Minimalist vs. Luxury Weddings: Which Style Fits You Best?
Minimalist and luxury weddings are often framed as opposites—but in reality, the difference lies not in budget, but in intention.
Both styles can be elegant. Both can feel elevated. The key is understanding what each approach prioritizes—and how it aligns with your vision.
What a Luxury Wedding Looks Like When Done Well
A luxury wedding is immersive, layered, and emotionally engaging. It often involves:
Rich textures and custom installations
Thoughtful lighting and spatial design
A strong narrative woven throughout the event
At Ethereal Creators, luxury weddings are designed as environments, not just décor.
Real examples include:
Anita & Glody, whose mother-of-pearl–inspired celebration transformed The Arlington Estate into a sculptural masterpiece (as featured in WedLuxe)
Sapphire & Nadeem, whose fairy-tale wedding at Casa Loma balanced opulence with romance and architectural storytelling
What a Minimalist Wedding Looks Like When Done Well
Minimalist weddings are often misunderstood as “less.” In reality, minimalism requires just as much precision.
A well-executed minimalist wedding focuses on:
Clean lines and intentional spacing
Refined palettes
Thoughtful restraint
Quality over quantity
A perfect example is Mark & Carly’s wedding at the Shangri-La Toronto minimal in design, yet undeniably elegant, polished, and luxurious in execution.
Minimalist does not mean low effort. It means every detail must be right.
Budget vs. Design Intention
One of the most common misconceptions is equating minimalism with lower investment. In reality:
You always get the level of design you invest in—regardless of style.
Minimalist weddings can still be high-end, just as luxury weddings can be refined rather than excessive. The difference lies in where intention is placed.
Guest Experience in Both Styles
From our experience, guests are equally delighted at both minimalist and luxury weddings—when the design aligns with the couple’s vision.
What matters most is coherence:
Guests feel the intention
The environment matches the mood
Nothing feels unfinished or overdone
When expectations are clear, both styles deliver an elevated experience.
How We Help Couples Decide
When couples feel torn, we don’t push them in one direction. Instead, we ask:
What do you want your guests to feel?
Are you drawn to restraint or richness?
How important is immersion versus simplicity?
Often, the answer lies in a blend—something refined, intentional, and layered without being overwhelming.
The Ethereal Creators Approach
At EtherealCreators, most of our couples choose a balance: elegant, timeless, immersive, and personal.
Minimalist or luxury, our focus remains the same:
Intentional design
Elevated execution
A wedding that feels unmistakably yours
