1. Rent Colored Glassware...Instead of pouring your entire reception decor budget into the centerpieces, consider using part of that budget to rent colored glassware -- it'll make your tables pop in an instant.
2. Pick Up Patterned Pillows...If you're lucky enough to have a reception space with a lounge area, or you just happened to have a space that needs sprucing up, get yourselves to a housewares department for some pillows. Find them on sale (IKEA-style) and cover them with your favorite patterned fabric.
3. Create a Seating Board...Instead of the old escort-card table idea, create a bulletin board of seating assignments and display it near the entrance of the reception space. Bonus: You won't have guests squinting at cursive handwriting trying to decipher their table name.
4. Add Tissue-Paper Pom-Poms...Pom-poms, strung inside your tent, hung from chairs, or even tucked into vases, are a fun (cheap!) way to give your space a dash of color. Of course, this look is perfect for a laid-back outdoor wedding; but we've seen it work for more formal weddings too (with, for example, eggplant-colored tissue-paper pom-poms clustered together to create eye-catching decor).
5. Make a Chalkboard Backdrop...Chalkboards in a photo booth are fun, but this couple ran with the idea in a completely different way, using a large chalkboard as reception backdrop. Cool extra: Supply guests with glow-in-the-dark chalk.
6. Use Table Lamps...Create height on those tables using table lamps. Tip: You can skip flowers altogether if you want, but surrounding the lamps with flowers is an easy way to hide cords!
7. Wrap the Napkins...Just because you're having a formal wedding doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with your decor. Add a sophisticated tartan wrap to a formal, white-and-gold place setting to make a dramatic statement.
8. Drape the Ceilings...It's amazing what a little fabric can do: Use a bright color, like yellow, if you're after a fun vibe, or keep it formal and elegant with white or champagne fabric. Bonus: Take this route and you can go light on the table decor and still get the same decked-out reception look.
9. Order Calligraphed Menus...Menus -- not the cookie-cutter type that you type up and print out, but ones that have been carefully crafted and handwritten -- are an easy reception idea. Hire a calligrapher to create a drink menu for the bar or to display the entire dinner menu at each table. Budget idea: Hire a student artist from your local college fine art department to do the job.
10. Use a Table Runner That Pops
In a modern, minimalist space, come up with a killer table decor plan and execute it using a runner and simple flowers like this couple did here with black-and-white damask fabric and bright-red dahlias.
11. Reshape Your Table Numbers...Instead of focusing on crazy fonts and colors and all those creative table-name ideas, change the shape of your table numbers. Fun ideas include birds, flowers, starbursts, or any other shape that fits your reception vibe.
12. Make a Family Photo Wall...For an easy conversation starter, create a wall of family wedding photos. Devote a row to his family, one to yours, or just mix them all up. Alternative idea: Showcase your (new!) family tree.
13. Hang (a Ton of) Paper Lanterns...Yeah, yeah, we know -- paper lanterns are nothing new. But multiply the number of lanterns you usually see hanging in a reception space by 100, and it's a totally different story.
