Deborah Chan
Planning a wedding reception can be challenging, especially when it comes to covering unsightly walls. While some suggest embracing the existing features, others recommend creative ways to disguise or decorate them. From draping fabric and hanging decorations to using plywood and wallpaper, there are various methods to transform a space without breaking the bank. This paragraph will explore these ideas and provide inspiration for couples seeking to enhance their wedding venue.
Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | Covering walls can be expensive, so consider cheaper alternatives such as draping, lighting, centrepieces, and natural elements like flowers and plants. |
| Materials | Draping, fabric, tulle, streamers, PVC pipes, plywood, wallpaper, balloons, curtains, lace, mesh, lights, flowers, plants, pictures. |
| Colours | Neutral, olive, yellow, purple, red, orange, cream, taupe, brown, green, white. |
| Themes | Rustic, country, Asian, 1960s kitsch, Old Hollywood, Tuscan. |
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What You'll Learn
Use draping or fabric
Draping or fabric is a versatile and effective way to cover walls for a wedding reception. It can be used to create a luxurious, intimate, and elegant atmosphere, and is a cost-effective way to make a big impact. Here are some ways to use draping or fabric to cover walls:
- Choose the Right Fabric: Select a fabric that complements your wedding colour palette. Most wedding draping is done in neutral tones like white, cream, or ivory, but you can also choose coloured fabric that matches your theme. Consider the style you want to achieve; for a classic or elegant look, opt for sheer, gauzy fabrics like chiffon or organza, while for a modern or rustic style, linen or burlap in neutral tones can be a good choice. Thick fabric in rich colours can also add glamour to the space.
- Wall Draping: Fabric can be used to drape walls, softening the edges of the venue and creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. It can also help to hide any unsightly features or walls that don't match your theme. Consider using floor-to-ceiling panels to section off large spaces and create designated "zones" for different parts of the reception, such as the cocktail hour, dinner, and after-party.
- Entrance Draping: Draping can be used to create a memorable entrance for your guests. Consider using arches or floral installations covered in fabric to create a rustic or elegant entrance. For a modern theme, metallic fabrics or sequined drapes can add a touch of glamour.
- Backdrop Draping: Fabric backdrops can be placed behind important tables, such as the head table or cake table, creating a perfect frame for photos. White or ivory backdrops with embellishments like greenery or floral arrangements can be timeless, while vibrant colours or textured fabrics like velvet or sequins can make a bold statement. Backdrop draping can also be layered with fairy lights, hanging crystals, or mirrors to create a multidimensional effect.
- Ceiling Draping: Draping the ceiling can add elegance and soften the overall look of the room. It can be used to create a "starry night sky" effect when combined with string lights, or to bring a romantic garden vibe when accented with fresh florals and greenery. Ceiling draping can also be used to create the illusion of a ceiling for outdoor weddings, allowing sunshine and starlight to shine through.
- Enhance with Decorative Elements: Combine your draping with other decorative elements to further enhance the look. This can include fairy lights, chandeliers, floral arrangements, or ribbons. These additions will create a cohesive decor style and tie the whole space together.
By using draping or fabric to cover walls, you can transform your wedding reception space into a magical and intimate setting that reflects your personality and style.
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Hang pictures or prints
If you're looking to cover the walls at your wedding reception with pictures or prints, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide on the type of images you want to display. You could opt for traditional wedding portraits or mix it up with landscape pictures taken on your wedding day, capturing the atmosphere and feeling of the celebration. Another idea is to include pictures of family members and family weddings, creating a heartfelt display.
Once you've selected your images, consider the style of display. You could frame individual images and hang them on the wall, creating a cohesive look by using identical frames or a more eclectic feel with mismatched frames. Gallery walls are a popular choice, where you can combine a variety of frame sizes and styles. If you're working with a tight budget, consider affordable options like standard-sized frames from retailers such as Kmart, Ikea, or thrift stores.
To create a bold statement, opt for large-format prints or a grid of multiple framed prints. Ensure you download and print high-resolution images to maintain clarity and detail. You can also experiment with alternative framing options such as acrylic blocks, poster hanger bars, or copper frames for a unique touch.
When it comes to placement, consider hanging your pictures in the living room or above the bed, where they are likely to be noticed. Hallways or entrance ways are also ideal for displaying a series of smaller pictures or gallery walls. Don't be afraid to get creative and hang pictures in unexpected spots, mixing them with art prints and eclectic decor.
If you're looking for a cost-effective solution, consider engineer's prints, which can be easily mounted on foam core and hung with Command Strips. This option allows you to create large displays without breaking the bank.
Remember, covering walls with pictures or prints can be a creative and personal way to decorate your wedding reception venue, adding a touch of your personality to the space.
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Focus on centrepieces
Centrepieces are a key component of wedding reception decor. They are often the focal point of the room and can have the biggest impact on the space. Here are some ideas to make your centrepieces stand out:
Flowers and Greenery
Flowers are a classic choice for centrepieces and can be tailored to suit any wedding theme or colour palette. For a fairytale-inspired wedding, consider a mix of white and green flowers such as peonies, roses, ranunculus, Queen Anne's lace, and greenery. For a more rustic wedding, pair fluffy peonies with roses, ranunculus, sweet pea, hellebore, and greenery for a neutral yet romantic look. If you're looking for something unique, try a floral arrangement inspired by your wedding destination, like tropical flowers with a black tablecloth for a edgy, sharp, and interesting contrast.
