A Firehall Wedding: Making Your Special Day Sizzle

Firehalls may not be the most attractive wedding venues, but they are a practical option for couples on a budget. With the right decorations, a firehall can be transformed into a beautiful and classy wedding venue. This includes using candles or small lamps to create a romantic and cozy feel, and lighting up focal points such as the cake table with uplights or floodlights. Vases filled with flowers and coloured glassware can also add a touch of elegance to the tables. Covering unsightly walls and chairs can also help to create a more elegant atmosphere. Ultimately, with some creativity and effort, a firehall can be a unique and affordable option for a wedding reception.

Lighting: Avoid bright lights, use candles or small lamps on tables, and uplights for focal points

When it comes to lighting, the goal is to create a romantic and cozy atmosphere. Avoid fluorescent or bright lighting, as these can be unflattering and detract from the ambiance you're trying to create. Opt instead for softer, more subtle illumination.

Candles are a great way to achieve this. Scatter them across the tables to cast a warm glow over the room. You could also use small lamps to achieve a similar effect. Just make sure they're not too big, as you don't want to overwhelm the tables or create a cluttered look.

For a touch of drama, consider uplighting. Use focused lights to illuminate specific areas or focal points, such as the cake table. This will not only make the display stand out but also add depth and visual interest to the room. Picture lights or floodlights placed underneath can transform an ordinary table into a stunning showcase.

If you want to go the extra mile, play with different lighting techniques. For example, use tall vases filled with flowers on select tables and light them from below to create striking silhouettes. Just be mindful of placement to avoid blocking your guests' views.

Flowers: Place vases with fresh or silk flowers on tables where people won't be seated

Flowers are an essential part of any wedding, bringing colour and texture to the celebration and allowing the couple to express their personality through their choice of blooms. When decorating a firehall for a wedding, flowers can be used to create a romantic and intimate atmosphere.

One way to incorporate flowers into your firehall wedding is to place vases with fresh or silk flowers on tables where people will not be seated. This will add a touch of elegance to the venue and create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The vases can be tall and striking, filled with fresh flowers such as hydrangeas, peonies, or roses, or silk flowers if your budget is tight. Place these vases on tables such as the gift table or side tables, ensuring they do not block the view of guests seated across the table.

Fresh flowers bring a gorgeous scent to the venue and are a traditional choice for weddings. However, silk flowers have gained popularity as they are more durable and can be arranged well in advance. Silk flowers also allow you to choose any flower type regardless of the season and can be treasured as mementos long after the wedding. They are also a great option if you or your guests have allergies.

When choosing silk flowers, opt for high-quality ones that look like the real thing. You can find silk versions of popular wedding flowers, such as peonies, roses, ranunculus, and hydrangeas. Consider the colour scheme of your wedding and whether you want to make a bold statement with vibrant flowers or keep it classic with white or cream blooms.

Whether you choose fresh or silk flowers, ensure they complement the overall theme and colour palette of your wedding. Flowers are a beautiful way to add a personal touch to your big day and create lasting memories.

Walls: Cover unsightly walls with gossamer to create a mystical palace feel

So, you're planning a fire hall wedding! It's an affordable option, and with the right decorations, you can make the venue magical.

Let's focus on those walls. Covering unsightly walls with gossamer fabric will transform the space and create a mystical palace feel. Here's how to do it:

First, measure the walls to determine how much fabric you'll need. Gossamer fabric is lightweight and sheer, so you'll want to ensure you have enough to cover the entire wall, allowing for some drape and movement. It's better to have too much fabric than not enough.

Next, decide how you want to hang the fabric. One option is to use a curtain rod; you can hang the rod close to the ceiling, and then the gossamer will drape down to the floor, creating a luxurious, romantic look. Alternatively, you can staple the fabric directly to the wall. This method may be more time-consuming, but it will give you a smooth, seamless finish.

If you want to add a creative twist, consider using fabric starch to create removable DIY wallpaper. This technique will allow you to adhere the gossamer to the walls without causing damage and will give you more control over the final look.

To enhance the palace vibe, opt for gossamer in rich colours like royal blue, deep purple, or ruby red. You can also experiment with different textures and patterns to create a unique atmosphere. For example, choose a fabric with a subtle shimmer or one with a sophisticated damask pattern.

Don't forget to complete the look by decorating the rest of the hall. Candles and small lamps will create a romantic and intimate atmosphere, and tall vases filled with flowers will add elegance and sophistication.

With some creative fabric choices and clever decorating, your fire hall wedding will be a memorable and enchanting event.

Seating: Hide ugly chairs with coloured chair covers that match your wedding colours

When it comes to seating, it's important to ensure that any unsightly chairs are covered with coloured chair covers that match your wedding colours. This can make a significant difference in transforming the room from tacky to classy and ensuring your guests are comfortable.

While it may be tempting to skip this step due to budget constraints, it is possible to find affordable options. Consider purchasing basic chair covers, sashes, and tablecloths from websites such as linentablecloths.com, which offers extremely low prices and often has sales. You could also look for second-hand chair covers on websites like Craigslist, eBay, recycledbride, or weddingbee. If you're crafty, you could even make your own chair covers or drapes using inexpensive fabric.

If you're unable to find chair covers in your wedding colours, opt for neutral shades like white or ivory. These colours will give your venue a classic and elegant look. Additionally, consider using sashes or ribbons in your wedding colours to tie around the chairs, adding a pop of colour and a personalised touch.

Remember, the lighting during the reception will likely be low, so the appearance of the chairs may not be as noticeable as you think. However, if you want to ensure a cohesive look, it's worth investing time and effort into finding a solution that aligns with your vision and budget.

By focusing on the potential of the firehall and choosing the right decorations, you can create a beautiful and romantic atmosphere for your special day. Don't be discouraged by the initial appearance of the venue; with some creativity and careful planning, you can transform any space into the site of your dreams.

Glassware: Rent coloured glassware to add a pop of colour to the tables

If you're looking to hold a wedding in a firehall, glassware is a great way to add a pop of colour to the tables. Renting coloured glassware is a unique touch that your guests will definitely notice.

Vintage Oakmoss Goblets

These embossed glasses have a beautiful vintage look with a slight greenish hue. They are a subtle way to add colour to your tabletop design.

Melodia Glassware

The Melodia collection includes amber, blue, green, smoke, and coral-coloured glassware. You can rent 14-ounce water goblets, 9-ounce wine goblets, and 6-ounce flutes in these colours. The Melodia collection also includes smoke-coloured rocks glasses and clear, pink, and sage versions of the Jupiter rocks glass.

Carousel Goblets

These coloured goblets come in blue or green and add texture to your table design.

Debutante and Cancan Goblets

These coloured goblets come in a variety of colours, including amethyst, blue, clear, pink, smoke, amber, and aquamarine.

Jupiter Glasses

Jupiter glasses come in a variety of colours and styles, including rocks glasses in blue, sage, clear, and pink, and hi-ball glasses.

Black Stem Stemware

For a bold statement, consider black-stemmed stemware.

Coloured Glassware from Classical Tents

Classical Tents offers coloured glassware rentals in a variety of colours, including clear, blush, gold, blue, and green.

Frequently asked questions