Wedding Decorations at the Ceremony

The wedding decorations used at the synagogue, church or chapel during the ceremony should relate to the decorations used at the reception. Traditional ceremony decorations are usually limited to candles and flowers, but a great deal of creativity can come into play in selecting candelabras, flower colors, and the containers used for the floral arrangements.

Flowers should match the wedding’s color scheme and should be seasonable if possible. A Christmas wedding with poinsettias has an air of excitement from the moment guests walk into the church, and a summer wedding full of roses gives an elegant impressions when guests enter the synagogue. Other wedding decorations, like the bows and floral containers, should be neutral so they don’t detract from the beauty of the flowers, the candles, and, of course, the bride.

Wedding Decorations at the Reception

The decorations at the reception should continue the color scheme of the wedding. At a minimum, wedding reception decorations should include table linens and a centerpiece. Increasingly, couples are getting creative with their wedding reception decorating scheme.

Some couples place bowls of goldfish at each table at the reception, with colored rock at the bottom of each goldfish bowl. Goldfish are indeed a beautiful addition to a wedding, but the wedding party and guests alike must be mindful of the fact that the fish are living creatures. The couple should not use goldfish as wedding decorations unless they can ensure that the fish are not abused during the reception and that they go to good homes after the reception is over.

Personalized Wedding Decorations

The bride and groom can personalize a wide variety of decorative items with their names,  the date of their wedding, and perhaps even a picture of the couple. These decorations make nice keepsakes for the wedding guests. Colored napkins, printed in silver, are the most traditional personalized wedding decoration.

Modern personalized decorations include custom labeled water bottles, personalized rose petals, personalized wedding coasters, personalized wedding cake cookies, chocolate lollipops, paper fans, and fortune cookies. Finally, the couple may wish to personalize small gift bags or party favor boxes for their guests, and fill the containers with chocolate, mints, toy rings, or other wedding trinkets. These wedding decorations help make the wedding fun and memorable.

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In most American weddings, the race and country of origin of the couple can be influential in the wedding accessories used for the nuptials. Both the man and woman to be married must initially agree to use the wedding accessories that each want to use and it is best to coordinate these with each other if they have different beliefs and customs or culture and religion.

Toasting Glasses and Cake Knives

Toasting glasses are wedding accessories that are used at the reception. These are usually made from crystal glass while others use goblets. Most have their names inscribed on the glasses or goblets. The cake knife and cake server used for the cutting of the wedding cake are wedding accessories that can be personalized. Many couples have their names inscribed on the metal knife and server.

Ring Pillow and Flower Girls’ Baskets

These wedding accessories are not used by the bride no the groom but by the children who march down the aisle preceding the bride. The ring pillow usually has ribbons and other decoration in the center to which the couple’s rings are tied to. Flower girls’ baskets are filled with flower petals and some small flower which are strewn on the aisle where the bride treads. These wedding accessories are usually decorated with flower and ribbons coordinated with the bridal motif.

The Veil and Garter

The bridal veil is also among the many wedding accessories that have been around for some time. These wedding accessories come in many different styles dependent on the culture, tradition and preference of the bride. Some brides even opt not to wear a veil these days. The wedding garter is one accessory that is used during the reception. It stays on the thigh of the bride until such time that the groom takes it off and tosses it onto his single male friends. Whosoever catches it is paired with the unmarried female who catches the bouquet.

The Wedding Guestbook

This is where guests sign their names to show that they were present during the nuptials. In many cases, this guestbook complements the motif or the color of the wedding theme. The many different kinds of wedding accessories are usually chosen by the bride and groom for their wedding. These are kept as heirlooms after the wedding.

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Incorporating live fish into the centerpieces is one truly unique centerpiece idea for a wedding reception.  Simple glass bowls can be used and filled with a few colorful glass marbles along with some water and an exotic and colorful fish.  You could even include a small amount of fish food at the table where children will be sitting with careful instructions on how to avoid overfeeding the fish.  The children will have a lot of fun and will be less distracted then they would have been with a more traditional centerpiece on the table.  This lively and interactive centerpiece idea is sure to be a hit with kids and will even keep adults entertained.

