The first step in decorating for your reception is to become familiar with the reception location.  Tour the site with a friend or family member who has good decorating skills. Then follow these helpful hints to ensure your decorating success:

• If the reception will be held outdoors, utilize nature's decorations to keep harmony with the environment.

• A garden setting will appear cluttered if you add too many streamers and balloons. Simply enhance the natural beauty of flowers and foliage by adding bits of ribbon and lace to blow in the breeze.

• If you are using a tent on a large, open lawn, keep your decorations simple in an effort to enhance its positive aspects. Use shrubs or baskets of wild flowers at entrances, mimicked by smaller versions on tables. Drape ribbons and lace from tent poles and ropes, so they fly on the breeze.

• Lighting can add dramatically to your decor. Use small white lights at entrances and around the inner ceiling of the tent for soft romantic lighting. These also work well indoors and can be weaved with garland or greenery for a delightful effect.

• Many brides want their indoor reception to be very festive with streamers, balloons, and other nifty decorations. We suggest you limit these arrays to entrances, the gift table, and other areas of little festivity. Guests love to drape streamers over their shoulders while on the dance floor, and balloons fast become volleyballs bouncing off of tables and your guests' heads

• An indoor reception can be decorated with nature just as easily as outdoors.  Simply bring your flowers from the ceremony to place on the head table and at key locations throughout the room. Ribbons and lace also work well indoors and will flutter on the breeze generated by guest activity.

• Your indoor reception can be enhanced by placing potpourri on your tables to add color while providing a pleasant aroma.  Candles on tables add a lovely romantic feeling, especially when circled by flowers.

• When meeting with your musician, discuss what lighting they will use while playing. Many bands and disc jockeys use bright, colored lights and strobes, which may not be appealing to you.

Wedding Receptions Index