7 Ways to Optimize Your Reception Space
Add some personality to your venue with these creative tips.
Just because your wedding reception venue is a hotel ballroom or a plain industrial space doesn't mean you can't optimize the space to add your own flair to it. Whether you want to add just a touch of your personal style or give your reception space an extreme makeover, here are some great ideas to get you started.
1. Hang Extra Lights
Extra lighting such as lanterns, chandeliers, or café lights hanging from above will change the atmosphere of your space in a dramatic way, making it feel more intimate. Even better if the space has lofty ceilings.
2. Bring the Outdoors In
You can work with your florist to bring in outside elements such as small trees to change the space between dinner tables, or even drape a pergola with greenery and vines. Look for ways to use greenery to set apart your head table from the rest of the tables.
3. Choose Fun Linens
Forget the boring white linens and choose bolder hues for your tablecloths, runners and napkins. The creative blocks of color will be an eye-catching addition to your tables.
4. Bring in lots of Candles
You can’t go wrong by adding more votives than you think you’ll need, and filling the room with a variety of candles. Go for the glow with countless pillar candles, tealights, and luminaries mixed together for an inviting atmosphere.
5. Create Vignettes
A few stylish grouped décor displays (vignettes) will add a unique and charming style to your wedding reception. For instance, you can set up your guest book table with some floral arrangements, family mementos and creatively framed photographs. Even better, bring in pieces of antique furniture, and adorn it with vintage props.
6. Jazz Up Your Glassware
Abandon the typical clear glassware, and replace it with an uncommon shade like red, green, or cobalt blue to add instant personality to your table settings. The subtle splashes of color throughout the room will make a noticeable impact.
7. Hang Chandeliers
Chandeliers made of modern wrought-iron, antique crystal, or even basic chandeliers wrapped with elegant greenery, when strategically hung over a few dinner tables, will help create the elegant ambience you’ve been hoping for.
Note: Make sure you get approval from your wedding planner or venue manager before purchasing any big installations or pieces of décor. You don't want to find out on the day of your wedding that your light fixtures cannot be hung or that your massive swarm of candles is against the fire code.
Content inspired by The Knot
