7 VENUE DECOR TIPS

​One of the biggest challenges when planning your wedding is how to decorate your venue. It helps if you know whether you're looking for the "wow" factor or you want your guests to feel relaxed and chilled in an informal setting. Whatever your image of your wedding reception there will be certain elements to keep in mind, to ensure you and your guests will have a great time, whatever the setting. Here are 7 things to consider:

1 KNOW YOUR VENUE

• ​Does your venue have non-negotiable rules regarding what you can move, change or use?
• ​You may not be allowed to attach things to the walls, change the layout of the furniture or use candles.
• ​Will the temperature in the room get uncomfortable because it lacks adequate ventilation or heating? Does the venue have solutions for this, such as built in air-conditioning or central heating?
• ​Are you able to see how previous couples have decorated the venue to get an idea of what works and what elements you like and don't?

2 KNOW YOUR BUDGET

• ​If your booking is not all-inclusive then you need to decide on the portion of your overall budget that is allocated to decorations for your venue.
• ​Be creative and stick to your budget. If using a florist or wedding planner they will have great ideas to help you get what you want without blowing your budget.
• Plan ahead and be flexible. Think of the overall effect and don't get bogged down in specific things.

3 KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

• Know the number of guests that will be attending your reception.
• This will affect the number of tables and seating.
• Remember there needs to be enough room between tables for your guests to move freely.
• Also how many wedding favours you need to provide and where will they be placed.

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4 KNOW YOUR CATERING METHOD

• ​You may want to have an informal buffet style wedding breakfast but once you have the tables set up will there be room for a long line of serving tables?
• Similarly, will catering staff be able to move in between tables to provide table service?

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5 KNOW YOUR TEAM

• ​Be clear about who will be decorating your venue.
• If using professionals, still ensure everyone is on the same page as to what you expect.
• Check for any last minute changes and have a plan B, just in case of weather changes, suppliers fail to deliver or people don't turn up.
• It's helpful to have  persons handy with a screwdriver, a creative eye, an organiser and physical strength to lift and move heavy things among your team members.
• Ensure you have all you need including ladders, scissors, different types of tapes and adhesives, rubbish bags, extra of everything you need and petty cash to get the little things that you forgot to buy. Appoint someone to be in charge of them.

6 KNOW YOUR THEME/COLOURS

• ​Having a theme or colour scheme makes your decoration planning so much easier and more fun to do.
• It helps you to stay in budget and focus on what is the essentials and the frivolous.
• ​You are able to create a cohesiveness to your whole wedding whether you DIY or employ vendors.
• You can easily combine a few elements in you colour scheme or theme to make it look professional and well put together.

​7 KNOW SOME FAIL SAFE IDEAS

• ​Elements that always look good especially in large numbers and fits most colour schemes and themes includes:
• BALLOONS/PAPER LANTERNS/BUNTING/CANDLES/TEALIGHTS/GREENERY
• CHAIR COVERS/TABLECLOTHS/WREATHS/FISH BOWLS/DECORATED GLASS JARS/CHANDELIERS/VASES/POM POMS.
• ​All the above are easy to incorporate, cost effective and also make great emergency go to elements.
• ​It you have round tables then focus on a central arrangement. This can be tall or low so that guests can see and talk without the decorations getting in the way.
• ​Long tables look great with a central runner which can be made of material or foliage.
• ​Placing the identical arrangements at intervals along the table looks instantly spectacular eg same colour vases.
• ​Tealights in pretty holders grouped around your main table décor and venue will look magical and pretty when the sun goes down, especially used inconjunction with lanterns or candles.