A Diet Coke–Inspired Wedding Design at Prime Time Open House (Dayton, Ohio)
If you know us, you know there’s one wedding show we actually get excited about every year — the Prime Time Open House at Prime Time Party & Event Rental.
Why? Because it’s not your typical chaotic convention center situation. This event brings together the best wedding vendors in the Dayton area in one beautifully curated showroom where couples can actually see what’s possible for their wedding design.
And every year, we challenge ourselves to create one styled installation that feels fresh, modern, and just a little unexpected.
This year’s inspiration? A good, cold, crispy Diet Coke. Yes, really.
So we leaned in — and designed a wedding table that felt like the perfect mix of vintage romance, pop culture energy, and playful wedding inspiration.
The concept started with a simple question:
What would a wedding table look like if it had the same vibe as your first sip of an ice-cold Diet Coke? Think:
- retro details
- bold pops of red
- playful nods to soda culture
- vintage cake designs
- modern lighting and draping
And of course — actual Diet Coke cans incorporated into the design.
The result was a wedding table installation that stopped people in their tracks at the showroom.
Like every great wedding design, this one came together because of an incredible team of Dayton wedding vendors.
Lighting & Ceiling Install
The romantic ceiling swag with lighting was installed by Unlimited Events. They transformed the showroom ceiling with soft draping and glowing light that instantly made the space feel elevated and immersive.
To enhance the atmosphere even more, we added additional lighting from BLC Entertainment. The layered lighting made the table design pop and created the perfect glow for photos.
Florals
The gorgeous florals were created by Floral V Designs. They blended romantic blooms with pops of color that tied beautifully into the Diet Coke red and retro wedding aesthetic.
Seating Chart with Diet Coke Cans
The custom seating chart made with Diet Coke cans designed by Fox Wedding Designs. It was creative, unexpected, and honestly a perfect example of how interactive wedding displays can become a moment at your event.
Vintage Cake + Mini Cake Table
No retro-inspired wedding design is complete without cake.
The vintage heart-shaped cake, mini cakes, and custom Diet Coke can cookies were created by Cake, Hope and Love
Vintage cakes are one of the biggest wedding trends right now, and the mini cake display added a fun, modern twist couples are loving for dessert tables.
Stationery & Menu Design
Created by JChar Designs, the custom menu design added another thoughtful layer to the table. The stationery pulled together the retro soda theme with modern wedding typography, which made the table feel cohesive from top to bottom.
Rentals & Decor
Everything from the chairs, linens, flooring, and bar setup came from Prime Time Party & Event Rental.
One of the best parts of this open house is that couples can walk through the showroom and actually see what can be rented for their wedding day.
For couples planning a wedding in Dayton, this is huge because it means you can:
- avoid buying decor you'll never use again
- skip storing items for months
- eliminate the stress of transporting everything
- avoid setup and teardown chaos
Instead, you can rent beautifully curated pieces and let the pros handle the logistics.
Why Styled Installations Like This Matter for Couples
One of the biggest challenges couples face during wedding planning is visualizing how everything comes together.Pinterest boards are great, but real life design is different. That’s why the Prime Time Open House is such a valuable event for Dayton couples — it allows you to:
- see real wedding setups
- compare rental options in person
- meet trusted local vendors
- gather design inspiration for your wedding
It’s essentially a real-life Pinterest board you can walk through.
This Theme Works for More Than Weddings
While this display was designed with weddings in mind, the Diet Coke aesthetic is actually perfect for other events too.
Bridal Showers: A playful retro soda bar with vintage cakes and red accents would make such a fun shower theme.
Bachelorette Parties: Add a custom soda bar, cute signage, and mini cakes for a super Instagram-worthy party.
Rehearsal Dinners: A relaxed dinner party with nostalgic details and bold color pops could be a great way to kick off wedding weekend.
Girls’ Dinner Parties: Honestly? A Diet Coke themed dinner party with your best friends sounds iconic.
A Few Styling Pieces We Added From Our Amazon Storefront
To finish the look, we layered in a few extra styling elements from our Amazon storefront to complement the rental pieces.
These kinds of accessories are perfect for couples who want to personalize their event design while still renting the larger decor items.
Some ideas couples are loving right now include:
- vintage style cake stands
- retro glassware
- decorative trays for place cards
- custom signage frames
- cocktail napkins with fun sayings
Small pieces like these can help a wedding design feel intentional and styled without over complicating the setup.
If you're planning a wedding in Dayton, Ohio and want help bringing a creative vision like this to life, working with an experienced Dayton wedding planner can make the entire process easier — and way more fun.
Because the best weddings? They’re the ones where couples can be fully present, sip their Diet Coke, and actually enjoy the party.