| Your wedding is about your public commitment to | | | | you do a walk through and decide what aspects |
| each other, but it is truly the wedding reception | | | | of the building or grounds you want to feature in |
| that is the true celebration of those vows. That is | | | | your decoration plan for your wedding reception |
| where most of your time on your wedding day | | | | and which you will want to bury. That is right. |
| will be spent. As a result, that is where you want | | | | Make use of what is already there for your |
| to spend most of your money when it comes to | | | | decor, not just for your pictures. |
| wedding reception decor. This party after the | | | | First Impressions: Just like in anything else, first |
| ceremony is where, for most people, your | | | | impressions in wedding decorations are everything. |
| wedding theme will come alive. So here are four | | | | As a result, pay special attention to the entryway |
| tips to help you plan the overall decor of your | | | | through which your guests will pass to enter your |
| wedding reception. | | | | wedding reception. For a elegant winter wedding |
| Concept: The old adage applies. If you do not | | | | you might play with evergreen boughs on the |
| know where you are going, you will never know it | | | | door posts with white lights and scented pine |
| when you get there. But it gets worse when you | | | | cones. For a masquerade ball it is perhaps a mask |
| are planning a wedding reception: If you do not | | | | motif would welcome your guests just right. |
| know where you are going, it is usually obvious to | | | | Choose a Focal Point: At this point brides are |
| everyone who cares to look that you did put | | | | often tempted to object, "But my new husband |
| enough thought into your choice of decorations. | | | | and I should be the focal point of the wedding |
| It is simple really; all you have to do is narrow | | | | reception." No, the bride and groom are not |
| your focus. Instead of garden wedding, plan a | | | | decorations, they are the celebrants. Do not |
| butterfly themed garden wedding. Instead of a | | | | confuse the two. |
| traditional white wedding choose a baroque style | | | | To make your theme work you need a focal |
| wedding. This will make every other decision | | | | point. Perhaps it is an ancient oak tree around |
| immensely easier and save you from wasting | | | | which your reception in the park will be built. |
| money on decorative items that detract from the | | | | Perhaps it is a painting that you will later hang in |
| theme you are trying to achieve. | | | | your living room. Maybe it is a four piece string |
| Location: Ideally you have not yet chosen your | | | | ensemble. Most commonly, it is the wedding cake |
| location for your wedding reception and now that | | | | or the ice sculpture. |
| you have your specific concept in mind you can | | | | Whatever focal point you choose for your decor |
| start looking for a location that will carry your | | | | it will probably be your most expensive decorative |
| theme a long ways. By doing this you can | | | | item in your wedding reception. That's okay |
| potentially save yourself a lot of money because | | | | though. A well chosen focal point can save you |
| you can work with, instead of against, the natural | | | | wasting a lot of money on knick-knack |
| decor of your wedding venue. | | | | decorations for your wedding reception. Moreover, |
| If you have already booked your venue, do not | | | | like the painting, the wedding cake, or the |
| despair. You can work with your choice. You just | | | | ensemble some focal points can serve multiple |
| have to ask yourself what your choice will allow. | | | | purposes. |
| This might mean tweaking your choice of themes. | | | | Like anything, there is always more to be done, |
| For example, it would take a huge amount of | | | | but resist the urge to go out and try to take |
| work to pull off a white taffeta wedding in the | | | | care of the details until these, the big picture, |
| psychedelic ballroom! | | | | aspects of your wedding reception decor have |
| Once you have your location then you need to | | | | been properly addressed. |