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Flowers & Décor for the Reception

Purpose of Decorations and Flowers at the Reception
The main goal of decoration at the reception is to set the mood and accent the important areas of the site. Common placements for decorations are the cake table and cake itself, buffet table, head table, and centerpieces at the guest tables.

Other decorations are optional and will vary according to the reception site. If the reception is in a small Victorian Inn that has plenty of architectural and design interest on its own, then only a few small touches will be needed to dress up the room. However if the affair is in a large, open auditorium or gymnasium, you will need more decorations to achieve an elegant, romantic atmosphere.

Throwing the Bouquet
This well known tradition is supposed to identify the next bride in your immediate circle of friends and family. The single woman who catches your bouquet after you throw it is supposedly the "next in line!" If you choose to partake in this practice consider having your florist make you a small "throwing bouquet." This is a simpler, smaller (cheaper) bouquet than the one you carry down the aisle, made for the sole purpose of being tossed into the sea of single women.

Table Centerpieces
Small flowers arrangements for the guest tables always make wonderful centerpieces if you budget allows it. Keep the arrangements low, you don't want your guest to miss any events or even people across the table due to large, obtrusive centerpieces.

Remember, flowers aren't your only option for tabletop decoration. Get creative and draw inspiration from the seasons, surrounding holidays or wedding themes. If your theme is the beach, place a small arrangement in a wide dish of sand, shells, and colorful sea glass. Fall weddings could be dressed up with bright silk maple leaves, assorted nuts in the shell, Red Delicious apples, and tiny gourds. For a Christmastime wedding, place a small decorated wreath flat on the table with a candle in the middle.

Wide Open Spaces
There are many ways to make a large, bland reception site look inviting without spending your entire budget on the decorations. Here are some ideas to help you get started...

Remember: Always check with your reception site for any restrictions on flowers or decorations. Ask for their rules for the use of candles, hanging decorations, electrical outlet use etc.