Wedding Reception Decorations

Choosing Your Wedding Reception Decorations

The type of wedding reception decorations you choose will depend on factors such as your wedding colors, the time of year you’re getting married, your reception location, and your personal sense of style. However, the following are some options you may wish to consider:

• Flowers: Although live floral arrangements are more common, dried flowers and silk flowers are becoming more popular.
• Balloons: Accenting your tables with balloon bouquets provides an affordable, yet contemporary look. Scatter some glitter or confetti around the base for added sparkle.
• Candles: Remember to test the burning time of any candles you choose to make sure they’ll last through your party. Tiny votives are fine for a short reception, but a dance that lasts all night will probably require taller pillar candles.
• White lights: If your reception location won’t allow candles due to concerns about open flames, use strands of white lights to achieve a similar effect.
• Ribbon bows: Available in many different colors and styles, ribbon bows add romance to your wedding reception décor.
• Mirrored trays: Since they reflect light, mirrored trays add ambience and help make small centerpieces seem larger.
• Ice sculptures: Although they can be pricey, ice sculptures can be elegant and sophisticated additions to a more formal wedding reception.

If possible, use a digital camera to take photos of the reception site before you go shopping for decorations. The photos will help refresh your memory and serve as a helpful visual aid for the florist, decorator, or wedding planner.

Decorating on a Budget

As the cost of the average wedding continues to rise, budget-savvy couples are becoming more creative in choosing their wedding reception decorations. If you’re trying to cut costs, remember the following tips:

• Instead of ordering lots of small decorations, choose just two or three larger decorations for maximum visual impact.
• Have someone transport your pew bows, candelabras, and other ceremony decorations to the reception site to be used again.
• Use your bouquet and your bridesmaid’s flowers to help decorate the tables.
• Ask crafty friends and family members to help you create some of your own wedding reception decorations. Show them pictures of decorations you like and ask for their own ideas.
• If your reception will be in a hotel lobby or another location that’s already nicely decorated, you might not need many wedding reception decorations after all. If your wedding is near Christmas or another major holiday, ask about the site’s seasonal decorations.
• Rent items whenever possible. Florists will generally allow you to rent vases, pedestals, and dried or silk arrangements. Party supply stores also have a wide variety of rental items.
• Don’t limit your search for decorations to the wedding section of your party supply store. Craft stores, dollar stores, and discount stores can be great sources of cheap balloons, candles, ribbon bows, and other wedding reception decorations.
• Save your receipts! They’ll help you keep an accurate record of what you’re spending and make it easier to return any unused decorations.

Related Wedding Articles

• Planning a Wedding Reception
• Wedding Reception Ideas
• Cheap Wedding Decoration Ideas
• Holiday Wedding Decorations
• Christmas Wedding Decorations