Last week I talked about how to incorporate a lounge area into your wedding or event – whether it be for cocktail hour, a tapas style meal, or an after party. I also showed you some inspiration boards for rustic outdoor lounges as well as those of the more urban variety.

This week I want to share a few additional tips for making your lounge area exceptional, as well as leave you with inspiration for romantic lounges and beach lounges.

Making your lounge fabulous is easier than you might expect. Here are a few simple ways to jazz things up:

1.) Create a signature drink for your lounge. For a modern lounge, a signature martini would work well. For a rustic or outdoor lounge, pink lemonade (alcohol optional) is a great choice. For a beach wedding, you might want to choose a tropical drink, such as a mojito or pina colada. Think champagne or prosecco for your romantic lounge.

2.) Decorate your lounge the same way you would a room in your home. By this I mean, don’t be afraid to incorporate furniture, coffee tables, chandeliers, rugs, lamps, etc. And my favorite – pillows! Whether they are throw pillows on a rented sofa or overstuffed pillows that take the place of chairs, pillows make a lounge comfortable and inviting.

3.) If your budget allows, incorporate lighting into your lounge. Lighting can transform the feel of an area and can really go a long way in making your lounge feel like….. well, a lounge! 

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio

I LOVE the idea of incorporating a lounge area into the weddings and events I plan. Regardless of whether you’re planning a wedding, a backyard birthday party, or a fundraising gala, creating a one-of-a-kind cocktail lounge lends a hip factor to your event. 

Lounges are actually one of my favorite elements in the planning process, because there is so much room for creativity and uniqueness in the décor. Not sure how to incorporate a lounge into your event? Here are a few suggestions:

1.) Create a lounge area for your cocktail hour and then transition into a more traditional reception for dinner and dancing. 

2.) Forego the seated dinner entirely, and pass small plates or heavy hors d’oeuvres throughout the lounge area.

3.) Have a traditional seated meal and then usher guests your lounge area (complete with a dance floor) for an after party.

The possibilities are endless and because there are no rules, lounges are so much fun! Still not sure how to incorporate a lounge into your wedding or event? I have created a few inspiration boards to give you some ideas. This week, inspiration for rustic, outdoor lounges as well as modern lounges, indoors or out.

Enjoy!

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio

We are dying to tell you all about the most fun After Party – EVER! We planned this After Party for a bride and groom who were married in Vail over Labor Day weekend. Many of their guests were from out of state, and they really wanted to give everyone a taste of Colorado and wanted guests to feel like they were on vacation, rather than just at a wedding. So they decided to take advantage of the three day weekend and throw a party the night after the wedding (Sunday night) for all of the guests who were at their reception the night before.

The After Party was at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott – approximately 20 minutes outside of Vail. It was the perfect way to wrap up a wonderful wedding weekend! Guests were treated to horsedrawn wagon rides, steerhead roping, horseshoes and a campfire with marshmallows!

Dinner was held in a tented area at long tables covered in red and white checkered linens. Centerpieces were mason jars filled with wildflowers, as well as the occasional cowboy hat or kickass pair of cowboy boots. The food was BBQ style: pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, beans, rolls with chili butter, and chocolate chip cookies.

After dinner, guests sat around campfires roasting marshmallows and line dancing to a live Western duo. What an amazing party!

Brooke Hill
Owner & Principal Event Designer
The Celebration Studio