Don’t stuff your welcome bags with lots of little tchotchkes that no one will really use. Just a few will do. Take this pretty little welcome bag designed by wedding planner Tara Guerard for example. She tucked the itinerary of events and a mini champagne bottle (because it was a New Year’s Eve wedding) into a blue satin-lined lingerie bag for a fun and functional welcome bag idea.

Photo: Liz Banfield Photography

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It’s inevitable, your guests are going to be dying to hit the dance floor once they hear the awesome DJ or band you picked, so it makes perfect sense to put your personal mark on this detail. This couples’ oversized “JJ” monogram added a final custom touch to an already stunning lounge (plus, imagine the awe-effect when your guests first enter the lounge space). Tara Guerard, founder of Soiree by Tara Guerard, used a vinyl decal to add this perfectly placed monogram touch.

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I love the idea of sourcing items like drawer knobs and door knockers — like this brass lion head — into an escort card design for an unexpected twist on the classic wedding detail. Southern event planner Tara Guerard didn’t stop with the escort card display though. She added the same lion head motif to the menu cards and even incorporated it into the couple’s custom monogram, for seriously regal look and feel.

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Chic doesn’t even begin to describe the clean and crisp beauty of this all-white lounge area designed by Tara Guerard, founder of Soiree by Tara Guerard. From the seating, to the dance floor and draped ceiling, Tara layers white to create an intimate space. The key to pulling off the effect was tons of candlelight, which warmed up the space instead of feeling cold or uninviting. The lounge tent held the cocktail bar, dance floor and plenty of cushy seating to create a laid-back vibe where guests could really start to party after dinner. With this design, Tara proves that less (color) really can be more!

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For a simple porch lounge at a black and white lounge area held on the porch at this Southern reception venue Tara Guerard, founder of Soiree by Tara Guerard, came up with a genius plan to use the plants that were already at the venue into the decor. By adding a see-through lucite cap over the plants and adding simple votives, the decorative plants tied in the splash of green in the color palette. Not only do the lucite caps add a sleek and streamlined modern touch to a historic venue, but they also create a perfect perch for your guests’ drinks.

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Need to take advantage of high ceilings? Tara Guerard did just that by hanging luminaries and garland from the ceiling over the dessert display in this two-story foyer for a hanging garden effect.. The decor filled the space making it feel intimate. The effect was a romantic flourish and a lighting centerpiece that drew attention to the gorgeous cake. Want the look? Check out candle lanterns and luminaries in The Knot Shop!

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During the cocktail hour all eyes will be on the bar, so why not make it more than just a pit stop for a drink and transform the it into stunning focal point? Tara Guerard did just that by covering this 40-ft bar in silver wallpaper to add a metallic glitz to this chic white-on-white lounge. The geometric design of the wallpaper complemented the diamond motif on the cake, which was also displayed front and center. Since wallpaper comes in endless colors and designs, this potential DIY can be customized to any style!

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Love the ghost chair look? Well, these etched lucite menu cards by Tara Guerard take the vanishing act to the table top. The unexpected menu cards not only add a modern elegance to the decor, but also serve as a conversation starter to wow your guests. For these creative pieces, Tara worked with a trophy design company to create these one-of-a-kind menu cards. The key to the look? Bold, monochromatic centerpieces on the table serve as a background for the menu cards making it easy for guests to see and read the clear cards.

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Escort cards (or butler cards as they call them in the South!) are one of the first opportunities to wow your guests and Tara Guerard, founder of Soiree by Tara Guerard did just that by creating a genius way to keep the cards from falling flat. Tara crafted these simple, yet stunning holders from 2x4s, added a touch of design, and painted the holders white to match the pink, gold, and champagne decor. By cutting slanted notches into the wood, Tara made it easy for guests to read and find their tables using the calligraphed cards and put a twist on the standard tented escort card.

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Tara Guerard, founder of Soiree by Tara Guerard, takes the black and white checkerboard idea to new heights by having it as a ceiling treatment (and not the usual dance floor). Tara and her team wove the navy and champagne taffeta fabric and stapled it to a square board attached to the ceiling. The look was finished with pleated fabric fanning out from the eye-catching focal point.

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