When we first sit down with a prospective client, the biggest problem he or she seems to face at the moment finding the perfect venue. Selecting a venue is one of the first decisions couples have to make during engagement season. Without a venue, you can’t set a date, send out save-the-dates, or book the majority of your vendors. For anyone looking for an outdoor venue in the Seattle metropolitan area, a rain plan is a must. Indoor venues are even more sparse and you will be hard-pressed to find one that checks all of your boxes. Here are some tips to help you re-imagine your venue.

Find beauty in a blank slate.

While we are big proponents of embracing your venue’s characteristics, sometimes the best venue is a blank slate. The Metropolist, located in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, operates as a part-time corporate meeting space, part-time wedding venue and offers the perfect backdrop for contemporary weddings. Tall ceilings, natural light, white walls, and wooden floors all lend themselves to the modern aesthetic.

It’s all in the details. Learn to use functional decor.

Just because you’re working with a blank slate, doesn’t mean that you need to bring in all the bells and whistles to make a big impact. The beauty of functional decor is your rentals are dual-purpose. Each item is beautiful on it’s own and lends to the overall design. For this look, we utilized the tables provided by the venue, adding a crisp white linen and acrylic ghost chairs. We elevated the look by adding copper flatware, glass candlestick holders, and modern glassware from Pedersen’s Rentals. The result is a clean, luxe-looking tablescape that will impress your guests.

Look up!

We love a tall ceiling! Not only does this make your venue look bigger, but it gives us so much room to play as designers! For this look, we suspended a lush greenery installation from the ceiling. It instantly draws the eye and captures your attention. You may notice, this design still looks full despite there only being one table arrangement. Ceiling installations, pipe and drape, and strategic lighting are all ways to transform a space.