Creative Ways To Decorate Your Wedding Venue

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but decorating your wedding venue needn't be. There are endless ways to elevate your wedding venue and make it personal to you, from fairy lights to vintage rugs, bunting to balloons, and lanterns to neon signs.

If you're looking to save money, DIY decorations are a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. You can also save costs by choosing a venue that is already decorated or has a nice view, and by opting for second-hand or upcycled items.

Before you start crafting, it's important to consider the style and mood you want for your wedding, your colour palette, and your budget. You should also make sure to measure your venue and plan where you will put your decorations.

If you're stuck for ideas, why not try one of these:

- Floral hoops

- Fairy lights

- Flags

- Paper lanterns

- A personalised ceremony backdrop

- Vintage rugs

- A bicycle welcome sign

- Fairy light trees

- A floral canopy

- Chair sashes

- A floral arch

DIY decorations

DIY Wedding Decorations

Flowers and Greenery

A great way to save money on wedding decorations is to opt for DIY flower arrangements. You can forage flowers, use local greenery, or buy blooms from a local florist or farmer's market. Another option is to order wholesale flowers and enlist the help of family and friends to create bouquets and boutonnieres. You can also add flowers to traditional or modern lanterns, or simply use foliage across the length of trestle tables. If you're feeling extra crafty, you can even make your own floral cake topper.

Centrepieces

Centrepieces can be expensive, but there are plenty of DIY options to choose from. You can create floating centrepieces by placing a few blooms in a plastic terrarium bowl filled with water. Alternatively, you can use potted plants, such as succulents or small terrariums, or even fruit-filled centrepieces with seasonal produce. If you're looking for something simpler, try decorating mason jars with beads, glitter, spray paint, twine, or ribbon, and filling them with blooms.

Lighting

Lighting is an important element of wedding decor, and there are several DIY options to create a magical atmosphere. You can hang fairy lights in garlands or basket-weave patterns above your guests' heads, or drape string lights vertically to create a whimsical scene. For an outdoor wedding, you can also hang lights, lanterns, and paper cutouts from tree branches.

Backdrops

Backdrops can be used to create a focal point at your wedding and make a lasting impression. You can design your own backdrop by using fresh flowers, dried plants, macrame, or gold structures. If you're feeling crafty, you can even create a floral photo booth backdrop by bedecking a wooden canvas with individual flowers.

Personal Touches

Adding personal touches is one of the best parts of DIY wedding decorations. You can display framed photos of the couple as children, or hang childhood photos, nickname signs, or monogrammed blankets from the chairs. Another idea is to create a memory wall with family photos and heirlooms. You can also add a touch of sentiment to your bouquet by pinning a photo of a family member who is no longer with you.

Table Decorations

There are endless possibilities for DIY table decorations. You can use coloured taper candles in gilded candle holders, or mix and match different tones of tinted glassware for an eclectic look. For place settings, you can use bud vases filled with greenery and a single flower stem, or even turn napkins into cutlery holders with a pocket napkin fold. If you're feeling extra creative, you can embroider your initials on napkins or create paper napkin rings with laser-cut paper and butterflies.

Signage

Signage is another area where you can get creative and save money by going the DIY route. You can write wedding signs on a chalkboard, or use your calligraphy skills to write a schedule of wedding activities. For escort cards, you can use gold toy cars with guests' escort cards tied to them, or create paper plane escort cards to tie in your love for travel. You can also make a fun photo booth display with props and polaroid cameras, and have guests add their photos to a keepsake book.

Favours

Wedding favours are a great opportunity to get creative and make something special for your guests. You can gift jars of honey, embroider monogrammed napkins, or even make your own soap and adorn it with a sprig of dried flowers.

Arches and Altars

Arches and altars can be expensive, but there are DIY options to consider. You can create a chuppah or altar from reclaimed goods, such as a vintage door decorated with white fabric, fresh flowers, or greenery. For a more natural look, you can also craft a chuppah or altar from driftwood, or use various sizes of succulents on a moss background.

