Tips for your Wedding Reception Decoration

They say that looking into the details is the secret to having a successful wedding event. Part of these important details is your wedding reception decoration. Having great wedding reception decoration can add to the great memories that you have on your big day and can help guests have a wonderful time. Let’s take a look at some basic tips for your wedding reception decoration.

Don’t forget the basics.
We almost do not need to mention this but then some people just forget the basics. Never forget that your wedding reception decoration should be in line with your major theme. Your wedding reception decoration therefore should essentially have the same flavor and look as your wedding ceremony site decoration and should be in line with your color theme.

Set your point of view.
A lot of couples base their wedding preparations on the point of view of budget. If you don’t have a lot of cash to spend on your wedding reception decoration then you naturally have to go for simple decorations. If money is not an issue then be ready to have complicated and expensive designs that will reflect your taste and sense of style. Aside from the budget, you also need to consider the size and location of the venue.

Limit the colors.
Some couples simply cannot decide on one color theme and set out for wedding reception decoration with contrasting colors. At the most, you can have two colors. The best wedding reception decoration color however should be a single color in different shades. This will give your reception area a classy, dignified and unified look.

Ask for different opinions.
Your wedding reception decoration idea may seem fabulous to you but do consider asking others to help. Other people may either have better ideas or they may be able to tell if your idea will not fit your theme or goes against good taste.

Visit the venue.
Ask your reception venue for tips, advice and guidelines. Your wedding reception decoration should be according to the limits set by your reception site. You should also inform the reception site management ahead of time what you plan to do. They may also offer you help or they may include the decorations in their package deal.

Be on the safe side.
If you want to be on the safe side then you can go for decorations that are all time favorites. You can have candles for example for an outdoor evening reception or for a classic ballroom reception. You can also have wedding reception decoration that will fit the season such as white cloth, tulle and silk for the winter season and fresh plants and flowers for the spring season. Neither of the two ideas will work well if the seasons were switched.

Be creative.
You can be more creative with your wedding reception decoration either for added style or to cut costs. You may have multi purpose place cards for example that will work as a place card, decoration and giveaway. You can also experiment with orchids in water vials tucked into guest napkins. If you want to remember everyone on your special day you can have centerpieces that will double as paper and pen holders so that every guest can leave you a special note.

Wedding Decorations: Making Your Wedding Day Beautiful

Usually, the task of choosing the wedding decorations is delegated to the bride and the female members of the family and entourage. However, it is still preferred that the groom should also help in conceptualizing the decorations to be used for the wedding.

Here are some aspects to consider when deciding on what decorations to be used in the wedding:

* Mood

Will the wedding be formal or casual? Do you want it to be traditional or contemporary? This will help in deciding what candles, flowers, balloons, and other venue enhancements will you be needing.

* Color Scheme

Consider the main color to be used for the decorations. This may be the couple's favorite color, a color that can be associated with their hobby or the color that is preferred during the season. Make sure that the color of the decorations will go well with what the members of the entourage and the guests will be wearing.

* Site

Take pictures of the wedding site as early as possible so that you can check the pictures while considering a decorating idea.

* Time

Usually, decorations can only be set at the church and at the reception within one to two hours before the event. Therefore, you must consider decorations that don't take much time to mount. Also, these decorations should also be taken down right after the event.

* Guests

Consider how many will attend the wedding reception and how big is the site. With the number of guests that you will be having, can you still set-up bigger decorations that will take some floor space?

If you have a large number of guests, you may just want to set-up floor decorations near the stage and dance floor where most of the program will take place. Also, you might want to opt for smaller but finely detailed table decorations.

Also consider if there will be kids who will be attending the wedding reception. Kids may get bored during the program and start playing with the decorations that can cause an unsightly mess. So you may just get decorations that are not so fragile.

Another tip, if you will be having several kids as guests, you may have a kids area, where they can mingle with other kids and where the decorations and food are more suited for their age.

* Budget

Improperly chosen decorating ideas will not look well even if these cost much. Also, choosing just two or three decorating ideas, as long as these are implemented well can make a ceremony and reception look lavish.

Also, it is not necessary to buy every item that will be used as decorations. Some professional decorators can give you information on vases, mirrors, table centerpieces, dried flower arrangements, arc ways, pedestals and plants that will only be used for one day.

With these, just adding a few candles, laces and fresh flowers will make your wedding site and reception exquisite.

A final budgeting advice, check with the wedding rite venue director if there are other weddings that will take place during the day. If so, you may want to coordinate with the couple that will be using the venue before or after you. The may agree with your decorating ideas or add some of their own, and agree to just split the decorating expenses with you.

By: Melissa Burton

The Basics of Wedding Decorations

Gorgeous and stylish wedding decorations are often the centerpiece of the wedding ceremony and reception, and can change the mood in any setting. Themed wedding decorations set the stage for your wedding theme, and can be used in many areas of your ceremony and reception locations. Common places to decorate for your wedding in an indoor and outdoor environment are:

At the Ceremony:

The Entrance or doorway (includes arches for outdoor gazebos and garden weddings)
Pews, chairs and Altars
Inside walls, or the first adjoining rooms from the entrance.
The area around the Guest Registry
Pathways and important wedding party vehicles

The Reception:

Outer door entrance
First entrance room
Tables - head table, food tables (buffet)
Walls
Wedding Cake (cake topper)
Ceilings

Since wedding ceremonies and receptions can pretty much happen anywhere that the couple choose, wedding decorations can apply based upon the theme you may choose. Decorating for your traditional wedding may mean beautiful pure white candles, fresh flower arrangements, embroidered cloth napkins. Planning to decorate for a fall wedding? This might mean pumpkins, preserves, ‘hanging harvests’, grape vines strewn with gold and red colored leaves. Mood and setting will really influence where and how you decorate. See the room in the ‘whole picture’ and think of the theme or feelings conveyed – do these match the same traits in the bride and groom?

Always remember your timeline. Since the wedding party is usually the biggest part of the decorating (unless you are using a wedding planner /coordinator) they must have a set plan for placing wedding decorations and taking them down. Often (especially in the case of a formal wedding such as a church) the wedding decorations must go up shortly before the wedding and are taken down immediately after. Think about the following details which will help you complete your decoration:

Colors and wedding theme, time of day of the wedding ceremony, location of the event, temperament of the bride and groom, feasibility and cost of design of decorating (budget), space to decorate and the total number of people attending.