose to use any vendors who are not on The Big Fake Wedding team for your event (meaning, you’re contracting out flowers or using rentals from another company), you will need to handle that transaction on your own. You can pay them in cash, in love, in building relationships… but you can’t pay them in Big Fake Wedding vendor perks. Any non-participating vendors will not be credited in our program, on our website, in photos, etc and they will not be allowed to advertise themselves at the event or in the Tunnel of Love. Make sure that they know this! If you have questions about this, your Production Manager can help explain.
PHOTOS
If you want specific shots of something, make sure to talk to photographers! They will be shooting your work with their own style, but if you have something in mind, they’d love to work with you. If you’d like to put business cards or your business name/logo on your table for the event, you’re welcome to, but please wait until AFTER photos are taken to do so.
INVESTMENT
We are well aware the the cost of florals can be crazy high! So, be smart with how you invest your money. We recommend a few big impact moments rather than going all out on every aspect of the design.
DO I DIY?
Ah the great debate to DIY or not to DIY?... and there's no right answer. If you choose to go more DIY, you probably won't be hired to pull it off. BUT something that can be done by the couple themselves will be more likely to be pinned and shared online. Thus, it's great for online media coverage and getting your name out there. We suggest that you do a little DIY and a little "You'll want to hire me for this".
BALLOON INSTALLATIONS
Beyond florals, we love bringing our events to life with balloon installations. We have had designers create installations for dessert backdrops, registration tables, entryways, photo walls, and more!
VINTAGE RENTALS
Typically, Vintage Rentals vendors provide a lounge area and collaborates with the other designers. Other vendors enjoy integrating your products into their designs as well (ie. a cake designer may love to use a cool dresser instead of a 6 foot table). If you have products that you think would fit those kind of needs, let your Production Manager know and they’ll get those conversations started.
SPECIALTY RENTALS
If you provide a specialty rental (linen, china, etc.) your Production Manager will set you up with the vendors that will be incorporating your pieces into their designs. Please give them explicit instructions on how to handle your products (or even better, expect to handle as much as you can on your own). Please remember that you're responsible for all of your own load in and out and cleaning of your products (not the vendors who are incorporating your pieces).
TABLE NUMBERS
Number your tables according to the numbers your production manager tells you. This will allow your work to get credited in the vendor guide guests are given at the event.
You can view photos of ways vintage rentals have been incorporated, table number examples, and general ideas for vendor collaboration below:
