Martha Stewart Weddings

22 Sparkling Wedding Ideas That'll Give Your Day a Glamorous Upgrade

By Lauren Pardee
July 27, 2011
Credit: Jacqueline Patton Photography

Nothing says "Let's celebrate!" quite like these shimmering accents.

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Credit: Jacqueline Patton Photography

The right décor can play a huge role in defining your wedding's aesthetic. Of course, different event themes call for different decorations, but if you're in the process of curating a glamorous celebration, you should consider working a few sparkling details into your big-day décor landscape. Think about it: There is a reason why some of the most festive, party-centric holidays—like New Year's Eve, for example—are associated with glitter and confetti. To carry that celebratory vibe into your ceremony or reception, use reflective materials, including sequins, beads, and mirrors, to your advantage. There are so many ways to do so: From sparkling invitation envelopes and high-shine bridesmaids' dresses to table linens and glittery desserts, this eye-catching trend works across a myriad of big-day elements.

Elevated glam, however, isn't the only wedding theme that can benefit from a little bit of glitter. Add a few silver motifs to your celestial-inspired affair for gleaming touches that mimic the stars. On this tabletop, Roey Mizrahi Events layered silver glitter place cards by Matinae Studio Design over moody menus that mimicked the night sky. It doesn't stop there. As you'll discover in the photos ahead, sparkly details can upgrade vintage, modern, or romantic aesthetics, too.

At the end of the day, your shimmering décor moment doesn't have to speak to your overarching wedding aesthetic—if you simply love sparkle, work in a pop. Even better: Add sparkles to the wedding accents you wish to highlight most. After all, glitter is a great way to make anything stand out—even aspects you normally wouldn't consider. Intrigued?  Prepare to be dazzled by the following ideas, all of which are guaranteed to catch your guests' eyes.

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Pillow Upgrade

Credit: Brianna Wilbur Photography
20 Unique Reception Seating Ideas That Will Surprise and Delight Your Guests

A small sequin moment goes a long way, as evidenced by this reception setup. Smells Like Peonies Events used sparkly gold pillows to give all-white seating a glamorous upgrade. The embellishments added both texture and color to the simple linen couch.

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Highlighting Bridesmaids

Credit: Craig and Eva Sanders Photography
38 Looks That Prove Bridesmaids' Dresses Can Be Chic

Dressing your bridesmaids in sparkling gowns is a great way to help them stand out. This bridal party wowed in custom Glasgow Seamstress dresses that featured glittery bodices.

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Spotlight Sweetheart Table

Credit: Dawn Derbyshire Photography
20 Beautiful Sweetheart Table Ideas Any Couple Would Love

Sweetheart tables showcase the couple of honor during their reception. So, why not use an eye-catching, sparkling tablecloth to further spotlight your station? JPC Event Group did just that by adding metallic linens to this table for two.

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Dazzling Dress

Credit: Eleven:11 Photography
The Best Wedding Dresses of 2018

A bead-embellished wedding dress can give you the big-day glow you've always wanted. This bride's Elaya Vaughn dress is proof. As she walked down the aisle, the garment reflected the venue's lighting, creating a dazzling effect.

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Glitter Cake

Credit: Fox Photography
A Trend We're Loving: Textured Wedding Cakes

Make like Baking Up Treble and give your cake tiers textured dimension with edible glitter.

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Monochromatic Shine

Credit: Greg Finck Photography
16 Things You Need to Know to Pull Off an Outdoor Wedding

Looking to elevate your monochromatic reception design without featuring another color? Choose on-palette sparkling embellishments—they'll add texture and shine to your setup. The Twelve Events brought this luxurious all-white celebration, complete with pops of silver, to life.

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Sparkling Tablecloth

Credit: Jen Wojcik Photography
These Statement Linens Will Take Your Wedding Reception to the Next Level

If you've chosen to cover your reception tables with glitter-encrusted linens (like the ones seen here on this display by Michelle Garibay Events), keep your place settings and centerpieces simple—you don’t want to overwhelm the space.

