Decor and flowers

Decor as character

Decor is not the number of flowers. It is the impression a guest gets in the first second, walking into the venue.

Good decor strengthens a venue rather than competing with it. A vineyard needs little more; an empty hall needs a lot.

Our role

We know the decorators and florists and know who works in which style. For your idea we choose two or three of them.

We work on the sketch, colours and details together, and on the wedding day we check that what was agreed has been set up exactly.

The mood board

A mood board is a collage of photos showing the wedding's mood: colours, flowers, materials, light.

It is the most precise language for a decorator. One photo is often better than ten descriptions.

We put the mood board together and share it with every supplier - the photographer too, so they shoot the decor properly.

The colour palette

Two or three main colours and one accent are enough. More colours turn into chaos in photos.

The palette should match the venue and the season: warm tones in an autumn vineyard, light and airy by the sea.

The palette ties together the dress, the bouquet, the invitation and the cake, and the wedding reads as one story.

The venue's character

The most common mistake is fighting the venue: minimalist decor in a baroque hall, or palace chandeliers in a stone cellar.

The wooden balconies of an old Tbilisi courtyard are decor in themselves. There, a few flowers and candles are enough.

A modern hall, on the other hand, needs more texture - greenery, fabric, light.

Seasonal flowers

In late spring and early summer there are often peonies, in summer roses and hydrangeas, in autumn chrysanthemums and bunches of grapes.

A seasonal flower is more beautiful, fresher and longer-lasting, because it has just come from the garden.

In winter the choice is smaller, and more flowers are imported. Then greenery, branches and candles do more of the work.

Local and imported

Exotic flowers are imported, cost more and do not always travel well.

Local flowers look natural and suit the place. Many florists work with their own gardens.

If you want a particular flower, the florist will tell you in advance whether it will be available on your date.

Bouquet and buttonholes

The bouquet is the most personal part of the decor. It should suit the dress, your height and the palette.

The buttonhole for the groom and close family is a small echo of the bouquet. Practise pinning it on in advance.

You receive the bouquet in the morning, in water, and keep it in the shade until the photo session.

Greenery and vines

Greenery - eucalyptus, olive branches, local leaves - brings decor to life and lasts longer than flowers.

At a vineyard wedding, vine leaves and tendrils are decor in themselves. We agree their use with the winemaker.

Greenery also saves budget: fewer flowers, more volume.

The ceremony arch

The arch is the focus of the ceremony and appears most often in photos. It should frame the view, not hide it.

An arch can be wood, metal, flowers or fabric. In the mountains and by the sea it has to stand up to the wind.

We place the arch so the sun is not in your faces and the photographer has the right angle.

Aisle and chairs

The ceremony aisle can be decorated with flowers, lanterns or petals. It must be wide enough for the dress.

Chairs suit the venue: wooden chairs in a garden, benches in a vineyard, cushions on a terrace.

For older guests we keep comfortable chairs in the front rows.

Long table or round tables

A long Georgian table brings everyone together and suits the tamada tradition. It looks beautiful from above and in photos.

Round tables are easier for conversation and divide families into groups.

Often both together: a long table for the couple and family, round ones for friends.

Table styling

Tablecloths, napkins, tableware, glasses - everything is part of the palette. The venue often has its own; sometimes we rent.

At a Georgian supra many dishes go on the table at once. So tall flowers get in the way - low arrangements are better.

Name cards and menus in two languages make guests feel at home.

Georgian elements

Qvevri, rugs, clay jugs, handmade ceramics - Georgian elements give decor the story of the place.

We use them in moderation so the decor does not become a museum: one or two strong accents are enough.

For foreign guests this is often the most memorable detail.

Autumn elements

In autumn, bunches of grapes, pomegranates, churchkhela garlands and vine leaves are natural decor.

During the harvest, a wedding in Kakheti is beautiful with these elements on their own.

Fruit looks lovely on the table but attracts flies. So we use it in moderation and in the evening.

Lighting

Evening light is half the decor: candles, lanterns, string lights in the trees.

Warm light is beautiful in photos, and cold white light ruins everything. We check the colour temperature in advance.

Outdoors we plan the power supply and safe cable runs in advance.

Fire safety

Many venues restrict open candles, especially in historic buildings and on wooden balconies.

In that case LED candles are used. In photos they are almost indistinguishable.

Where open flames are allowed, candles are in glass holders and flowers are kept away from them.

Wind and heat

In the mountains and by the sea, wind threatens the arch, fabrics and candles. Everything is fixed securely.

In summer heat, flowers wilt quickly. We do not use delicate flowers in direct sun.

We plan the set-up so flowers are outside for only a short time before guests arrive.

Bilingual signage

The welcome sign, seating plan, directions and menu - in two languages for a bilingual family.

A sign is part of the decor and follows the palette: wood, glass, paper, hand lettering.

