Your escort card table is a great place to add some of your favorite photos. Maybe it’s photos of the two of you throughout the years, or maybe you honor your family by displaying old family wedding photos. In this case, the bride and groom love to ski — so for their Sundance, Utah wedding, Alison Hotchkiss designed a photo wall above the escort card table that highlighted photos of the couple skiing throughout the years. She tied it all together with a pair of vintage skis that doubled as a guest book! Cool right?

Photo: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 125+ creative guest book ideas

> More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

I love when the rehearsal dinner takes on a totally different vibe than the wedding, and this barbecue fete is the perfect balance of casual and elegant. From the gourmet menu (no ballpark franks here!) to the simple, yet chic, table decor, this buffet style dinner designed by Alison Hotchkiss didn’t sacrifice on style.

Photos: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> Everything you need to know about your rehearsal dinner

> More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

It isn’t just the clean lines and bright orange accents that makes this lounge stand out, but how the chic furniture contrasts with the setting of this historic venue (a winery in California). The juxtaposition of old-venue-meets-chic-decor makes this lounge all the more stunning, especially in the way that event designer Alison Hotchkiss stuck to light neutral colors with cheery pops of orange flowers, pillows and lanterns. Love!

Photo: Lovebirds Photography

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 50+ paper lantern ideas

> More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

Alison Hotchkiss’, founder of Alison Event Planning & Design creative design incorporated a speciality star-ceilinged tent and overlapping orange batik printed tapestries in a rich orange hue. Long and low, yet modern seating added a chic vibe to the space and Alison added plenty of pillows for comfort. For a similar vibe, consider hanging tapestries to add a splash of pattern to the walls of your reception space. Urban Outfitters sells a variety of tapestries in an array of print options. Just make sure you check with your venue before hanging wall decor.

Photos: Jesse Leake

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 35+ chic lounge ideas

> More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

For this early October wedding at Kunde Winery in Sonoma, Alison Hotchkiss, founder of Alison Event Planning and Design, chose a bright yellow Ikat print for a graphic pattern that really popped. The modern menu card tied in the vibrant yellow and added a hint of orange. To keep the look casual and fit in with the rustic elegance of the venue, Alison opted for using just runners instead of full table cloths. Bright ranunculuses, craspedia (billy balls), and tulips in modern white pottery and gray napkins added polish to this relaxed look. You can find similar geometric and ikat design table runners at Four Bugs In A Rug‘s Etsy shop or a pretty chevron version at Williams-Sonoma.

Photo: Lovebird Photography

Photo: Lovebird Photography

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 150+ fun cocktail hour ideas

> More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

For the outdoor cocktail hour at this Sonoma Valley wedding, an enormous tree became the unavoidable focal point because of it’s location at the venue. Instead of avoiding the large tree, Alison, founder of Alison Events, constructed a custom bar around the base of the tree to incorporate the elegant tree and create a stunning backdrop. The tree also provided plenty of shade for pre-ceremony cocktails while the sun is still up and a perfect vantage point to watch the sunset at the after the ceremony.

Photo: Viera Photographics

PS – Congrats to Alison Hotchkiss on your recent engagement!

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 150+ fun cocktail hour ideas

> More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

Alison Hotchkiss combined the best of two worlds by bring minimalist and modern seating to the beach for this destination wedding at Be Tulum in Tulum, Mexico. The classic Mexican pink and orange hand woven pillows added a punch of tropical color for this beachside ceremony. The altar was similarly simple in design and let the gorgeous blue water and white sandy beach stand serve as a stunning natural backdrop to frame the couple’s vows. For the al fresco reception with a view of the beach, Alison carried the same seating and paired it with casual linens and small centerpieces in order to focus on the main event, the ocean view!

Photo: Mel Barlow

Photo: Mel Barlow

Photo: Mel Barlow

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 150+ beach wedding ideas

> More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

Making your wedding as comfortable as possible for your guests doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on style. These colorful and comfy cushions fit with the outdoor patio at Palm Springs’ famous The Parker Hotel, for this rehearsal brunch designed by Alison Hotchkiss. The key to pulling off the look is mixing up the seating between benches and architectural chairs for a retro vibe. Alison also kept the table settings simple, using sleek Heath vase centerpieces, which held orange and yellow gerbera daises, tying in the punchy cushion colors. Love the look? You can find solid round bistro chair cushions at your neighborhood Home Depot or try this DIY by Interior Groupie to make cushions in the fabric, pattern, and colors of your choice!

Photo: Meg Smith

>  Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 25+ reception chair ideas

>  More inspiration from Alison Hotchkiss

> Follow Alison @alisonevents

> 100+ Preppy Wedding Photos

> More Brilliant and Beautiful Ideas from 100 Days of Inspiration

Streamers are the universal party symbol, so to create a fun festive vibe at a wedding in Napa, Alison Hotchkiss, founder of Alison Event Planning and Design created a chic and sophisticated lounge area by hanging lots of pretty red garlands. We’re not talking about birthday party paper streamers: The key to pulling off the garland look is to go monochromatic and then to mix up the texture and style. (We did a little looking around and found some really cool garlands at Etsy Shop A Fete Beckons or you could DIY something similar.) To finish off the design and pull the room together, Alison and her team added bright red bean bags and rustic Parisian chairs. So fun!