Photographer and graphic designer Viola Virtamo is getting married, and we asked her to share her thoughts on wedding preparations. Discover her best tips for beautiful summer weddings and thoughtful wedding gifts!
“I inherited my love of hosting celebrations from my grandparents and parents, and since childhood I’ve helped organise events for over a hundred guests,” Viola says.
“I love carefully considered details, and designing small elements like paper goods is one of my favorite parts of planning a celebration. Right now is my favorite phase, because the big decisions have already been made and I can focus on the details.”
On the Wedding Theme
“We don’t have a specific theme, but to create a cohesive look, our wedding colours are muted shades of green.
Our venue is a beautiful old building surrounded by nature in the middle of a historic village setting, so soft, subdued tones felt like a natural choice.
Having a clear colour palette makes it easy to keep the visual style of the wedding cohesive and intentional.”
Even though Viola enjoys perfecting the visual details, she emphasises the importance of remembering what truly matters.
“Although I love refining every detail, matching the napkins perfectly to the theme, and spending hours designing paper goods, what matters most is the atmosphere, the people you love, and good food.”
A Celebration Without Stress
Wedding-day stress can be reduced by creating a flexible schedule.
“I don’t want a day that is planned down to the minute and simply executed,” Viola says.
“When planning the structure of the day, I removed several program numbers once I realised how tightly packed the schedule would become.
And even though I like to plan everything carefully in advance, on the wedding day I want to focus on enjoying the celebration with all the wonderful people around us.
When things are thoughtfully planned and the schedule allows plenty of flexibility, you can forget about stress and enjoy the day to the fullest without watching the clock.
Well begun is half done!”
Wedding Gift Ideas
For Viola, the most important thing about a wedding gift is that it reflects the recipients.
“I think it’s worth investing in timelessness and quality. Avoid anything too trendy or flashy, unless you know the couple would truly love it.
It’s important to think about who the gift is for and what genuinely suits that particular couple. If you’re unsure, it’s perfectly fine to ask them in advance. As a bride, I certainly wouldn’t mind if someone wanted to make sure the gift was right for us. Wonderful classic gifts include high-quality bed linen or soft linen bathrobes. If you know the color palette of the couple’s home, a cosy wool blanket is also an excellent gift idea.”
Photos Viola Virtamo
Text Viola Virtamo & Jenna Suomela