Direction signs at a large venue spare guests many questions - where the ceremony is, where the toilets are.

The photo corner

A photo corner gives guests a place for their own photos: a backdrop, lighting, sometimes props.

The best photo corner uses the venue's view - the vineyard or the mountains - and needs no artificial backdrop.

In the evening a photo corner needs light, or phone photos will be dark.

Cake and sweets

The cake table is a separate point of the decor. It is styled with flowers, fabric and light.

In summer heat a cream cake cannot last long outdoors. We keep it in the shade and bring it out at the last moment.

Georgian sweets - churchkhela, gozinaki, pelamushi - give the sweets table local character.

The welcome area

A guest gets the first impression at the entrance: a sign, flowers, a welcome drink.

There can be a guest book here, or photos from the couple's story.

On a hot day, water and shade at the entrance are the most appreciated decor.

The children's corner

If there are children among the guests, we set up a corner for them: a rug, cushions, toys, drawing things.

The corner is away from the ceremony and dancing, but within the parents' sight.

It follows the decor palette, so it does not stand out from the overall picture in photos.

Rentals

Furniture, tableware, fabrics, arches, lanterns - many things can be rented, and buying is not needed.

Several rental companies work in Tbilisi, and they bring items to the regions too.

In the rental contract we check what happens in case of damage or loss.

The marquee

At an outdoor venue a marquee is weather insurance and decor in itself: a clear roof, fabrics, light.

Putting up a marquee takes time, often the day before. We agree this with the venue.

In summer a marquee gives shade, but it can get hot inside. We plan ventilation in advance.

Local artisans

Georgian artisans make felt, cloisonne enamel, ceramics and woodwork. Their work fits beautifully into decor and gifts.

A handmade piece stays in the family after the wedding, as a memento.

Commissions from artisans take time, often weeks. So we start early.

Sketch and sample

The decorator prepares a sketch or visualisation: what stands where, what colour, what size.

A table sample - one table fully styled - is often shown in a photo before the wedding.

Changes are easy at the sketch stage and almost impossible on the wedding day.

Set-up and take-down

Setting up decor takes several hours, a whole day for a big wedding. We agree with the venue when access is possible.

Take-down often happens the same night or early in the morning. That depends on the venue's rules.

We write these hours into the running order, so the decorator does not run into guests.

Transport to the regions

If the wedding is in Kakheti or the mountains, decor and flowers travel from Tbilisi. The journey damages flowers if they are not packed properly.

The decorator's team often needs the night before on site. We allow for this in the budget.

Some regions have a local florist, which cuts down transport.

One decor, two spaces

Ceremony flowers often move to the dinner space: the arch arrangement to the couple's table, the aisle vases to the bar.

This saves budget and gives the flowers a second life.

We plan the move between the ceremony and dinner, while guests are at photos or drinks.

Flowers after the wedding

After the wedding the flowers can be handed out to guests or given to family.

Some couples dry the bouquet or ask the photographer to shoot it before it wilts.

If the flowers stay at the venue, we agree this with the venue in advance.

Less waste

Many couples want fewer disposable items. Rentals, potted plants and reusable decor help with this.

Instead of floral foam, water vessels and natural supports are often used.

A potted plant is planted in a garden after the wedding or given to a guest.

The couple's table

The couple's table is the centre of dinner: every guest looks at it, and during the toasts it appears most often in photos.

Some couples choose a separate small table, others sit with family in the middle of the long table.

The decor here is slightly richer, but so that the arrangement does not hide the couple's faces.

Stationery

The invitation, menu, name cards and programme should be made in one style, in the decor palette.

Tbilisi has good print studios, with handmade paper and calligraphy.

The Georgian alphabet is beautiful in itself. Some couples also write their names in Georgian, as a sign of the place.

Stage and dance floor

The band or DJ area and the dance floor are part of the decor, not just a technical corner.

A stage backdrop, lighting and hidden cables make the evening photos far better.

Enough room must be left for the Georgian dance performance - the dancers leap and spin.

Decorating the car

At a Georgian wedding the couple's car is often dressed with flowers and ribbons, and it is the centre of the convoy.

The decoration follows the palette and is fixed so it does not come off on the road or damage the paint.

For a rented car we agree the decoration with the company in advance. Details are on the limousine page.

Common mistakes

Too many colours and too many details. Tall flowers on the table that hide guests from each other.

Open candles at a venue where they are forbidden. Delicate flowers in the midday sun.

Decor that competes with the venue. We fix all of this at the sketch stage.

What we need from you

A few photos you like, and colours you definitely do not want.

The venue, the date and the number of guests - these determine the flowers and tables.

Whether you want Georgian elements, and how much.

Price

The cost of decor depends on the season, the flowers, the guests and the scale of the set-up.

We add nothing to the decorator's price. Rentals and transport are separate lines.

We calculate the budget after the mood board and show where greenery and light save money in place of flowers.