Wedding Planner To The Philly Stars Shares His Priceless Planning Ideas

Bridal Décor -- The Event Maestro

Now settled into his new storefront, wedding planner to the Philly stars Brian Kappra talks fall florals, good lighting, and why you should be choosy with chairs.

From ballroom weddings to Ball on the Square, Brian Kappra's event production and design firm Evantine, which just relocated to a chic new Center City storefront, has worked its magic all over town for decades. Here, Kappra shares a few priceless planning ideas.

Best Buds

Smaller bouquets are still popular among brides, but roses have been replaced by bolder blooms like gardenias, peonies, and orchids. And don't be afraid to mix up the color palette, advises Kappra. "The bride may carry totally different florals than the bridesmaids or chose a colorful mixed bouquet while her bridesmaids stay neutral," he says.

Get Lit

One of Kappra's top planning tips is to gauge "party light." Those dusky lighting schemes that perfectly set the mood for receptions can also majorly alter certain colors. "One bride chose gorgeous lavender seating cushions that looked brown," he says. Kappra tests out hues with mock "party lights" at Evantine's Southwest Philly design studio.

Take a Seat

Kappra has amassed a sample of nearly every chair that every Philly venue stocks so couples can assess on the spot—and 99 percent of brides will opt to bring in their own, he says. Kappra suggests mixing it up, like "two styles of Lucite chairs for dinner or different chairs for the wedding and the reception."