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Disco Balls

Credit: Jenn Emerling
Trending Now: Mirrored Wedding Décor

Get the party started the minute guests arrive at your reception with disco ball escort cards. This glimmering display by To La Lune eluded to all the dancing these attendees were about to do.

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Food Décor

Credit: Jessica Gold Photography
39 Amazing Dessert Tables from Real Weddings

Edible glitter can make your desserts look like glamorous décor. That's why Fluff Meringues used it to garnish these Lavender Honey treats, which dressed up this event's sweets station.

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Illusion Stars

Credit: Juanlu Rojano
How to Illuminate Your Outdoor Wedding

Create outdoor reception lighting that sparkles as much as the stars by stringing cascading lights above your event space, like Paloma Cruz Eventos did here.

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Reinvented Donuts

Credit: Kate Ann Morris of Kate Ann Photography
23 Delicious Ways to Serve Donuts at Your Wedding

Reinvent classic desserts by styling them with glitter. Instead of topping these glazed donuts with sprinkles, Caitlin Kruse from Glitter Guide topped them with edible gold sparkles for a glamorous look.

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Mismatched Embellishments

Credit: Lane Jane Dittoe
28 Reasons to Love the Mismatched Bridesmaids' Dress Look

If you love a mismatched look for your bridal party, consider bridesmaids' dresses that sparkle in unique ways. These ladies wowed in ensembles with all kinds of embellishments.

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Celebratory Confetti

Credit: Monica Woods of Moni Lynn Images
Fun and Festive Ideas for a New Year's Eve Wedding

Getting hitched on New Year's Eve? Confetti is practically mandatory. Jennifer Murphy of Warehouse Rose Events​ sprinkled the reflective decoration onto this reception table for a celebratory look that nodded to the holiday.

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Grand Exit

Credit: Art Is for Lovers
28 Unique Ideas for Your Wedding Exit

For a festive wedding exit, have guests shower you and your love in confetti as you head to the after-party.

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His and Hers Chairs

Credit: Mary & Maurizio of Quattro Studio
40 Pretty Ways to Decorate Your Wedding Chairs

Mark your places at the head table by draping sequin-embellished fabric over your chairs. The Tuscan Wedding designed and executed this setup.

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Escort Car Display

Credit: Sandra Åberg Photography
Insanely Creative Escort Cards and Seating Displays

Your seating chart doesn't have to be over the top to impress your guests—a little bit of sparkle goes a long way on this reception staple. Brenda Babcock Celebrations displayed escort cards on a glitter tablecloth for a simple, but striking presentation.

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Bouquet Wrap

Credit: Sara Monika Photography
20 Wedding Bouquet Wraps We Love

We love how this sequin ribbon wrap tied this Tanya List bouquet to the rest of the wedding's sparkling décor.

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Layered Textures

Credit: Simply Sarah Photography
The Prettiest Place Settings from Real Celebrations

Here's proof that glitter works with a multitude of textures: On this tabletop, Magnolia Ranch layered a glitter plate over a wooden placemat, resulting in an equally masculine and feminine setup.

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Matching Purse

Credit: Sposto Photography
Mother-of-the-Bride Dresses That Wowed at Weddings

Highlight your mom's role in your wedding by gifting her a monogrammed beaded purse (these are by Shabbysheikness) that matches yours.

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Sparkling Disco

Credit: Edyta Szyszlo

Add some overhead sparkle to your reception by hanging a disco ball (the ultimate party symbol!) above your dance floor.

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Chic Envelopes

Credit: The More We See
20 Pretty Envelope Liners That Dressed Up Wedding Invitation Suites

Glittery invitation envelopes tell guests about the luxe wedding to come even before they break the seal. These black iterations by House Of Catherine perfectly embodied this celebration's chic aesthetic.

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