At Wedding Venue Map we’re always curious about the different ways couples do things. One of our ponderings was what if a couple asked, Do I need a Wedding Lounge Area? We immediately thought of Selina Mullenax, CMP, CPCE who is an Account Executive with CORT Event Furnishings, a nationwide furniture, drape, and decor rental company.
Selina has been designing, planning, and coordinating weddings, corporate meetings, annual conferences, and experiential events for over a decade. We asked Selina a few questions, and here’s what she had to say.
Do I need a wedding lounge area at my wedding?
Whether at the ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception, having a lounge elevates the experience at your wedding venue and breaks up the design from the existing seating options. It provides an immersive environment for your guests to enjoy that’s both comfortable and luxurious.
Are there specific venue types that are better suited for lounge areas?
Logistically, I have learned that ease of access from where the truck is parked to unload to where the furniture will be set up is important. Are there stairs? Are the doors and elevators large enough to fit the pieces? Is there a long carry from one location to the next? Are we delivering on sand? Are we delivering along with multiple other partners (florist, cake/dessert, catering, etc.)? All of these are important factors in the logistics portion of the venue selected.
What are some of your favorite venues and why?
My favorite venues are what I call “empty boxes” because you have full creativity to design the space for your once-in-a-lifetime event. Some Central Florida examples include Canvas Event Venue, The BEV Center, and the Brannon Center.
Where does a wedding reception lounge area normally get set up?
Most of the requests we see are for comfortable seating near the dance floor, a photo opp station, or outdoor seating.
What are three trending color palettes?
Besides MoHo (Modern Bohemian), I would say these three color palettes have been most popular: Classic Romance, Rose All Day, and Gather In the Garden.
Classic Romance is soft with the dreamy dusty rose and sophisticated grays. Rose All Day is fun, inviting, and has modern Gatsby vibes all over it! Gather in the Garden, might be my personal favorite. In the era of TikTok and working from home, so many of us have become plant moms and that’s exactly what this color palette reminds me of. That serene, work-life harmony mood.
How can you make the lounge space at your wedding reception set-up inviting enough to get used?
Make sure your lounge is inviting by adding textures (think velvet, velour, faux sheep fur, and faux Mongolian fur) to the space. You can do this with the actual furniture or with accessories like pillows and rugs.
How do you help them figure out which are the best pieces for their needs?
To help ensure you’re selecting the best pieces, I will ask all the questions: what colors are your linens & centerpieces, what do you want these pieces to be used for, where will these be placed in relation to doors/ DJ /dance floor, etc, do you have a Pinterest board of ideas, what colors make you happy, and so on.
How do you make sure that the lounge reflects the overall feel of the wedding?
I like to design mood boards with furniture and decor options curated to match the venue, linen, napkins, and centerpieces the couple has selected to ensure everything will complement one another… but also sometimes have a pop of “wow” to the lounge set-up.
What is the most popular lounge setup that weddings tend to rent? I.e. two couches and a chair? Is a carpet rented to anchor the setup?
A standard lounge setup includes a sofa, two chairs, a cocktail/coffee table, two side/end tables, a rug, some pillows and maybe some greenery. You could also elevate this by making it a bit larger with added pieces like in the second photo.
Would I want more than one lounge area?
Yes! I would recommend having lounge seating for at least 10% of your total guests in each area where you’ll have them.
What else can I set up in the lounge area to make it more interactive?
The lounge area itself can be your photo opp station. Or you can add whiteboard personalization to the tabletop and have guests write how they’re feeling or well wishes or tips.
What if there’s a large space, how do you create a lounge feel using drapes?
Drapery can be used in so many ways to enhance your space. It can be used as a backdrop for your ceremony location, help you in your grand reveal as a married couple, and also decorate your signature bar! Want to make your lounge seem both exclusive but inviting at the same time? Add some drape to the backdrop or even use drape to create a cabana!
How could I set up a kids’ lounge area?
This is a brilliant idea! The first design that comes to mind is with our Beverly Oasis as the lounge. When I first saw this piece, I instinctively thought it looked like a playground.
Other than couches, coffee tables, and chairs, what other wedding rental pieces complete the look?
Those would be your basics and to complete the look, I would add in a rug, ottoman, pillows, lamp(s), drape, and accent decor like a divider wall or greenery.
What is the general price range of a lounge set-up?
Your pricing can vary depending on how small or large you make the lounge if you include drape and uplighting, and any personalization like custom pillows or whiteboard tops. A general range for a lounge set-up would be about $2,750.
Are there additional delivery and setup costs? If yes, what is a general estimate and how is it determined?
Our Quotes include a single fee for Delivery, Set-Up, and Pick-Up. The price varies on location, date, times, and how many pieces you’re renting.
What is one of your favorite tips for planning a wedding that you would share with a newly engaged couple?
Rely on your vendors. Not only are they your partners in this journey with you, but they are passionate about the end result and have the experience to help you bring your vision to life.
Tell me is there something that we should be asking that we’re not or that you’d like to highlight?
CORT recently released our “Love In Full Color” Wedding Guide which is full of different themed color stories for inspiration for your wedding day. I hope your readers will take a look and be inspired!
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