Another unique centerpiece idea is to arrange a collection of board games in the center of each table.  This idea is not only unique but if the guests choose to partake in the games; it gives the guests at the table the opportunity and incentive to get to know those seated at their table if they don’t already know them.  This is an excellent option for guests who don’t enjoy dancing because they won’t feel so left out of the fun of the wedding.

Cakes or cupcakes arranged on a serving tray and artfully decorated with fresh or artificial flowers also make a lovely and unique centerpiece.  These cakes can be used in place of the traditional wedding cake.  Using several small cakes as centerpieces is not only an extremely unique centerpiece idea but it also allows the couple the option of having several different types of cakes and fillings.  These centerpieces can be collected by the wait staff and sliced in the kitchen for desert or they can be sliced at the individual tables for additional entertainment value.

An attractive journal that matches the theme of the wedding along with several pens can also serve as a unique centerpiece.  This centerpiece will not only look lovely on the table but can also be used by the guests to leave messages of congratulations or words of advice for the couple.  This way the couple not only had a unique centerpiece but they also have a treasured souvenir of their wedding day in the kind words recorded by their wedding guests. 

Mirrors and candles can also be used to create unique centerpieces.  An attractive round mirror could be placed in the center of the table with several lit candles resting on the glass. The flickering light of the candles reflecting on the glass makes for a very striking centerpiece especially if the light in the reception hall is kept dim. 

Gift boxes of several sizes can also be used to create unique centerpieces.  The couple could take gift boxes of three different sizes and wrap each box in a different but complementary piece of wrapping paper.  Once the gift boxes are wrapped they can be glued together at odd angles to create very unique centerpieces.

Another unique centerpiece idea is to have puzzles made up from pictures of the couple.  The pieces of the puzzle can be left scattered on the table.  This unique centerpiece idea encourages the people sitting at the table to work together to try to put the puzzle together.  This is especially useful if many of the guests do not know each other because it is a great ice breaker. 

An eclectic assortment of Champaign flutes also makes a truly unique centerpiece.  You can purchase an assortment of flutes of various shapes and sizes from a thrift store and clean them up to use them as centerpieces.  The flutes can be arranged in an attractive but random pattern to create a unique centerpiece for any occasion.

The choice of the centerpieces is one of the only opportunities that a couple has to express their individuality and ensure that their wedding reception really stands out.  While some unique centerpiece ideas may require more of an effort than the traditional centerpiece of flowers, a unique centerpiece is more likely to be remembered than a boring one. 

 

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From do-it-yourself arrangements to using silk floral arrangements that can even be rented for the occasion, planning your wedding flowers can be a lot of fun. Involving your bridal party will help generate ideas you might not have thought about and besides, helping the bride is one of their responsibilities so why not? But forget about the groom, though. The most he’ll probably care about is that you stick within the amount that has been budgeted.

You want to give yourself plenty of time so begin planning the wedding flowers at least 6 to 12 months prior to the wedding date. The flowers are one of those things you’ll want to consider while you are choosing the wedding attire because most brides want the floral arrangements to complement the overall color scheme and theme of the wedding. Bridal magazines are full of pictures of bouquets so that’s a good place to go for ideas. Also think about the types of flowers that will be in season at the time of your wedding. Choosing flowers that are readily available is one way to keep costs under control.

Besides boutonnières and bouquets for the wedding party, you can also make flowers and decorations part of the wedding ceremony and reception. Pew bows, arrangements for the altar, head table, cake table and gift table, as well as centerpieces for all the guest tables should be considered. These will definitely add to your costs, but they’re also areas where you can really get creative.