Candles
Candles create a romantic and intimate atmosphere. For a minimalist look, alternate clean white tapers with monobloom bud vases, bringing in just enough colour and a warm glow. For something a little more eclectic, add twisted taper candles in varying sizes and scales, pairing them with chunky pillars, slender tapers, and teeny votives.
Personal Touches
Make your centrepieces unique to you by adding personal touches. For example, use table names with special meanings, such as travel destinations or favourite movies. You can also incorporate your favourite flowers or colours to make the decor truly yours.
Lighting
Enhance your centrepieces with lighting to create a dramatic effect. Fairy lights or string lights can add a touch of magic to your tablescape, especially when paired with flowers or candles. Uplighting can also be a great way to draw attention to the centrepieces and create a memorable ambiance.
Creative Containers
Think outside the box when it comes to the vessels for your centrepieces. For a rustic or country theme, use footed vessels or small, eclectic vases that give a "found object" feel. For a glamorous ballroom reception, opt for brass vessels or crystal vases to add a touch of sparkle.
Remember, centrepieces don't have to be extravagant to be effective. Even simple centrepieces can have a huge impact and create a memorable reception that your guests will love.
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Use lighting to draw attention elsewhere
Lighting is a key element in building the design aesthetic of your wedding, enhancing the guest experience, and highlighting the details you've worked so hard on.
If you're looking to draw attention away from the walls, you can use lighting to create focal points elsewhere. Here are some ways to do this:
- Spotlighting is a great way to highlight important areas or elements, such as entrances, cake tables, sweetheart tables, or unique décor pieces. It helps create drama and emphasis, ensuring that these details stand out.
- Gobo lighting is a unique way to personalize your lighting. Custom gobo lights can project patterns, names, or designs onto walls, floors, or ceilings.
- Pin spotting uses focused beams of light to highlight specific items, such as floral arrangements, the wedding cake, or centrepieces.
- Café/bistro lighting adds a cozy and romantic feel to your reception area, perfect for creating an intimate atmosphere.
- String lights, also known as fairy lights or twinkle lights, are a classic choice for creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. They can be draped across ceilings, wrapped around columns, or strung between trees for outdoor weddings.
- Chandeliers add a touch of elegance and grandeur to your reception, whether it's in a ballroom or a rustic barn.
When planning your lighting design, consider the layout and design of your venue, the size of the space, your style and aesthetic, and your budget. You may also want to consult a professional lighting designer or your event designer/wedding florist, as they may have experience with lighting or connections to lighting professionals. They can help you create a magical canopy of light above the dance floor, enhance your wedding cake with sparklers, or create awesome photo ops.
Remember, lighting can make everything look better, so use it to your advantage to draw attention to the details you want your guests to notice!
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Choose a rustic theme
If you're looking to cover the walls at your wedding reception, opting for a rustic theme can be a beautiful choice. Here are some ideas to achieve that charming, rustic look:
Wooden Panels or Backdrops
Wooden panels instantly add a rustic charm to your wedding reception. You can use simple wooden planks, barn doors, or even customise the panels with your names or wedding date. This option is especially fitting for barn or country-themed weddings. Decorate the panels with flowers, lights, or fabric to create a cosy, rustic atmosphere.
Greenery and Foliage
Bring the outdoors in by covering the walls with greenery and foliage, such as ivy and ferns. This option is perfect for a rustic or outdoor-themed wedding, providing a lush and elegant backdrop. Enhance the natural beauty of the greenery with fairy lights or flowers for a magical touch.
Rustic Colours and Fabrics
Choose fabrics in rustic colours such as off-white, cream, brown, and green. Drape these fabrics over the walls or hang them in sections to add texture and warmth to the space. Thrift stores and garage sales can be great places to find affordable fabric options. Layer different fabrics or add fairy lights behind the drapes for a cosy, rustic feel.
Personalised Touches
Incorporate personalised touches to your wall coverings to make them unique to your special day. Use custom-printed backdrops made from vinyl or fabric to showcase your wedding theme, monogram, or photos. You can also display photos of family members and family weddings, adding a heartfelt touch to your rustic theme.
Centrepiece Focus
While covering the walls is one option, another approach is to draw attention away from them by focusing on centrepieces and lighting. This can be achieved by using warm white string lights, candles, and uplighting to create a cosy and intimate atmosphere. By drawing the eye to the centre of the room, the walls will naturally fade into the background.
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Frequently asked questions
Covering walls can be expensive and labour-intensive, so consider drawing attention to the centre of the room with centrepieces, lighting, or other decorations. If you want to cover the walls, you can use draping, which can be rented from most rental companies for very little and comes in lots of colours. You can also try hanging engineers' prints of photos or using PVC piping and tulle.
Draping is a type of wedding decor that involves using fabric to cover parts of the venue, such as the walls, ceiling, or entrance. It can be used to reinforce your colour palette or create contrast.
You can use any colour draping, but it's best to stick with a colour that reads like a punched-up neutral. That way, it will establish a backdrop that makes the other colours in your decor pop.
You can save money by only covering sections of the walls or using draping to create a backdrop for certain areas, such as the entrance. You can also look for fabric at thrift stores or garage sales.
In addition to draping, you can try using PVC piping and tulle to create a flowing wall cover, or hang pom-poms, streamers, and tissue paper pom-poms from the ceiling. You can also use plywood to cover the walls and then paint or wallpaper it for a dramatic effect.
