How To Decorate For A Wedding: Important Components To Consider

There are some very important components to consider when determining how to decorate for a wedding. First and foremost is the budget. Once that has been established, then choose a theme, locations for the ceremony and reception and, of course, a date. Generally speaking, the timeframe for planning a wedding is a minimum of 9-12 months. During that period, you can learn how to decorate for a wedding.

Establishing a Realistic Budget

With input from both of you and your family members, it is important to determine how much you’re able to contribute to the celebration. If you’re older or already have an established household, then you may wish to take on the entire expense. Under all circumstances, it is important to keep the costs under control. Remember, the more elaborate the wedding, the more costly it will be. As reported by several sources, the cost for a wedding with 200 guests is approximately $17,000! See our other article for more information on How To Prioritize Your Wedding Decoration Budget.

Choosing a Date

The date you select for your wedding may well have a bearing on its theme. For example, a date in December may lend itself to Christmas decorations and colors, while a date in July may allow you to choose a tropical theme with very bright, festive and colorful decorations.

The Ceremony and Reception

Will the ceremony be held at a religious site (church, synagogue, etc.), or will it take place in a civil setting (courthouse, private home, etc.)? The location for the event will have a definite bearing on how you will decorate. If the wedding is held inside church and if the reception will be held there too, then it will be very easy to carry the colors and style together throughout. However, if the reception is held at a separate venue, at a restaurant for example, then decorating becomes somewhat more complicated.

Depending on the number of guests, what type of seating plan will you choose? If you have flowers, will they be placed on each table or will there be a few, single large arrangements? If you have favors for each guest, will they be given out upon arrival at the reception, or will they be located next to the place settings on the tables. When you depart for your honeymoon, will your guests blow bubbles to send you off (rice isn’t in favor anymore)?

Sometimes couples choose rather unique themes for their weddings. For example, a local couple was married by a judge aboard a riverboat. They addressed how to decorate for a wedding of this type by finding appropriate costumes to wear once the ceremony (traditional wedding gown and tux) was over. The riverboat theme was carried out during the reception and the festivities ended when the couple departed for their honeymoon in a motorized dinghy. Great fun!

Picking a Theme

If you’re planning to have a theme for your wedding, there a thousands to choose from. Be sure to pick a theme that relates to something you both like. Some examples, usually with easy-to-find decorations, include: Hawaiian Luau, Valentine’s Day, Summer Solstice, Winter Wonderland, Mexican Fiesta, or something related to your hobbies. Also consider themes that reflect on your heritage.

Once you’ve settled on a theme, begin looking for items that reflect on your choice. For example, if you’ve chosen an Italian theme, you may want to find small Italian flags to give out as favors.

Keeping it all Relevant

In deciding how to decorate for a wedding or, more specifically, for your wedding, there are several important elements to consider: Selecting a date, finding a location, choosing a theme and setting a realistic budget. Give yourselves plenty of time to plan and make arrangements. Be flexible, in case something doesn’t work out. Stay calm, relax and have fun!

About the Author

Valeria Vegas has a Masters degree in Writing and regularly writes for a local newspaper. She also teaches writing workshops in San Francisco and has taught high school English. As a freelance job, she corrects essays for the SAT and ACT through Pearson scoring as well as write copy for websites. She is the Associate Editor of a literary magazine, edit manuscripts for Behler publications, and works for authors independently. One of her stories was named Notable Story of 2004 by Million Writers.