Décor Makes the Reception

By: Carol B. Cahall, The Main Event, LLC

as seen in the Frederick News Post January 31, 2005

Of the many decisions that must be made to put together a successful wedding, nothing has a greater impact on the mood and overall experience than the choice of décor for the reception.  Reception décor holds a unique place in the wedding planning challenge as it sets the tone for the entire event.  Unfortunately, it is often left until late in the wedding planning process, or allowed to occur haphazardly.  While the location of your reception often dictates the theme and extent of décor that is required, every reception venue requires some level of décor to achieve the perfect ambiance and make the wedding experience personal.  A wedding reception should be as unique and wonderful as your marriage.

There are four major types of décor, each of which MAY have applicability to a wedding reception.  The word MAY is stressed because an elegant and stunning effect can be achieved with a single décor type or by weaving multiple décor types together to achieve the perfect atmosphere.  Careful consideration of the uses and applicability of each type of décor allows you to assemble the perfect wedding reception while achieving your budget targets.  These four distinct types of décor, floral, props, fabric and balloon, each serve a valuable, and usually very different, position in the assembly of an idyllic event décor solution.

Floral décor is a traditional cornerstone of wedding décor.  While one of the more expensive décor solutions, flowers provide an elegant and traditional wedding décor.  While flowers are a traditional part of most weddings, floral décor is often confused with traditional bridal flowers.  In fact, the flowers which are part of the wedding tradition are a part of the bridal party’s wardrobe, not part of the décor.  However, the use of bouquet holders allows the bride’s and bride maid’s bouquets to become part of the head table décor.  Floral décor can be as limited as floral centerpieces to something as dramatic as large floral drapes and cascades.  In addition, flowers can be combined with other types of décor, normally props (i.e. arbors, lattice panels, columns) to create stunning décor.  Finally, the use of flowers as a cake topper, while declining in popularity of late, is an additional floral décor mechanism that provides a unique décor solution which pulls together many elements of a reception’s décor.  Floral décor provides an elegant décor solution for any reception.  By using bridal bouquets, and combining floral décor with other décor options, floral décor can be a wonderful décor solution without breaking a wedding’s budget.

Props are the broadest category of event décor.  With the exception of a few wedding specific items, such as lattice panels, arbors and columns, props are one of the least used categories of event décor for wedding receptions. 

Props are reusable objects, normally rented for an event, that create a specific atmosphere or environment for the event.  The environment to be created varies widely from 19^th century seaside villages to 25^th century space craft.  While props are the most versatile, and widely used, form of event décor, their applicability to the normal wedding reception is limited to the few items mentioned previously.  Of course, if you want to have your wedding reception in a 19^th century seaside village, props are the appropriate solution for you.  As with floral décor, props are often combined with other décor types to achieve the customer’s ambiance objectives.

Draped fabric, technically a subset of prop décor, is ideally suited to the bridal marketplace.  Draped fabric décor is one of the most demanding and high impact solutions for wedding reception décor.  Elegant fabrics are draped and formed, often over frames, to create a unique and awesome effect.  Materials, such as chiffon, lamé and spandex , are normally used in this décor solution due to their flexibility and elegant appearance.  When combined with other props, normally lattice panels and columns, as well as floral décor, stunning entryway, dance floor, head table and other solutions can be created very effectively.  Like the broader range of prop décor solutions, draped fabric décor solutions are normally acquired on a rental basis due to the expense of the fabrics involved and amount of labor and skill required to achieve the desired effect.  When combined with other décor solutions, such as wedding appropriate props and flowers, draped fabric provides an extraordinarily high class and striking environment.

Unlike the other décor solutions, balloon décor is a relatively young form of event décor.  Invented in the early 1980s, balloon décor has evolved from a simple balloon on a string for a child’s birthday party to a flexible and elegant décor construction material.  In the hands of a trained professional, balloon décor can be utilized to decorate entryways, dance floors, head tables and cake tables with eye-catching and elegant solutions.  In many cases, it is difficult to for reception guests to discern the construction material utilized, while providing a beautiful and appropriate décor solution.  Balloon décor has evolved into an elegant, and viable, wedding reception décor solution.  Since its inception in the early 1980s, it has taken its place as a powerful decorating solution that is both elegant and cost effective.

Second only to the wedding gown, the reception centerpiece is probably the most controversial, and stressful, decision to be made in planning a wedding.  All of the major types of décor, floral, props and balloon, are applicable to the centerpiece as well.  From simple floral arrangements to stunning centerpieces constructed around a giant champagne glass, from an elegant taper candle and hurricane globe to a stunning balloon sculpture, the centerpiece has tremendous variety and impact.  However, the single most important consideration when selecting a centerpiece is to keep in mind its place in the overall décor solution and how it will interact with your guests.  A stunning floral arrangement that dominates the center of the table may look beautiful in the catalog, but will prevent your guests from interacting across the table.  In short, a centerpiece is a piece in the overall mosaic that is your wedding reception décor.  It must intertwine seamlessly with the rest of the room décor while allowing your guests to enjoy the party to their utmost.

Event décor is one of the longest lasting, and most memorable, pieces of a wedding reception.  While the music, food and wedding cake are key to the perfect wedding reception, appropriate reception decorations provide the perfect backdrop for wedding photos that will be reviewed, and admired, for decades into the future.  By selecting the appropriate décor solution from the available décor types, floral, props, draped fabric and balloon, a bride can ensure that her wedding photos evoke praise and adulation from coworkers tomorrow and grandchildren in the distant future while staying within the wedding’s budget.

At The Main Event, we specialize in providing stunning, elegant wedding decor that meets your unique needs and desires.  From stunning balloon decor, to the elegance of ribbons and tulle, we have decor offerings that meet the needs of any bride.  By partnering with area florists, we are able to provide a unique and comprehensive solution to your wedding decor needs.   Be sure to ask about our custom made bows!!

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