Wedding Decorating on a Budget

Every bride dreams of an elegant wedding reception in a beautifully decorated hall. But after paying for food, drink, and cake, there may not be much left in your reception budget for over-the-top decorations. Or is there? With a bit of creativity and effort, these inexpensive hall decorating ideas can provide the setting you want, at a price that fits your budget.

Hall Decorating Idea No. 1 – Save on Flowers
We’ve all seen photos of gorgeous hall decorations including large flower arrangements on every table. While this is easy and beautiful, it can also be extraordinarily expensive! If you want the look of flowers on a modest reception budget, try these great tips. Plants and greenery are very elegant and festive, yet cost much less than blooms. Try filling your tables with greenery and adding just a few blossoms as accents. Or, you could purchase your flowers in bulk (not arranged), arrange them yourself in inexpensive containers from a craft store, and pocket the savings. Another idea is to buy loose petals in bulk, and sprinkle them casually over the tables, instead of using an arrangement.

Hall Decorating Idea No. 2 — Dim the Lights
It’s hard to create an atmosphere of elegance and romance if your reception hall is lit with glaring fluorescent lights. If you hall has dimmers on the lights, ask to have them dimmed after your meal is served. You can enhance this effect by lighting candles on all of the tables and stringing as many white holiday lights as possible around the room. Holiday lights are fairly inexpensive, and you may even be able to find them at a steep discount after the holidays are over.

Hall Decorating Idea No. 3 — It’s Not Just About Centerpieces
You may assume that you need large, elaborate centerpieces as your main hall decorations. But if these just aren’t feasible on your reception budget, here are a few tricks that can make your tables shine. Ask your caterer or hall manager if there are any options other than white for your table linens. Color can go a long way toward making your hall feel festive and special. Consider using two tablecloths on each table in complementary colors, tying up the top cloth with ribbons to reveal the other cloth below. Add coordinating napkins folded into an elegant shape for even more interest. Another option is to ask your caterer or hall manager to have the tables set before the reception starts. Flatware, china, and crystal will give off plenty of sparkle and can make up for smaller decorations and centerpieces.

By using your own creativity and following these inexpensive hall decorating ideas, your space can be unique and beautiful – without wrecking your reception budget.