Wedding Reception Decoration Ideas

The question on every bride's mind is, "What details really make a difference, and what pitfalls should I avoid when it comes to reception decorations?"

I was lucky enough to work in the delightful world of weddings for 10 years. Some of my favorite wedding reception decorating tips and ideas are below. I hope they'll help you create the wedding reception you've been dreaming of.

Wedding Reception Decoration Ideas and Tips

1. Gather Ideas
When it comes to planning a wedding reception, it's the biggest party most people will ever host. With good reason, brides peruse wedding books, magazines, and wedding decorating websites for months as they gather ideas for reception and party decorations.

This is smart. Gather your ideas. Cut out the photos of things you like. Begin to develop a plan for a reception theme, style, and colors.

2. Avoid Finalizing a Concept for your Theme, Color Scheme, or Flowers before Shopping
Wedding decorating styles come and go in trends. Shopping with trends in mind can save you time and money. Why? Certain colors and themes will be easy to find while others may be practically impossible to hunt down.

Before you fall in love with a fuschia color scheme, shop around and see what's out there. You may find "Tiffany Blue" is this year's popular color and is far less costly than fuschia accessories. You also may also discover new favorite colors and themes that you had not previously thought of!

3. Choose a Theme or Color Scheme and Repeat It
Once you've shopped around, choose a theme or color scheme and repeat it in everything you do.

Your chosen theme should be present in the table decorations, cake, reception table, bar, wedding favors, everything!

When a beautiful theme isn't repeated in all the details, it gets lost. It's difficult to notice any theme at all. Repetition is key to good wedding reception decoration ideas.

Avoid the temptation to purchase wedding decorations outside your theme or color scheme.

With so many beautiful choices out there, there will be temptation to purchase something just because it's "pretty". Sticking will the plan will save money and sanity!

4. Where to Find for Wedding Decorations and Favors
I'm a big believer in shopping online. The variety and quality of products is greater than you'll find in any one store. You save vast amounts of time by not driving from store to store. An added bonus is that the items show up at your door.

When a bride visits a boutique, a limited number of products line the shelves. It may be difficult to find the color or theme you dream of.

I'm a busy girl so I love saving time. But more importantly, as a bride, you want your big day to be special. Unique wedding decorations are simply easier to find online. Why? You can shop by color scheme, theme, or type of product you're looking for.

5. It's All in the Details
Every bride knows that details matter! Guests know it too.

Think of the weddings you've attended. Was there one thing that really stood apart from everything else? Or, was there something missing that you couldn't quite put your finger on?

I've been to weddings where the wedding vows were amazing, or where the cake was so good I wanted to sneak off with a few extra pieces. These were memorable.

But, one detail that I always notice is how the tables are decorated. Guests spend most of their time at the table, so it's not the place to skimp.

The manner in which the table is dressed makes each individual guest feel important. There's something about a hand written place card in a beautiful place card holder that rings of elegance. Take a look at these table decorations from the wedding website: The Last Detail.

The place card holders are just gorgeous. Not only are the cards held in beautiful diamond shaped holders, but the diamond theme is repeated with table crystals. And, again the theme is repeated in the card itself. The "Golden Rule" of repeating the theme is beautifully done here.

6. Homespun Wedding Reception Decoration Ideas
Handmade decorations (if they're tastefully done) can create a warm and memorable experience for your guests.

I recently attended a wedding with a homespun idea for table decorations that was quite unique. The bride and her bridesmaids created individual greeting books for each table.

These greeting books were made of about 10 sheets of 5x7 white paper sandwiched between two sheets of heavy cardstock that served as book covers. The bride printed the story of how she and her husband met on the back cover. On the front cover, she printed the words: "Share your Wedding Greetings with the Bride and Groom."

She used her sewing machine to stitch the binding. Each book had a pen attached. Friends and family filled the books with advice, poems, and personal greetings to the bride and groom.

The books and the greetings that filled them were an absolutely lovely, sentimental wedding reception idea. It was this detail that I most remember about her wedding.

Return from Wedding Reception Decoration Ideas to Bridal Shower Ideas.