Reception Style on a Shoestring
Your wedding décor is a chance to show off your personal style and create a wonderful atmosphere for you and your guests to celebrate this special day. With a little imagination and creativity, you can create a gorgeous setting without blowing your budget. Here are our top ideas for stylish décor that doesn’t cost the earth…
Candles
Candles add an incredibly romantic feel to your reception tables. Bulk packets of tea lights can be picked up for just a few dollars – make sure they are the long-burning variety. Larger pillar candles and packs of tall candles for chandeliers are also relatively cheap, and they’ll never go out of style. Cluster candles together to make an impact in your venue.
Photo frames
Upgrade your table numbers by mounting them in beautiful frames sourced from your own home, family, or second-hand stores. You can also group together frames to showcase family wedding photos or your journey as a couple, or frame romantic quotes and leave them on each table for your guests to enjoy.
Fabric
It’s amazing how adding fabric can completely change your venue and vibe. Use cost-effective fabric such as tulle for everything from creating a romantic draped ceiling or a luxurious backdrop for the head table to a walkway at the entrance or as table runners; or layer your favourite fabrics on tables for something a little different. Bright colours or patterns look great and create a fun atmosphere, or keep it formal with elegant white or champagne. You could also use fabric to decorate your chairs, make a fabric ceremony arch, or create beautiful coloured garlands.
Natural touches
Take advantage of Mother Nature and let her natural beauty do your decorating! Pebbles, fruit, herbs, driftwood, wildflowers, foliage, moss, petals, wooden signs and stumps look right at home on your reception tables or as garlands around doorways. For an extra special touch, spray acorns, pinecones or leaves with metallic paint.
Pretty paper
If you’re a music or book lover, use sheet music or pages from a classic romance novel to decorate your venue – from a heart-garland ceremony backdrop to confetti cones or bunting. Old books look great stacked on tables under a pretty vase for a rustic or vintage theme.
Ribbon
Visit your nearest craft store and stock up on pretty coloured ribbon, which can be used to create a unique ceremony or head table backdrop; decorate pews, reception chairs or tie napkins at the table. Use your imagination and get creative!
Glitter
No matter what your theme, a little glitter will always add wow factor! Spend a crafty weekend covering bottles of bubbly with glitter, or decorating vases, tin cans, candleholders, table numbers and feathers with sparkles.
Something old
Repurposing old furniture is a wedding trend that’s not going anywhere in a hurry! Drape a wooden ladder in fairy lights as a unique ‘chandelier’, use a rustic door or mirror to display your seating plan, and serve drinks from an ice-filled wheelbarrow, bathtub or dinghy. A vintage desk is the perfect place to sign your register, a dresser makes a beautiful dessert table, and old crates filled with flowers will spruce up a lacklustre corner of any venue. Scour second-hand stores for items such as vintage books and vases, which look great as centrepieces.
Favours
Cute and quirky favours are sure to get your guests talking. They can do double duty as décor, and they don’t have to cost a lot. Dollar stores are a treasure trove of goodies if you use your imagination… we love the idea of attaching a favourite recipe to a cookie cutter or wooden spoon, painting mini animal figurines, packaging seedlings, or giving out plastic sunglasses for a beach wedding.
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