DIY Wedding Decorations

DIY Wedding Decorations: how hard is it to decorate a room, a hall, ballroom, outside setting, or a marquee? How can you do this on little to no budget at all? What is the secret to the wow factor? What should influence your choice of decorations? How long will it take to make over a wedding reception venue? Do many hands make light work? Well, help is at hand. Read on …………….

Related links:

- DIY table decorations
- DIY flowers

DIY Wedding Decorations: Getting Started

If you have not already chosen a wedding theme click on the following link:- Wedding Themes. Your wedding theme will govern your choice of decorations.

Having appreciated it is necessary to choose a theme, or if not an actual theme a scenario that reflects your personalities, then you need to set about organizing the decorations, again click on the following link: Organising your theme wedding.

DIY Wedding Decorations: How To Achieve The WOW Factor

It does not matter what theme you choose, lighting always plays a very important part in establishing the wow factor. Lighting creates a “mood”. It creates instant “atmosphere” for anyone walking into the wedding venue. Check to see what is available, to create your own:

- spot lights, standard lamps, fairy lights
- light bulbs with low watts, different coloured light bulbs
- down lights with dimmer controls
- candles, tea lights
- candelabras, lanterns, Chinese lanterns, torches, flares
- below floor, ground level, table level, affixed to ceilings, suspended at different levels

Lighting has the benefit of hiding a multitude of sins, creating an opulent and exotic effect. The use of colour and scent also plays an important part.

DIY Wedding Decorations: Flowers

Ivy as a base foliage is extremely versatile (complimenting most flowers), flexible (may be twisted into any shapes) and available in most countries. It comes in plain or variegated forms. For those on a shoestring budget, it is something that is easy to grow in abundance.
Colour keep to the same colour, or within a colour spectrum for maximum effect. To supplement your flowers weave in ribbon of the same colour. That will have the effect of making them look “richer” and more abundant.
Potted Plants/large tubs, containing palms, etc. is an excellent way of filling large spaces. Alternatively collect a number of large receptacles, e.g. tall tin buckets, watering cans, urns, etc. Fill with sand. Cut and display large foliage, e.g. pampas grasses, sacred bamboo, tall grasses – the latter may be sprayed to match your colour theme.

Remember flowers need not just be placed on tables, but can be side mounted on walls, or suspended from ceilings.

DIY Wedding Decorations: Balloons:

Helium balloons are great floating in large bunches to fill large spaces. Prices vary dependent upon the size, shape and colour.
Balloons (the ordinary type) take a while to blow up. Find a friend who has a compressor to assist you. I suggest that this is done at the wedding venue as you may have difficulty transporting them. You will need to find a way to affix them without using drawing pins, staple guns, etc. as most venue owners will not allow the latter. You may use a net to suspend them and they may be released during the celebrations.

DIY Wedding Decorations: Mobiles

- Mobiles are another way of filling large spaces. Forget the 70’s disco ball. Imagine various romantic shapes. These can be made with flexible MDF and covered with tulle, or ribbons, in your colour theme twisting the fabric around the shape. The use of glitter at nighttime is especially effective.
- Cages containing doves or butterflies that may be released.
- Statues – cupid firing his arrow is the most popular. Statues, if you have an artistic streak, may be carved out of large pieces of polystyrene and then sprayed in your colour theme.

DIY Wedding Decorations: Drapes

- Mock curtains can soften and bring a different dimension to a room.
- Curtains may also be used as dividers, or to hide unsightly aspects.
- They may be suspended to create a false ceiling and cosier atmosphere.

If intending to use curtains as draft extractors then a thicker material with backing or double layer of material may be required. Sheets can be dyed to the colour of your theme. They are also lighter for suspending from ceilings. Sarongs and large beach towels may contribute to a beach theme, whilst saris may contribute to an opulent eastern theme. You may also use them to drape and tie over chairs.

DIY Wedding Decorations: Event Planner

One person needs to be in charge of the vision, give direction and make any final choices. They will also need to direct all the “Indians”. To make over a medium sized village/community hall I would allow half a day with a minimum of four people. If doing ceiling work a second person should be in support.

If you are doing your own wedding decorations and if you become stuck, or have a specific question, then email me and I will try to find a solution for you.