Lyla Dejesus
Wedding decorations are a fun way to showcase your personality and style as a couple. From florists to event designers, there are many professionals who can help you bring your wedding vision to life. However, if you're planning a DIY wedding, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, try to do a dry run of your decor setup beforehand, and consider enlisting the help of friends or family who can follow your instructions to the letter. On the day of your wedding, remember to focus on the details that will be at eye level for your guests, such as unique linens, tabletop rentals, and centrepieces. Finally, don't forget to enjoy the process and embrace the magic of transforming a space into a celebration of your love!
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What You'll Learn
Planning and preparation
Decide on a Vision and Theme
Firstly, determine your wedding's overall vision and theme. Consider your personal style and tastes as a couple. Do you want a rustic, elegant, or glamorous aesthetic? Are there specific colours or themes you wish to incorporate? Defining a clear vision will guide your decorative choices.
Create a Checklist
Make a comprehensive checklist of all the decorations you require. This includes everything from table settings and centrepieces to lighting, backdrops, and signage. Prioritize the must-haves and allocate your budget accordingly.
Choose DIY or Professionals
Decide whether you will set up the decorations yourself or enlist professionals. Wedding stylists, florists, and event designers can transform your vision into reality, and they often have access to exclusive suppliers. However, DIY projects can add a unique, personal touch to your wedding. Assess your time, budget, and creativity to make an informed decision.
Prepare in Advance
If you opt for DIY decorations, prepare as much as possible in advance. Craft centrepieces, assemble signage, and create any personalized items ahead of time. This will reduce stress on the day of the wedding.
Conduct a Trial Run
Whether you're using professionals or doing it yourself, conduct a trial run of your decorations. Set up a sample table with all the elements, including centrepieces, place settings, and decorations. Take photos of the desired outcome for each table or decorative element. This will ensure a quick and efficient setup on the actual day.
Delegate Tasks
Enlist the help of your wedding party, family, or friends to set up the decorations. Choose reliable individuals who will follow your instructions carefully. Create clear step-by-step instructions and assign specific tasks to each person, ensuring they are aware of your expectations.
Manage Time Realistically
Wedding decoration setup often takes longer than expected, so manage your time realistically. Double or even triple the time you think setup will take, especially if you have a tight turnaround with the venue or need to make significant changes to the room.
Remember, planning and preparation are crucial to ensuring a smooth and stress-free decoration setup for your wedding and reception.
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Hiring professionals
If you are using your own decorations, you can hire an event service or a day-of coordinator (DOC) to set up and take down your decorations. They will set up the chairs, tables, centrepieces, and ceremony arch, and may also help with serving food and drinks. The cost of hiring a DOC can vary, but it is generally considered to be worth it to avoid the stress of setting up and taking down decorations yourself.
If you are DIYing your wedding, it is important to have a plan of action and to be realistic about the work required. You may need to enlist the help of friends and family, but be mindful that they may not be as reliable as professionals and may have their own commitments. If you are using tents and lighting, it is recommended to hire a professional as it can be time-consuming and challenging to set up and decorate a tent by yourself.
Before deciding who will decorate your wedding venue, carefully consider your budget and aesthetics. If you have a tight turnaround with your venue or ambitious décor plans, it is generally recommended to hire a professional. No matter who decorates the venue, ensure that they understand your vision for your wedding day and are instructed to execute it properly.
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DIY decorations
Centrepieces and Table Decorations
Centrepieces don't always have to be in a vase. For a natural, rustic look, use wooden planters to hold flowers, plants, or greenery. Wine bottles can also be used as centrepieces, decorated with ribbons, flowers, and plastic grape clusters. If you're looking for something simpler, a collection of taper candles in various colours and candle holders can make a beautiful tablescape.
Escort Cards
Get creative with your escort cards to add a unique touch to your wedding. One idea is to tie escort cards to gold spray-painted toy cars, with a sign that says "Find Your Parking Spot Here". This can also double as a fun distraction for any children at the reception. Alternatively, hang copper mugs with the escort cards attached from a pegboard that matches your wedding colours. Paper airplanes are another fun idea, especially if you and your partner love to travel.
Backdrops and Lighting
A large, colourful yarn backdrop will add a bohemian touch and brighten up any room. For a romantic and functional focal point, create a tent made of string lights. Dramatic draping is also a trend that can transform your venue.
Favours and Gifts
Wedding favours are a great opportunity to get crafty. Bake cookies, fill glass vials with locally-sourced olive oil, or gift jars of honey and jams. Custom blankets are another thoughtful idea for a cosy reception.
Other Tips
- Ask your friends and family to help with the setup, especially if you're on a small budget.
- Prepare as much as possible in advance, and create reference photos or tapes to help your setup crew.
- If you can afford it, consider hiring a coordinator or someone specifically to put up the decorations.
