How to Decorate Your Wedding Like a Pro in 7 Easy Steps

Beautiful decorations add style, fun and drama to your wedding day. It’s no secret that ceremonies and receptions take place just about anywhere these days including boats, mansions, backyards, marinas, gardens, parks, zoos, barns, restaurants, scenic locations, and churches, etc.

Every location provides opportunities for setting the scene and enhancing a mood with decorating options that run the gamut from elegantly simple to over-the-top elaborate!

We are often asked, “What makes a wedding classy?” or, “How can I make my budget wedding look elegant and expensive?” Now these questions are totally subjective as different people are going to have different thoughts and ideas about what constitutes class and elegance in their minds.

With a little imagination you’ll be amazed at how easy and affordable it is to create a unique day that you and your guests will remember for a lifetime. Here we break this process down and show you how to choose your decorations like a wedding professional.

7 Steps For Choosing Your Wedding Decor

STEP 1: Ask yourselves what style and mood do you both want for your wedding day? Do you lean casual, modern, romantic, bohemian, classic? You may decide you want a traditional evening wedding ceremony with lots of candles, crystals and flowers or you may decide on a more contemporary black-tie affair in a modern museum. What season you marry in also plays an important role. You may want to include a special motif throughout your wedding that means something special to you both.

STEP 2: Choosing a color palette that matches the vibe and style you want is next. See our Pinterest board for tons of wedding color inspiration. You can also visit our article on “Choosing Your Wedding Color Scheme” to learn basic color theory and use a photo to create your own color palette from scratch.

If you are unsure what you like, the best way to find out is to create a free Pinterest page for yourself and start pinning what catches your eye. After you pin about 50 photos, look over them to see if there are any particular styles or trends that keep popping up. You might find that you really like a natural rustic look as opposed to lots of sparkle and vibrant colors or that you are drawn to winter nuptials rather than a fall vibe.

STEP 3: It’s important to know your decorating budget. This gives you an idea of how many decorations you can reasonably incorporate into your wedding without overspending. Remember that careful planning is necessary to avoid costly mistakes and returns. If budget is an issue, choose only two or three wedding decorations or decorating ideas that really add visual impact to key areas of your venue.

This could be a lighting effect, dramatic ceiling decor , stunning wedding cake, a beautiful altar backdrop or grand entrance, etc. Adding something metallic to your designs catches the eye. A little glitter or a sparkling brooch or ribbon can really elevate your designs.

STEP 4: Choose your venue with Steps 1-3 in mind so the location doesn’t compete with the decorating style you want and what you can afford. Many locations are quite beautiful and do not require too much enhancing (a huge cost savings), while others may be a blank slate with little personality, think catering halls and community centers.

If possible, visit your chosen venue and take several photographs of the outside, entrance, ceremony area, reception space, and ceiling heights so you can reference them as you look through your favorite decorating ideas. Take a notebook and a long measuring tape (100ft) and measure entry areas, aisle lengths, reception area dimensions.

STEP 5: Try to imagine where you could use some of your favorite decorating ideas from step 1. It will then become clear which decorations will be successful and which ones are unsuitable for your particular venue. For example, if you really want a dessert station, band or dance floor, where will they go? Is there room?

Many times, the venue manager will have photos of previous wedding setups and can help with determining foot traffic flow so everything runs smoothly. Definitely ask for pictures or a website gallery link!

STEP 6: If your venue does not have a focal point when you walk in, try to create one. Focal points make a lasting and positive first impression. They grab your attention and ground the space. Examples are a gorgeous backdrop, light display, floral installation or stunning cake or head table. The higher and stronger the focal decorations the better!

STEP 7: Trust the process! You may be thinking, “How will I know that everything will look great in the end?” If you follow the guidelines here, there is little chance for error. Take the time to look at your decorating ideas together in one place. Use Pinterest or do it in real life with a mood board (think color swatches and fabric samples).

If something looks out of place, then focus on why that is and correct it before putting down the money. Try to delay making decorating purchases until about 4-6 months before your wedding date. Tastes, trends and budgets can change over long engagement periods!

Day-of Wedding Decorating Tips

Ceremony – In many cases, decorations need to be set up just prior to the ceremony and taken down immediately afterwards. Check your venue contract. Have friends or relatives transport your ceremony decorations such as flowers, pew bows, altar backdrop or candelabras to your reception site, but again, be sure that someone responsible will transport them quickly and set them up artistically at the reception before your guests arrive.

Reception – Likewise, reception tables are often not ready for decoration until an hour or two before dinner. There usually isn’t enough time for members of the wedding party to take on these decorating tasks. If you prefer to have a hand in your own decorating, look for decorations that can be prepared ahead of time and choose a responsible person to arrange them according to your wishes.

Hiring A Professional Wedding Decorator

If you choose to have a florist prepare your arrangements and decorations, be sure to discuss whether they will also set up, decorate and remove the items after the wedding. If you choose a professional decorator they will take care of these tasks as a part of their duties as well as create the decorations themselves.

Professional decorators and florists generally have an inventory of rental items that can be customized to carry out your wedding vision or theme. It’s wise to rent table centerpieces, vases, mirrors, silk and dried flower arrangements, pedestals, archways and plants that you will only use for one day. Similar items can be rented from party rental or wedding specialty stores. Combine these items with beautiful ribbons, tulle fabric, twinkle lights, candles and/or garlands to make beautiful customized wedding decorations.