Yes, you can have a luxury wedding that still feels like you! Think intentional, luxury details AND barefoot dancing to Beyoncé after too many shots of tequila. If this sounds like your dream, I’m here to give you all the top tips for planning a luxury wedding that’s still super fun as a Northern California wedding photographer. 

How to Plan a Luxury Wedding (With Elements That Are So You)

Luxury weddings, at their core, are days that are intentionally planned to feel extravagant. If you want less of a regular wedding and more of a curated experience that feels special and fancy, a luxury wedding might be for you (and I seriously love that for you). At the end of the day, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime ordeal, and you should get to live out your wildest dreams! If you’re dreaming of a high-end wedding, there are a few key things that will really set your day apart. 

Choosing Your Vendors Wisely

This is the biggest tip I can give to anyone planning a luxury wedding! Be sure to build a vendor dream team who are ALL experienced in luxury weddings and each really fit in with your curated vision for the day. Think about each vendor, from your photographer (hi 😉), to your caterer, to your stationer for your invitation suites. Each vendor plays such a huge part in every wedding, so making sure that you pick a DJ who will keep your party going and a planner who will make the day flow smoothly is the key to hosting a luxury wedding.

Setting the Mood With Decor

Next on the list is creating a VIBE. Decorating (which is kind of the fun part tbh), is how your personality is going to really shine through in your day. For some people, this looks like extravagant florals and intricate draping, and for others, it looks like bold colors and a huge dance floor below hanging florals and disco balls. Remember that no matter your luxury wedding style, as long as it feels like you, it’s going to be 100% perfect. 

Creating a Cohesive Flow

The biggest tip for decorating your luxury wedding? Make everything flow together. Everything should fit together and be tied into the same overall vibe. THAT’S what makes a wedding feel fancy and elegant: Incorporating intention and detail throughout every single piece of your day.

One of the best things you can do to set your wedding apart from others is to plan it out very strategically… Trust me. Your guests will be forever grateful if you leave no room for awkward lulls in your day! Having each and every moment planned out to the finest detail? That’s something that elevates a wedding day. 

Leaving Things With a Memorable Exit

It’s been said that people’s overall feelings on an event can be traced back to the first moment and the last moment, which honestly leaves you with no choice but to make an iconic exit. And I’m not talking sparklers or bubbles! Think fireworks, butterflies, private last dances, a boat, or a classic car getaway… Something that will set your wedding day apart from everyone else’s and have everyone remember how legendary it was forever. 

Making Small Details a Big Deal

Last (but definitely not least) on the list is making small details the biggest part of your day. Tying in small yet intentional things will elevate your wedding like crazy! Personalized notes for each guest. A unique invitation suite. Luxury accommodations. Your shoes matching your dress. The little details are what will really make your wedding feel like you. Incorporate things you two love as a couple! Really hone in on what sets you two apart and infuse that magic into your big day. 

The best part of planning a luxury wedding is that there are no rules you have to follow. You can make the day whatever you want and still have that elevated feel! Literally create your dream, whether it’s a super fancy wedding with a taco bar for dinner or a retro-inspired colorful disco wedding. I’m so here for it all! 

Mr. and Mrs. Tabios’s Luxury Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Tabios did it the right way: an elegant luxury wedding filled with the best time and the best details that really felt like them. And really, the day couldn’t have felt any more special. From the bride’s crazy gorgeous wedding dress to the whimsical wedding flowers that look straight out of a fairytale, everything was so intentional and refined. 

These two planned it perfectly. They incorporated small, intentional details that complemented their day so well, and they threw a huge party to celebrate it all which really felt true to who they are. One of the best parts? They incorporated an ice cream truck in their day! This is a necessity for every wedding I shoot from now on, so please take notes. 😂 

Mr. and Mrs. Tabios also had an absolute dream team vendor-wise, and I just have to shout them all out!

Videography: Interstellar Films

Planning, Design & Coordination: Ysabel Lifestyle

Venue: Yin Ranch

Rentals: Standard Event Rentals & Mimosa Event Rentals

Ice Cream Truck: The Meltdown Ice Cream Truck

Beauty: Samantha Keefauver

Florals: Roxies Floral Co

DJ: DeBorba Events

Photo Booth: Blush Photo Booth

The best part of the day, by far, was the couple’s love for each other. These two seriously looked at each other like there was no one else around all day long. Getting to capture those raw, emotional moments is what makes my job as a wedding photographer so amazing! Whether you’re hosting a super small and casual wedding or a huge luxury wedding, the most important part is that this is the first day of forever together, and that’s something that deserves celebration, no matter how you do it.

Grace Thao | Northern California Wedding Photographer

Ready to see more dreamy weddings for your luxury wedding inspiration? Check out this dreamy NorCal wedding day, or if you’ve read this and decided that an intimate affair is more your speed, see this intimate Bodega Bay wedding. 

No matter your wedding style, I’m ready to be your right-hand man and capture your most special moments (and really, I mean that. I showed up to Mr. and Mrs. Tabios’s wedding just four days after having brain surgery)! 

Inquire here if you want a photographer who will hype you up all day long and then deliver you the editorial, film-inspired wedding photos of your dreams. I can’t wait to chat about your dreamy day! 

Client Love:

“We had the honor of having Grace Thao Photography capture the photos for our wedding, and wouldn’t have had it any other way. We have to start this review by telling you to just hire Grace for your photos and thank us later! Our entire experience with Grace from start to finish was seamless. Impeccable communication, organization, planning, and expertise. Her warm personality, along with her talent, could keep any bride — even the picky ones — at ease, because you know you’re in good hands. We asked for a little bit of a light and airy style, while still being naturally vibrant, and trusted her artistry to make it happen, and could not be happier with how our photos turned out! ☺️

In the midst of the hectic wedding planning, there’s always curveballs towards the end before the big day, and Grace handled them like a pro. We never had to worry about our photos because we knew Grace had it. On top of our wedding planning curveballs, even though she had to deal with some personal health issues, she went above and beyond to ensure that she offered the best photography, and boy did she deliver. She persevered after her surgery, and brought on a whole team with her to support her. We would’ve totally understood if she substituted in another photographer, and would trust their talent just based on her word,

but she is the definition of never giving up. All this to say, she truly has the passion and the heart for photography, and goes beyond the call of duty.

You ask for a photographer, and leave with a friend. She is the person you want by your side planning your special event. We couldn’t recommend her enough!”