Wedding Reception Decorations
Wedding reception decorations are a vital part of a wedding. Decorations help to turn a boring meeting room or reception hall into a location where the happy couple and their guests can dance, eat, and let loose after the ceremony. Whether you are planning a large wedding with hundreds of guests or a small, intimate ceremony, having the right wedding reception decorations can make a huge difference.
Popular Reception Decorations
Think about all the weddings you have attended in your life. Chances are each couple had something different in terms of decorations at their reception. More formal receptions might have a champagne or chocolate fountain or even an ice sculpture set up in the corner. Others might choose to decorate the reception hall to reflect the formality of the meal. There might be real linen tablecloths and napkins, with candles placed in the center of one or more long tables.
Of course, some couples have a less formal reception. At an informal reception, the tables may be lined with plastic tablecloths that still look nice. Rather than fine china, you might use paper plates and plastic cutlery. At a less formal reception, the couple might choose wedding decoration supplies that include balloons and streamers. It all depends on the formality of the wedding and the budget of the bride and groom. Even couples with a strict budget can still have a reception that looks nice.
Some of the most popular reception decorations include candles or flower centerpieces and archways of balloons. Another popular wedding reception decoration includes streamers hung from the rafters, the backs of chairs, and along the edge of the tables. The great thing about wedding reception decorations is that you can do as much or as little as you like.
What Decorations Should You Consider
Consider the formality of your wedding. Do you want your reception to be as formal as the ceremony, or are you looking for a more relaxed atmosphere? Will there be a full meal, or will your guests be eating buffet style? How about the entertainment? Will you need wedding dance floor decorations? All these questions will play some role in choosing the right decorations for the reception.
Traditional decorations are great. They are easy to locate, relatively inexpensive, and can turn that boring reception hall into a place where your guests feel welcome. There are many things you should consider before purchasing wedding decoration supplies. The first and foremost item to consider is the size of the reception hall in relation to the number of guests. If you have a large hall, but a small guest list, chances are you will need more wedding decoration supplies to make the space feel smaller. On the other hand, if the venue is smaller, you might be able to cut down on the decorations.
Secondly, consider your budget and the amount of time you have to plan. If you don’t have the money to purchase everything you want for the reception, consider renting from a party supply company. For a fraction of the price of what you would pay to purchase the decorations, you can rent. Most of the time, rental companies will also deliver and set up the decorations for a small additional fee. If you are going the less formal route, consider making your own table centerpieces. Check out bridal or home magazines for simple and easy wedding reception decoration ideas.
Finally, think about entertainment. If you are having a DJ or a live band, you will want a dance floor. A disco ball is a great dance floor decoration. You won’t have to worry about your guests tripping and hurting themselves. Of course, for a little fun you could always throw some balloons on the dance floor.
A bride should never purchase wedding reception decorations until the reception hall has been booked. It’s easy to be carried away, especially for the newly engaged, but waiting until you know the size of the location will save time and trouble too.
What To Look Out For
When you are first engaged, it’s easy to be carried away. Everywhere you look you see wedding reception decoration ideas. Before you know it you have a whole closet full of stuff. The problem with this comes if you haven’t booked your reception location yet. You could over buy and have to return a bunch of stuff, or under buy and not be able to locate more of the same items.
Another thing to be on the lookout for is any fine print in your agreement to use the facility for your reception. Depending on the location of the reception and these rules, you may have to forego some of your decorations. A church reception hall might not allow a DJ to set up their light show, or a public location at a hotel might not let you put decorations on the walls.
If you are renting your wedding reception decorations from a party supplier, make sure to have a written agreement. The agreement should list the location and date of the reception, the items being rented, and the price for the rental. Not having an agreement could get you in trouble down the line.
Where To Find More Information
There are hundreds of websites that will give you information about planning your wedding reception and picking the perfect wedding decoration supplies. The truth is that the best help a bride will ever get is from her friends. If you have friends that have recently tied the knot, use that to your advantage. They will know which rental companies are the best, where to find wedding reception decoration ideas, and more importantly, they will be there to help you keep from losing your mind or forgetting something as the big day gets closer.
It doesn’t matter if you choose to have a reception with a four course meal or a pot luck style dinner; the important thing is that you and your guests have a great time.
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