• Tips & Advice

Hey there! I’m Courtney, one of the Coordinators and Designers at Bowties & Bouquets. I am so excited to take you through my design process, where I’m going to show you exactly how to create a timeless, Texas inspired wedding in California!

Inspiration & Vision

When it comes to designing a functional and beautiful space, you want to start with a great foundation, which means getting inspired and putting together an overall vision. This will help you better picture the end design, give you the clarity to make confident decisions, and make sure nothing gets overlooked!

How do you want your guests to feel? What kind of experience do you want them to have? Texas being our inspiration, we wanted to create a look that was sophisticated yet comfortable. To incorporate southern hospitality while keeping it elegant. A place where guests felt like they could sit back, relax, and share a meal with good friends. 

Next, think about the function of your space. What do you need from your space? For this design, we needed to have a dining area that could seat 16 guests, an escort card display, and a cake/dessert table.

Creating Your Color Palette

Color is an opportunity to have fun and create a mood. I suggest pairing a few main colors with a couple of accents to help balance your design. We were inspired by sunny yellows, rich ambers, and deep browns. For accents, we chose black and off-whites, which brought in some sophistication and a sense of comfort.

Utilizing Textures & Materials

One of my favorite ways to elevate a space and add interest is to utilize various textures that add to the story you're creating. The goal was to transport guests into Texas so by incorporating smooth leathers, soft cowhides, and worn linens, we were able to effectively tell that story.

Ask Your Vendors

Your vendors are experts in their field! When designing your wedding, ask for their opinions and if they have any ideas. We are always excited to elevate your design so it stands out from the rest!

Pulling It All Together

After deciding on the overall vision, picking your color palette, choosing materials, and collaborating with your vendors, it’s time to pull it all together!

We created an inviting seating area with a black leather sofa and an angled, yellow velvet chair as our focal point. Underneath sat two rugs, a cream Parisian rug, and a tricolored cowhide. A few pillows, a cozy throw blanket, and a gold geometric side table completed this space. All of our amazing furniture and place setting rentals were provided by Archive Rentals.

Flanking the main seating arrangement, two round, wood tables were set for dinner, each surrounded by eight black, Bentwood chairs. White, ornate plates atop matte black chargers grounded each setting. A frayed edge, linen napkin was folded under crystal salad plates and whimsical florals designed by Jovial Floral Co filled the centers of the tables. Our gorgeous menus created by Paper Mint Press, gold flatware, and colored goblets created a sophisticated setting for dinner. 

An ornate buffet made up our dessert table designed by M Cakes Sweets and escort card display. The blown glass inspired cake sat on a gold stand with various leather escort cards tied to apothecary jars, which weaved across the table. Extra floral stems added a layer of interest and texture.

An additional corner seating arrangement was home to a classic, French Balloon Chair of weathered wood and soft natural linen, layered fur rugs, glass hurricane jars, and warm candlelight.

Sit Back & Relax

When your design has finally come to life, take a minute before your guests arrive to stand back and admire what you’ve created. I hope that this inspires you to have your own timeless, Texas inspired wedding in California, you and your guests are sure to love!

• Cakes & Catering: M Cakes Sweets
• Event Planning & Design: Bowties & Bouquets
• Flowers: Jovial Floral Co
• Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Paper Mint Press
• Photographers: Amy Golding Photography
• Photographers: Erica Streelman Photographer
• Rentals: Archive Rentals