Miscellaneous

There are endless possibilities for DIY wedding decorations beyond what's listed above. You can decorate wine bottles with custom labels, create a s'mores kit display, paint mason jars, or even make your own wedding cake. The possibilities are endless!

Flowers and foliage

Hanging Flowers and Foliage

Hanging flowers and foliage can transform the way a space looks at your wedding venue, creating a breathtaking floral setting. You can hang them above dining tables, from the ceiling in your ceremony room, or dotted around an outdoor marquee. They can also be used to decorate entrances, backdrops, and dance floors. To create a more intimate ambiance, consider suspending strings of flowers or floral hoops from the ceiling, as seen at Ariana Grande's wedding. For a simple DIY option, create your own hanging flowers using dried blooms, twine or clear string, and a clothes hanger.

Floral Archways

Floral archways can be used to decorate the entrance to your wedding venue or as a backdrop for your ceremony. To make your own, you will need a free-standing arch frame, buckets filled with stones or pebbles for stability, floral foam garlands and blocks, florist test tubes, and a variety of foliage and flowers. Large, leafy branches will act as the foundation of your archway, while trailing pieces of foliage such as ivy and ferns can be used to unite the sides and create a natural look. Add flowers to the arch by cutting up the floral foam garland and attaching individual pieces to the framework. Cluster the flowers in the upper parts of the archway and angle the stems upwards and outwards to mimic the way they grow in nature.

Repurposing Flowers and Foliage

To save money and be more sustainable, you can repurpose your wedding flowers and foliage from the ceremony to the reception. For example, floral pew and aisle ends can be tied to the backs of chairs at the reception, large arrangements can be placed in vases or on stands as centerpieces, and lanterns and glass vases can be mixed with flowers and used as centerpieces. Your bridal party bouquets can also be added to vases on the top table to prevent them from getting damaged or wilting.

Choosing the Right Flowers and Foliage

When choosing flowers and foliage for your wedding, consider the season, your budget, and the amount of time and effort you are willing to put into creating your own arrangements. If you are on a tight budget, opt for less expensive flowers such as carnations, mums, and alstroemeria, and mix them with foliage and filler flowers. Dried flowers are also a popular and cost-effective option. If you are looking for a more luxurious look, choose focal flowers such as garden roses, peonies, orchids, dahlias, and ranunculus. To add texture and interest to your arrangements, incorporate wedding foliage such as eucalyptus, panicum, asparagus fern, and eryngium.

Lighting

Uplighting

Uplighting is a simple and affordable way to make a big impact. It involves placing lights on the floor and pointing them up towards the wall, creating a "wash" look. You can rent LED uplights for a reasonable price, and spacing them 6-12 feet apart will give an even wash effect.

String Lights and Fairy Lights

String lights and fairy lights can add a soft, romantic glow to your wedding venue, especially for outdoor weddings. They can be draped over trees, wrapped around a dance floor or reception table, or used to create a canopy or ceiling of lights, giving the illusion of a starry sky.

Chandeliers

Chandeliers are perfect for creating a glamorous and elegant atmosphere. They can be used indoors or outdoors, and when combined with string lights and candles, they add a touch of sophistication to a rustic or industrial space.

Lanterns

Lanterns provide a warm and cosy glow and are perfect for creating a unique, open-air dinner setting. You can choose lanterns that match your wedding theme or stick to neutral colours.

Candles

Candles are a classic way to add ambiance and romance to your wedding. Taper candles on tables or floating candles can create a soft, intimate glow, while tall pillar candles in glass vases can be used to illuminate outdoor spaces elegantly.

Monogram Projection

You can use image and video projectors to project your names, wedding date, custom patterns, or even a slideshow onto a wall. This adds a personal touch and creates a unique backdrop for photos.

Disco Balls

For a fun and retro touch, consider adding a disco ball to your dance floor. It will reflect light and create a dynamic and exciting atmosphere for your guests to dance the night away!

When planning your wedding lighting, consider your priorities and overall vision. Think about the type of atmosphere you want to create and how lighting can enhance your venue and wedding theme.

