How to Decorate a Wedding Reception on the Cheap
Decorations --- namely, flower arrangements --- are typically the most costly part of the wedding reception after catering. And although dramatic table displays will wow your guests for a few minutes, they won't be what your friends will remember about your special day for years to come. So don't be afraid to get creative when decorating the reception hall --- you can create a beautiful atmosphere on a budget.
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Instructions
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Make simple centerpieces using long twigs or branches (3 to 4 feet high). Cut the twigs and remove the leaves. Spray paint the twigs in your chosen color and place in a vase with fruit or decorative rocks. Hang beads or crystals on the twigs for added flair. Since you can collect fallen twigs and decorative rocks, this is a low-cost alternative to huge bunches of fresh flowers.
Collected branches can be gathered together to make a wonderful "wish tree" on which guests hang well wishes for the bride and groom. You could use this centerpiece to decorate the table that holds place cards or the guest book. Alternatively, you could hang the place cards from the tree.
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Decorate the room with framed photos; this is an underutilized decor trick that is a great conversation starter. Place several pictures of the couple close to the wedding cake, or a large photo of the couple at the entrance to the hall. You can use photos as centerpieces, too. For variety, include pictures of the couple's parents on their wedding day, and those of any other relatives and friends --- vintage photos make any room look elegant.
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Create centerpieces with fruit or artificial flowers instead of fresh flowers. Small citrus fruits, including cut or whole lemons or limes and satsuma oranges, work very well, but you can be as creative and whimsical as you wish. Just place the fruits in simple vases; to get them to stay underwater, fill the vase with water first, then add the fruit. The same technique works for artificial flowers --- when submerged in water, they look less fake. You can also combine fruits and artificial flowers for visual balance.
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Add plenty of lighting to the reception hall. Candles, rope lights or Christmas lights are reasonably priced, but they add plenty of sparkle. Wrap rope lights or Christmas lights in tulle and hang them from the ceiling or string them along buffet tables. Group different-sized candles together to create centerpieces.
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Tips & Warnings
Your wedding reception decoration ideas can be out of the ordinary. This is your day, and you don't have to conform to tradition. You can make centerpieces out of collectibles you already own --- think about the interests and hobbies you share with your future spouse and create a theme around one of those, or around an important moment from your courtship.
References
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