25 Glamorous Wedding Ideas Perfect for an Extravagant Affair (2024)

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Choose a Metallic Font

Your invitations are the absolute best way to set the tone of your wedding day. To introduce friends and family to your grand wedding theme and get them excited to attend a lavish soirée, select a stunning script and gold-hued font for your invitations. Looking to really go all out? Add an intricate border to the card.

Douse Yourself in Sparkles

Shimmer and shine down the aisle in a wedding gown that’s decked out in sparkly accents and 3D appliqués. For an even more dramatic look that will make every jaw drop, opt for an off-the-shoulder neckline and dramatic veil. We love how glittery drop earrings tie this look all together.

Accessorize with Pretty Pearls

If you’re looking for the perfect pair of heels to waltz down the aisle in, consider ones with pearl detailing. A subtle touch of pearls is an elegant and versatile look, so the beaded accent will complement and enhance your dream gown. To really make a statement, combine your killer pumps with drop pearl earrings and a studded clutch.

Get All Glammed Up

To define your features and tie your wedding look all together, you’ll want to go for bold and daring makeup. Create a glowing and smooth complexion with liquid foundation and bronzer. Then, a matte lip, smokey eyes, and thick lashes will be the finishing touches that can add volume and sophistication to your look.

Tie Your Strands in a Sweeping Updo

When it comes to selecting the hairstyle for your ornate affair, you can’t go wrong with a polished and sleek low bun. For an unexpected twist, pin your luscious locks back in sections to create a regal effect. This glossy and refined hairdo is the perfect choice for high-neck, sweetheart, and strapless necklines.

Consider a Cascading Bouquet

Lush flowers are one of the most important details when it comes to glam weddings. Channel your inner Princess Diana and opt for an eye-catching cascading bridal bouquet. Arrange your bouquet in a way that spills out of your hands and leaves a long, trailing effect. Lilies and roses are typically your best bet when it comes to creating cascading styles.

Dress Your Girls in Gold

If you want your friends to sparkle and shine by your side, gold bridal-party dresses will do the trick. Not only will the champagne shade look flattering on every skin tone, but it will also match your day’s décor. Consider floor-length gowns to really drive your theme home.

Sport a Dapper Tux

Looking to take your glam theme to the next level? Why not have the groom get in on the fun! Your partner will look sharp in a white tuxedo jacket with black lapels. Pair it with a sleek black bow tie, matte black watch, and suede black loafers.

Swap Vows at a Chateau

Tap into your inner princess and say “I do” at a grandiose chateau in the French countryside. The exterior provides the most breathtaking backdrop for memorable wedding photos, and the interior is guaranteed to have upscale rooms with elegant décor that can help you execute your wedding theme.

Upgrade Your Altar

The ceremony is where your marriage becomes official, so you’ll want extra-special décor to honor that moment. A floral installation made out of lush greenery and romantic roses will reflect your relationship and take guests’ breath away. To go the extra mile, build a platform for you and your partner to stand on, so you’ll feel like it’s just the two of you taking on the world.

Transform Your Aisle

As you stride down this aisle, you’ll want to feel like you’re in a real-life fairytale. Go for a monochromatic palette with all-white flowers to achieve this look. Scatter petals down the aisle, and line the edges with a combination of white delphinium, larkspur, and greenery. The abundance of blooms will lead to a floral arch, where you’ll experience the ultimate fantasy: Marrying your one true love.

Hire a String Quartet

Music is the one of the best ways to create the mood for your big day. To achieve a sophisticated atmosphere, hire a string quartet to play live music. The ensemble will put a classical twist on your favorite ballads, and you’ll have the perfect background ambiance for chatting with friends and family.

Pop the Bubbly

Is there any warmer welcome than a glass of champagne? Attaching your escort cards to the rim of champagne flutes is a unique way to direct guests to their table. Of course, a beautiful arrangement of glittering champagne glasses is always a grand way to introduce guests to your reception.

Suspend Chandeliers from the Ceiling

Whether you’re hosting your wedding reception in a ballroom or an outdoor tent, crystal chandeliers will add an air of elegance to any spot. A canopy of chandeliers not only looks stunning, but it also provides soft lighting that casts a warm glow over the entire evening. Combine your light fixtures with olive branches and jasmine for additional ambiance.

Incorporate Luxurious Linens

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect tablescape, look no further. Consider draping a silkrunner down the center of your reception tables for a romantic flair. Pair the runner with delicate pink roses and glowing taper candles, and you’ll have the utmost glam setup. Pro tip: Rent your linens, so you don’t have to deal with storing, ironing, or cleaning them.

Hang a Floral Installation

Besides chandeliers, flowers are another gorgeous decoration to hang from the ceiling of your glam reception site. We love this installation trend because it’s a magnificent way to bring the outdoors inside. For venues with high ceilings, this is an especially strong décor moment.

Dine by Candlelight

What’s more romantic than a candlelit dinner? By layering taper candles in varying heights across your reception tables, you’ll create depth and a dreamy ambiance. To really up the ante, surround your spread with an abundance of white flowers and greenery, and select metallic shades for your candlestick color.

Elevate Your Centerpieces

For larger-than-life centerpieces that quite literally tower over you, go for tall floral arrangements. A soaring stand will add height and luxury to your pretty petals. Suspending your centerpieces is also a practical setup because they won't block your guests' field of view.

Set Your Seat Apart

A sweetheart table sets aside an intimate space for the two of you to connect as a newly married couple. Plus, if you add a little extra flair to the design, your guests will get to admire those statement seats. To save money and hassle, try repurposing your ceremony arch and using it to frame your table for two. Then, surround your setup with rich roses and a sea of floating candles.

Drape Your Reception in White

By wrapping your reception in luxe white drapery, you’ll look and feel like you’re floating on a cloud. Monochromatic shades make a big impact, and an all-white venue with sparkly accents is the ideal glam color scheme. Plus, this neutral shade will never go out of style. For more opulence, add chandeliers and twinkle lights to supplement your drapery.

Host a Seated Dinner

Sitting down to a special dinner with multiple courses makes for a ritzy dining experience. Planning a sit-down dinner has many perks, such as keeping the day on a set schedule, giving loved ones the opportunity to converse with one another, and setting aside time for newlywed toasts and speeches. Although seated dinners are a more traditional option, you can make them modern with fun food ideas.

Use Gold Cutlery

Throw the dinner party of your dreams with a gold flatware set. The shiny hue will amplify each place setting and make dining feel more fashionable. To really go for gold, match the cutlery with gold-rimmed plates and gold napkin rings. Floral centerpieces and monogrammed linen napkins can bring the tablescape all together.

Embrace Lucite Details

For a glam-meets-modern affair, acrylic details are a must. Ghost chairs make a statement without dominating the other design elements present, so strong décor moments, such as this floral runner, stand out. Due to their transparent nature, ghost chairs make your venue look even bigger. Plus, they’re chic and versatile, so they’ll go with any color palette or aesthetic.

Dance Under the Stars

Go out with a bang and have your first dance under a canopy of string lights. Hanging fairy lights above your reception will provide the perfect mood lighting and transform your after-party into a magical starry night. For couples hosting an outdoor wedding, constructing a ceiling of string lights will really illuminate the evening.

Build a Bevy of Blooms

Your wedding cake provides a blank canvas for spectacular design ideas. A cascading display of orchids and exquisite piping are wonderful ways to enhance the texture and elegance of a tasteful white cake. And, when it comes to glam wedding cakes, the more tiers, the better.