2026 Wedding Trends Meet Colorful Floral Design at this Raleigh Venue
Florals and decor in shades of grassy green, lilac, rose and sky blue, plus white and cream accents, adorn The Maxwell’s Great Room, lounge, sprawling garden and paved patio dotted with gas lanterns.
The Maxwell: Flexible Raleigh Event Space with Clean Lines
“One of The Maxwell’s greatest strengths is its flexibility,” says owner Chelsea Hand. “Whether your style is bold and colorful or clean and understated, our space serves as the perfect backdrop. You can bring in vibrant palettes, unexpected textures and playful patterns – or keep it minimal and elegant with classic touches and a more neutral design.”
The versatility of this venue is exactly what Maddie Peeler, The Maxwell’s event manager and planner of this styled wedding, aimed to highlight. “Maddie designed a really unique floor plan,” says Meagan Culkin, wedding planner and Heart of NC Weddings creative producer.
The patio, often the backdrop for lively cocktail hours that take place under its romantic market lights, is transformed into a vibrant oasis where the couple exchange vows on a circular platform surrounded by lush arrangements provided by Heritage Floral Design. “This [styled wedding] demonstrated that with thoughtful planning, each area can be transformed in unexpected ways while still maintaining a seamless flow and optimal guest experience,” Chelsea says.
Colorful Florals Touch on 2026 Trends
Inside, extravagant floral installations including greenery draped along chandeliers and eye-catching, elevated vases lean into the flower-forward, maximalist style that Meagan says is trending this season. These blooms complement tabletop rentals and lounges from Party Reflections, ornate farmhouse tables and plush love seats from Greenhouse Picker Sisters and whimsical signage and paper products by Revel NC that add pops of purple and verdant green.
“We’re seeing couples utilize color a lot more than in the past,” Meagan says, adding that vibrant palettes that incorporate multiple shades like this one have become popular among celebrants that “aren’t afraid of using patterned linen, for example. This design is about celebrating more than just a whisper of color.”
Every shade is captured flawlessly by the lens of Whitney Chase, photographer behind The Chase Collective. Her husband, Colby Chase, simultaneously films each scene.
The pair documented models Andre Willis, who sports a classic tux from custom clothier Liles Clothing Studio, and D’Anna Rivera wearing a gown from White Bridal Boutiques with simple yet elegant hair and makeup by Reign Beauty. D’Anna’s look is completed with a dazzling pearl and diamond ring with a floral motif from Diamonds Direct.
The couple shines in portraits that emulate The Chase Collective’s mix of traditional and editorial photography styles, which Whitney says typically incorporate laughter with soft smiles, romance and a little bit of giddiness. “I want to capture a variety of images in which the couple is the focal point with the design framing them beautifully, as well as a few portraits where the design and the couple are co-stars of the show (for example, the drone photo of them walking through the aisle),” Whitney says.
She echoes Chelsea’s sentiment that a standout characteristic of the venue is its versatility. “The beautiful thing about The Maxwell is the clean canvas,” she says. “While it has its distinct features (like the fireplace, light fixtures and textured outdoor wall), it allows each couple or planning team to completely make it their own.”
Chelsea says this styled wedding was “intentionally crafted to reflect the natural flow of an event at The Maxwell and to showcase just how effortlessly the space can be tailored to your unique vision.” Utilizing the two open-concept indoor spaces and the picturesque, private outdoor areas, “you’re free to create a wedding that truly reflects your personality and story,” she says. – By Rebecca Savidge
