Decorating For Wedding Receptions

Decorating for wedding receptions or for any party is something that can be done easily and inexpensively. It does not have to be perfect, just something simple and elegant that you can do on your own.

Don't be intimidated by what others will think. Don't think that it will not be good enough. If you have any artistic or creative friends, see if they will help you with ideas and putting things together.

A quick trip to a party store, a craft store, or even Walmart can provide you with everything you need to create a pretty wedding reception setting.

Before you shop, decide the type of mood you want to create and what colors you want to use.

Long lengths of tulle and large bows are handy to have. They can be placed on tabletops, on the sides of tablecloths that are hanging down, on walls, on pillars in the room, and on any large trees or potted plants indoors and outdoors.

Use pretty rolls of wide ribbon to decorate the serving and gift tables much like you would use crepe paper streamers at a birthday party. Crepe paper streamers are also appropriate decor at wedding receptions. I have attended many over the years where crepe paper streamers were hanging and they look fine.

Metallic or Christmas green garland also make good hanging and wall decorations. Sparkly white Christmas garland is also great for weddings. As soon as Christmas decorations come out this fall, shop for wedding decorations. Beautiful garland is now made in almost every color and looks great anytime of year at a wedding reception.

To dress up chairs, wrap ribbon around the chairback and tie a big bow in the back of the chair. Lengths of tulle can also be used to tie into bows as well.

Helium-filled balloons are popular when decorating for wedding receptions. Consider placing large balloon bouquets in corners of the room. Place smaller ones on the gift table, favor table, place card table, and the bride and groom's table.

If your wedding is in the evening, decorating for wedding receptions can include candles of all shapes and sizes. Consider using scented candles for a delightful aromatherapy treatment for your guests. Just be sure to choose a light scent, such as vanilla. Perhaps one candle per table should be scented and the others plain so that the scent is not overwhelming.

Candles make wonderful centerpieces. Place beautiful marbles or rocks in bowls of water with floating candles. Or group pillars of various sizes in threes or fives on tables around the room. Design experts always use odd numbers for displaying candles as it balances out better.

A word of caution with candles---if young children attend your wedding, try to place candles out of their reach. Hopefully, parents will watch their children carefully so no accidents will happen.

Strings of small white Christmas lights can be used to decorate tables, wedding arches, walls, and large plants or potted trees, whether your reception is inside or outdoors.

Some brides use large branches when decorating for wedding receptions. Branches should be bare and fairly thin and long. They can be used plain, behind a drape of tulle for a pretty effect.

Branches can be spraypainted white or metallic and decorated with white lights or small clear Christmas balls.

Cover the branches with a coate of decoupage glue and then sprinkle with glitter. Then put a string of clear or light blue Christmas lights on the branches and it looks beautiful.

Place the branches in a large heavy vase or pot and secure in some florist foam. If it shows from the outside, cover the pot with some pretty cloth.

Use pretty tablecloths, either cloth or vinyl. Sprinkle wedding confetti on each table around the centerpiece.

Use your imagination and come up with creative ways for decorating for wedding receptions.

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