Designing a Wedding That Actually Feels Like You
When we started planning, I didn’t have an exact vision — I just knew I wanted the day to feel personal, thoughtful, and chic. Once we chose Monte Carlo Beach as the venue, the direction started to reveal itself. The property is known for its red and white stripes — it’s iconic. Rather than fight it, we decided to embrace it fully, and that choice shaped everything that followed.
We started with the invitation design as the foundation. I worked with The Millustrator on our invites, and she created this beautiful watercolor stripe motif that we carried through the whole weekend. Having that visual thread made it easier to keep every design touchpoint connected — from paper goods to textiles to signage.
From there, I worked with @alicewilkes_design and her team to bring the full creative vision to life. One of my favorite elements was the chuppah — Alice had the idea to reimagine it as a beach cabana, which felt so right with the venue and the playful, elevated vibe we wanted. We even had The Millustrator replicate the watercolor stripe on custom draped linen for it, tying back to our invitations.
And the ceremony itself… I still don’t have the words. Marrying the love of your life, surrounded by everyone who matters — it’s surreal. The chuppah holds such deep meaning in Jewish tradition — it symbolizes the home you’ll build together, open on all sides to welcome family and friends. But it’s also such a fun place to express yourself and do something unexpected. Ours felt like the perfect blend of playful and meaningful, and standing there with Charlie was truly unforgettable.
One of the more playful design moments came from a piece of venue history. Alice and her team found this old Monte Carlo Beach postcard featuring their iconic diving board — if you know, you know. That sparked the idea to recreate it for our escort card display, which turned out to be one of my favorite details. Plus, it was only fitting since the diving board itself had its own moment during the weekend… but that’s a story for another post.
If you’re in the midst of planning and wondering how to make your wedding decor feel uniquely you, here are a few things I’d suggest:
Start with the invitation. It’s the first impression your guests will get and creates a visual foundation you can thread throughout — from menus to welcome gifts to textiles like custom linens. Consistency makes everything feel cohesive and intentional.
Play into your venue’s history or quirks. Is there an architectural detail, a signature color, or a fun story tied to the place? Let that inspire a design moment — like we did with the diving board and vintage postcard. This could also be a local tradition, a regional material, or something nostalgic from your own family history.
Weave in personal symbols. Think about what represents you as a couple — a shared hobby, a favorite destination, a song lyric, or a family emblem. These can show up in signage, embroidery, custom patterns, or even in the ceremony structure itself.
Reflect your personal style, not just what’s trending. I knew I didn’t want a floral-heavy design, so we leaned into pattern, texture, and playful nods to the venue. Don’t feel pressured to do what’s “expected” — stay true to what feels like you.
Think about storytelling moments. Use decor to tell your story. Your escort cards, menus, signage, or even the dance floor design can all become ways to weave in anecdotes, memories, or meaningful symbols from your relationship.
Design with the guest experience in mind. How do you want your guests to feel? What little surprises can you build in? Whether it’s inside jokes on cocktail napkins, a curated playlist that feels like your Saturday mornings, or a special late-night snack, these touches help guests feel closer to you.
Ultimately, the goal is for the night to feel unmistakably like you. Whether that’s expressed through color, symbols, or the overall energy — the more personal it feels, the more memorable it is.
I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes details and photos soon — but this was the heart of how we approached the decor: leaning into the spirit of the venue, playing with tradition, and finding ways to make it feel like us.