With some creativity and careful planning, you can use lighting to transform your wedding venue and create lasting memories.

Table settings

Centrepieces

Centrepieces are a great way to make a statement and bring your personality to the table. You can go for something traditional like flowers or candles, or think outside the box with unique centrepieces like:

• Multi-level candles in vases and votives for a warm, timeless look
• Wooden crates with flowers for a rustic feel
• Bud vases filled with wildflowers and colourful taper candles
• Seasonal touches, like autumnal leaves and berries, or spring blooms
• Elevated arrangements in tall floral centrepieces or structural floral displays
• Potted plants or blossom trees with hanging tea light-filled baubles
• Fruit displays, such as red apples, pears, figs and berries for an autumnal feel, or citrus fruits for summer
• Macramé table runners for a boho vibe
• Disco balls for a glamorous wedding

When it comes to the table settings themselves, there are many ways to get creative:

• Play with layers, using chargers, plates, and dishes of different sizes and materials
• Incorporate unique plates with texture or patterns, such as watercolour designs or floral shapes
• Add a personal touch with favours or keepsakes for each guest, like a natural stone with a card explaining its significance
• Use printed placemats or tablecloths to bring personality to the table
• Include a single bright bloom or a custom cookie at each setting
• Channel a specific location with your colour scheme and tableware, like Mediterranean-inspired blues
• Bring in earth tones, velvet, and dried grasses for a bohemian wedding
• Add a hint of bold colour with patterned fabric napkins
• Go for a moodier aesthetic with dark napkins and deep-hued orchids
• Decorate with natural elements like seashells and illustrated menus for a beachfront wedding
• Accent settings with baby's breath for a touch of life
• Customise with wax seals, monogrammed napkins, or embroidered details

Table Decorations

Don't forget the finishing touches! Here are some ideas for extra flourishes:

• Table numbers or names, such as laser-cut wooden designs
• Table runners, either fabric or garden-style garlands made of flowers and foliage
• Candles or fairy lights to add ambience
• Bows, either on the table or as part of the chair decor
• Personalised napkins that double as wedding favours
• Place cards, perhaps with personalised poems for each guest
• Crockery and glassware in complementary colours or unique shapes

Backdrops

• Floral hoops: Floral hoops have a fairy-tale, ethereal charm and are playful, whimsical and breath-taking when done right. The colours of the green foliage and gold hoop complement each other perfectly, making this a gorgeous backdrop for exchanging your vows.
• Fresh flowers: Designing your own personalised ceremony backdrop is a great way to get creative. There are plenty of ways to do this to match your wedding theme, from using fresh flowers to dried plants.
• Macramé: Macramé backdrops, combined with plants and gold structures, create a striking effect that is easy to style.
• Plants: A backdrop made of plants, macramé and gold structures, like the one from The Hackney, is an eye-catching combination.
• Disco balls: Hanging disco balls outside is unexpected and eye-catching. Hang multiple mirrored globes in a grouping for a unique look.
• Drapery: Draped fabric creates texture and can be used on both tables and chairs.
• Leafy boughs: Strategically place leafy boughs to frame the couple during their vows, then repurpose the backdrop for a photobooth during the reception.
• Vintage door: Transform a vintage door into a chuppah or altar by adding touches like white fabric, fresh flowers or greenery.
• Living wall: Give your ceremony a wow factor with a living wall chuppah. Use various sizes of succulents on a moss background for an earthy feel, or go tropical with large palm fronds and ferns.
• Faux boxwood: Faux boxwood with a few real plants sprinkled in can still look stunning, as can drapery accented with plants.
• Paper flowers: Nothing says romance like stencilling lace onto a bottle or vase and filling it with roses. Wrap each bottle with a piece of lace-printed paper and spray-paint the glass. When you remove the paper, you’ll be left with the lace design.
• Custom mural: Add vibrant colour to your photos by creating a custom mural. Play up your wedding colours, go with a favourite quote, or give a nod to the city where you’re getting married.
• Personalised monogram: Cast a spotlight on the happy couple with a bespoke monogram light feature.

Frequently asked questions