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Tabletop decor
Wedding tabletop decor is an important aspect of the wedding reception, often at the heart of any wedding decoration scheme. It lends itself as a blank canvas for designers to style and bring a couple's vision to life. Here are some ideas and instructions for setting up wedding tabletop decor:
Planning and Preparation:
- Create a vision: Decide on a theme or colour palette that reflects your style and personality. This could be a general idea like "Autumn in New York", a specific ambiance like "enchanted forest", or even a book like "The Great Gatsby".
- DIY or hire professionals: You can either plan and execute the decor yourself or hire professionals like wedding planners, event designers, lighting technicians, florists, or rental specialists who can turn your vision into reality.
- Prepare decor items: Source or create the necessary decor items, such as centrepieces, table numbers, place cards, table runners, floral arrangements, candles, etc.
- Set up a sample table: If you're handling the decor yourself, set up a sample table to visualize the final look. Take photos for reference and put decor items in clear plastic boxes, with a photo of the desired arrangement attached. This will make setup on the day easier and ensure consistency across tables.
- Assign responsibilities: If you have a wedding party or friends helping, assign specific tasks and responsibilities to ensure everything gets done.
- Flowers and foliage: Flowers are a popular choice for tabletop decor and can be tailored to your colour palette and theme. Consider classic options like roses, orchids, and hydrangeas, or unique blooms for a memorable impact.
- Centrepieces: Centrepieces can vary from overflowing floral arrangements to more subtle displays. For a rustic look, consider using farm tables with a greenery runner, or for a glamorous touch, add velvet linens and gold accents.
- Table settings: Personalize place settings with thoughtful details such as handwritten thank-you letters or photographs for each guest.
- Hanging decor: Minimize clutter on the tables by hanging decor overhead. This could include items like draped fabric, lanterns, or marquee letters that spell out a meaningful word.
- Mood lighting: Use lighting to enhance the atmosphere, especially if you have an all-white reception or mirrored tabletops, which provide a perfect canvas for lighting effects.
- Colour schemes: Experiment with colour to create a unique look. Try a neutral palette with a pop of colour, a minimalist black and white theme, or a luxurious gold-accented setup.
Remember, the key is to personalize your tabletop decor to reflect your style and the overall wedding theme. Whether you DIY or hire professionals, careful planning and preparation will ensure a smooth setup process and a beautiful reception that your guests will admire.
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Venue decor
The first step in planning your venue decor is deciding who will be responsible for setting up the decorations. You can enlist the help of a professional wedding decorator or day-of coordinator, or you can ask trusted family and friends to help you with the setup. If you opt for the latter, make sure to give them a clear picture of when things need to be set up and cleaned up at the end of the event.
The next step is to decide on the type of wedding you want to have and ensure that your vision matches the experience of the designer or decorator you are considering. If you are decorating the venue yourself, you can undertake some simple wedding setup designs with DIY projects. However, most wedding reception ideas are better executed by professionals.
When it comes to the actual decorations, there are many options to choose from, depending on the type of venue you have selected. If your wedding is outdoors, you can decorate the entrance with potted trees, plants, and oversized flower arrangements. You can also add string lights, colourful lights, projections, and gobos to create a magical atmosphere. For a rustic wedding, dried flower accents and natural elements are a popular choice.
For indoor weddings, decorative lighting can instantly transform a space. Uplighting, for example, can embellish walls or columns without the need for additional decor. Tall centerpieces and large tables will make a statement in banquet halls and ballrooms with high ceilings and a lot of floor space. Vignettes, or grouped decor displays, can also be created throughout the reception space to guide guests and create a cohesive look. These can include a signature cocktail bar, a dessert table, a gift table, or a lounge area.
Don't forget to pay attention to the small details, such as place settings and table decor, which can be an extension of your wedding style. You can also add personal touches, such as marquee letters or a monogrammed dance floor, to make your venue decor unique and memorable.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to start setting up the wedding venue at least two days before the wedding. This will be time-consuming and stressful, so it is advised to hire a professional or enlist the help of friends and family.
Here are some simple wedding decoration ideas:
- Table cloths, candles, and a simple centerpiece
- Linens, table runners, and place settings
- Flowers, balloons, paper lanterns, and string lights
- Lounge area with velvet furniture
- Marquee letters
- Draping
- Memory table
Here are some unique wedding decoration ideas:
- Custom backdrops
- Printed tent fabrics
- Disco balls
- Rustic farm tables with a greenery runner
- Whimsical wildflowers and wood chargers
- Burnt orange colour palette
- Neon signs
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- The reception is where guests will spend most of their time, so allocate most of the wedding decoration budget to it.
- Focus on tabletop decor and place settings.
- If you are doing DIY decorations, try to do a dry run beforehand to see how it will look.
- Enlist the help of professionals such as wedding stylists, day-of planners, and florists.