If cost-control is an issue, why not have the bridal bouquets do double-duty as head table decorations or perhaps the gift or cake table? Once the formal photographs are over, no one will be carrying their bouquets around anyway. Or why not use less expensive balloons or candles as centerpieces? Pew bows are very easy to make, even for ‘craft-challenged’ brides. Another idea is to add more ‘filler’ to your floral arrangements by using more greenery, baby’s breath and tulle.

As you can see, it really is all in the planning. Once you’ve got the wedding flowers and decorations figured out, you just need to find a florist capable of turning your thoughts into reality. It’s important to select a florist early on because there’s a limit to how much even the best florist can handcraft. Go over the contract with a fine-toothed comb before signing to make sure the number and type of arrangements, including the flowers being used, are clearly specified along with delivery details. Record the deposit amount and delineate the payment schedule.

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A wedding with a light-hearted theme hosted by a fun loving couple might be a suitable opportunity to utilize candy to create festive centerpieces.  Clear glass bowls can be filled with colorful candies such as jelly beans or M & Ms to create a lovely and very inexpensive centerpiece that reflects the personalities of the bride and groom.  The candy and bowls can probably be purchased for a fraction of the price of floral centerpieces and create a lovely centerpiece that is easily assembled and can be enjoyed by all of the guests. 

The bride and groom can also opt for silk floral arrangements if they are intent on having flowers as their centerpiece.  Many hobby stores sell a wide variety of attractive artificial flowers that can be arranged by the bride and groom to create attractive centerpieces for the tables.  Using fake flowers gives the couple more of an opportunity to express their creativity.  The hobby store also likely sells inexpensive vases so the couple may be able to purchase everything they need for the centerpieces in one location.  Arranging the flowers in a vase is nice but long stemmed flowers such as calla lilies also look very attractive tied with twine or ribbon and simply laid in the center of the table.  The couple could either choose seasonal artificial flowers or artificial flowers that fit the theme of the wedding and arrange them in inexpensive vases or tie them with attractive ribbons to create inexpensive centerpieces for their wedding. 

Another inexpensive option for a couple wishing to utilize flowers for their centerpieces is to use potted plants.  You can find a multitude of inexpensive potted plants at home improvement stores, greenhouses, and even grocery stores.  The couple can choose plants that match the other decorations for the wedding or that will stand out amongst the other decorations.  These plants could be repotted into festive pots to create attractive centerpieces for a relatively low cost. 

Balloons can be another option for a couple looking to have fun yet inexpensive centerpieces.  Balloons are relatively inexpensive and can be easily found in a wide variety of colors and patterns.  The couple could choose solid or print patterns that match the colors of the table linens.  An extra tip for these centerpieces is to weigh down the balloons with a piece of candy.  This will encourage each guest at the table to take home a balloon as a souvenir.  With a typical centerpiece only one guest has the opportunity to take home the centerpiece but using balloons makes it possible for each guest to take home a part of the centerpiece.

Another inexpensive wedding table centerpiece is a picture frame in the shape of cube that allows the insertion of a photo into each side of the cube.  The couple may choose to include pictures of themselves during their courting or they may wish to include pictures of them with the guests who will be sitting at that table.  This is a great opportunity for the couple to express their individuality and share a little bit of themselves with their guests.  Artfully arranged photographs create fun centerpieces that are also very inexpensive. 

Candles also create a very attractive yet inexpensive centerpiece.  The couple may choose to purchase many of the same candle or candles of varying shapes, sizes and colors to arrange on the tables.  Candles of the same size, shape and color can be arranged in a uniform pattern to create a beautiful centerpiece.  Candles that vary in size, shape and color can be placed at random on the table to create an eclectic appeal. 

With a little bit of thought and creativity a couple can find centerpiece options that are affordable, attractive and well suited for the couple.  The traditional centerpieces of floral arrangements can be boring and also extremely expensive.  Utilizing creativity and ingenuity to create centerpieces that are an accurate representation of the taste of the couple often creates a more appealing centerpiece at a very affordable price. 

 

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