How to Decorate an Open Beam for a Wedding Ceremony

A barn makes a rustic venue for a wedding ceremony.

A barn provides a rustic atmosphere that is perfect for a country-style wedding. With its rich wood interior and thick exposed beams, a barn offers a warm and intimate setting that can easily be decorated to suit the decorative theme and color scheme of a couple's wedding. An open beam alone can be decorated in a variety of styles with a wide range of materials, helping to transform an ordinary barn into a memorable, magical site for a wedding.

Things You'll Need

• Cloth

Instructions

1. Drape cloth from the beams to soften the look of the raw wood and add some color. For exposed beams that stretch horizontally across the room, either wrap them in cloth or pin the cloth every 3 feet or so, letting the fabric in between sag to create a scalloped look. For open ceiling beams, attach cloth to a lower point and a higher point, which creates a lovely canopy.

2. Hang up strings of lights. For a little light, simply run a string of decorative lights along the edge of the beam. With more than one beam, string the lights back and forth between the beams so that when guests look up, they will feel they're looking at the stars.

3. Hang some paper lanterns from the beam. Paper lanterns lend a lovely glow to the wedding, as well as adding some color and shape to the room.

4. Run some garlands along the beam. A garland of leaves contribute to a rustic theme, while a floral garland softens the look of the space and adds color.

5. Place candles on top of the beam. A display of pillar candles of various heights helps create a warm, romantic environment.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider using battery-operated candles if you're concerned about starting a fire.

References

• Intimate Weddings: Pining for a Barn Reception? Barn Decor Ideas to Inspire
• Fearrington Village: Southern Barn Receptions
• Green Wedding Shoes: Leah & Neal's Barn Wedding
• My Riviera Wedding: Paper Lanterns; For a Stunning Decor and a Truly Magical Moment at your Wedding Reception
• Country Living; I Do, Alfresco; Julia Szabo