Overgrown botanicals or miniature jeweled crowns; faux-taxidermy birds; and small bust sculptures hidden like Easter eggs within lush, floral centerpieces are just a few of the design choices that have made Kristin Shockley’s signature maximalist aesthetic hold steadfast through trends in minimalist wedding décor.
“I think with the evolution of weddings in the past 10 years, and how social media has come into play, people care about décor now more than ever,” said Ms. Shockley, the founder and owner of Lustre Theory, an event styling and design studio based in Norfolk, Va. Ms. Shockley, 40, founded her company after 15 years spent working in marketing and graphic design.
In addition to working with couples, with fees starting at $10,000, Ms. Shockley has styled photoshoots, events, runway shows for the brands and campaigns for bridal fashion designers like Monique Lhuillier, Anne Barge, Rami Al Ali and tabletop brands Maison de Carine and Herend.
Ms. Shockley gave us a peek into her creative process. This interview has been lightly edited for length.
How is your work as an event designer different from that of an event planner, and how do you two work together?
Planners have their eyes on the event as a whole, while I’m laser focused on the design. My role is to be the creative director overseeing all of the design elements for the wedding — from designing table settings and sourcing unique props to managing details that need to be custom built, and staging the lighting, while understanding how those visual components interact with the venue.
What is your signature style?
I would say that I am best known for my still-life, art-inspired table designs and my ability to bring together an old-world, romantic aesthetic with modern elements. Couples who are drawn to my work normally tell me they connect with the dreamy, lush romanticism of the décor, and they love my style of mixing colors, patterns and design elements in surprising ways.
So many ideas in the wedding industry end up being recycled. You see the same things and trends repeatedly, and many couples are working from inspirational pictures that have been online for a few seasons. It’s my job when they show me an idea that has made the rounds to say, “This is nice, but how can we push this idea forward for you?”
Where does your inspiration come from?
I am constantly looking outside of the wedding industry for inspiration. I turn to runway shows, interior design, nature and books that can be transporting. I am most influenced by art as a worldview — from photography to fine art, like Dutch still-life paintings, which is how I got into incorporating food in décor.
When did you see demand for your work begin to increase?
In early 2021. I was hired for a wedding branding photo shoot for Dover Hall estate in Manakin-Sabot, Va., at the end of 2020, and it received a lot of attention from the bridal industry. I dressed the models in Naeem Khan wedding dresses and the designer shared the images all over their social media accounts several times.
What do you recommend couples do when they are deciding on their wedding décor?
When choosing your venue, make sure that its aesthetic and style is what you want for your event. Take into account the colors, patterns and overall tone. Does it all make sense for your design? I often see couples that really want a certain décor style or specific colors but book a venue that is not the right fit, and then try to force it all to work.
How has wedding décor changed since you started designing events?
There are more rental and décor choices available. Major cities like Washington, D.C., and New York have more unique options and different companies to work with. But, overall, there are now so many more vendors to pull from. I’m always on the hunt for ways to make a design truly one of a kind, and the best way to do that is to use something that no one has seen before, or to use something in a way that no one else has.
What wedding décor styles do you see trending?
I’m loving all the attention on unique linen and fabric draping, pinning and ruching, which I have also been incorporating into my designs for years. Couples are now playing with bunching, wrinkling and interesting fabric techniques on tables, backdrops and the entire reception space. I think this trend will continue to grow.
Do you style destination weddings? Which destinations are trending right now and which do you see becoming more popular?
Yes, I take on destination events. Italy has become increasingly popular because of the attention Lake Como is getting with the villa venues there. And I see the coastal area of Croatia gaining popularity. It’s very similar to certain parts of Italy, but the cost of having a wedding there can be less than in other trendy areas in Europe.
