always the bridesmaid: lanna dyan's wedding under the stars: an inspiration board

If I'm not writing here about wedding stuff, I'm probably obsessing about it in the Engagements and Weddings boards of GirlTalk.

One of my "sis", as the GirlTalk forum posters so fondly call each other, has been setting her sights on a wedding under the stars. Though she wouldn't have her wedding in an outdoor setting, literally under the stars, she and her finance found a fitting indoor venue that is just perfect!

Light of Love Events Place Atrium Hall

I love the chandelier and the skylight roof so much that I immediately bookmarked the place for "future references" (ahem ahem, Mr. Right, where art thou? LOL)

Right away, I could visualize the dimly lit hall filling up with natural moonlight...ah romance! So once I got my act up together (yes, my computer's fixed and my best friend's wedding stresses are finally over!) I immediately put together an inspiration board fit for a wedding under the stars. And here's what I came up with:

clockwise: glittery stars aisle decor, star bouquet charms, recessional confetti, hanging crystals and candles, welcome sparklers, tea light candle decor, candle-filled table setting, star confetti table accent, star origami in a bowl, wishing stars, star topped cupcakes, heart light writing
center: Light of Love Atrium Hall

Wedding Ceremony
Instead of the usual fabric swag decorate the aisle with glittery star cutouts scattered along the sides. If you have time to spare, you can DIY by cutting out differently sized stars on a stiff board and covering them in glitter or wrap them in metallic foil paper. Then just randomly line the sides of the aisle with them. Add some big white candles in tall glass vases among them to get a full effect.

star-lined aisle with candles

Aside from the church decor, there is usually very little room to inject your theme into the ceremony. This is especially true for traditional Catholic wedding ceremonies, which are most common here in the Philippines. But you can maximize the little details - details as small as your bouquet for instance. Instead of just wrapping the flowers in plain ribbon, add small charms onto the handle just to give that hint of the starry night wedding you want. You can either get a pack of star shaped charms from craft stores or bead shops or go for a unique charm such as the moon and star one below.

something blue star and moon bouquet charm

Of course, after the ceremony, there will always be a recessional where the guests finally greet a newly pronounced Mr. and Mrs. This, most often than not, is done with a festive shower of confetti, petals, or even sometimes, rice grains. To keep in theme, mix your regular confetti or whatever it is you choose to have your guests greet you with, with some metallic star confetti. It's a trivial detail but if you're gonna have confetti stuck in your hair all night, might as well, keep it in theme. :)

Wedding Reception
Now, on to the party!
Wow your guests right away with a candle lit pathway towards the venue entrance. Light up small tea light candles and line them along the pathway. At night, the hundreds of lit candles will immediately give that feeling of being under the stars. And the effect is just breathtaking.

candle-lit pathway

Once the guests have filled in that gorgeous venue, remind them who really is the star of the party by an entrance welcomed with sparklers. Not only is it dramatic but it makes for great photos too!

sparklers welcome

Although I would imagine that the natural moonlight filling in the venue hall is already breathtaking enough, looking at the photo, there may be some areas that might need a little help. Since the side walls seem to be hidden from the light, it might help to add a little sparkle to those areas as well. Try hanging some crystal beads strung like a bead curtain to the walls. Add some random tea light candles placed in small hanging glass jars or containers. You don't really need a lot since the crystals would bounce off the light thus magnifying the sparkle effect. This would just be a little oomph to an already beautiful reception hall.

crystal and candle curtains

In tune with the entrance, decorate your tables with different sized candles in mismatched glass containers. If possible, choose dark colored table cloth or table runners such as navy blue to get a good contrast with the hundreds of sparkling lights. from afar, your wedding decor could even look like the night sky, dotted with billions of stars. Just make sure that you keep your lighting dim to get the full effect of the candle lights.

long table filled with candles in different size mason jars

multiple candles and glass centerpieces

You don't even have to have floral arrangements made for these tables. I think you can just stick with the candles and still get a beautiful effect. Best of all, it's very easy to have this DIY-ed. Just collect different white candles and different clear glass containers and group them randomly together. No professional styling needed.

If in case you feel it lacking a little oomph, try sprinkling some star shaped confetti around the candles in a starburst pattern.

Or, remember those star origami that kids used to collect before (I remember going through a phase when I had tons of small little jars with those stars in it. I'd even trade some with my friends.)? You can have a few metallic or glittery ones and sprinkle them around the candles.

silver star origami

Since we're on the topic of origami stars, I thought of a few nifty ways to make use of these stars. I already suggested this before to lanna dyan but for the sake of the readers here, let me share it again.

One way is for the reception programme. To make the programme a little livelier (this would be a good way to break the ice especially if you have a diverse group of guests who are not in the same circle), use the stars as a game item. Put small bowls of those stars in each table. Beforehand, you can write down something in the stars, be it a prize, a code, a surprise, a name, or whatever that will match with the game you choose to play. Then have your guests pick out a star and unravel it to reveal if they have won something, been chosen to participate in the game, or are given a game task.

star origami in fish bowls

Another is to use the stars as a substitute for the traditional guest book. Instead of having your guests write down their well wishes onto a guestbook, have them write down their messages onto the strips of paper and let them (or an usher) shape the paper into an origami star. Have a big jar out for them to drop in their "wishing stars" into.

wishing stars

Another take on the wishing stars is to ask the guests how they see your marriage in 5, 10, 20 years or so. Let them drop their answers into different jars labeled 5years, 10 years, etc. After the wedding, seal those jars and keep them like a time capsule. During your 5th, 10th, 20th, etc. wedding anniversary, open the corresponding jar and read what your guests had imagined your marriage would be.

Before you wind up your night, thank your guests with some star goodies. (I personally love edible favors!) Be it star fondant topped cupcakes, star shaped sugar cookies, or even star shaped candies.

Lastly, make good use of those sparklers by ending your night with a nice light writing photo as a couple. It's a fun and romantic way to remember the night you got married under the stars!