Reception Decor: How To Make It Feel Like YOU

The weddings that stay in your mind long after the smell of the flower arrangements has faded are those weddings that were a celebration of the couple themselves.

Weddings can be memorable for a number of reasons--the bride's gown was breathtaking, or the location was stunningly unique--but the weddings that stay in your mind long after the smell of the flower arrangements has faded are those weddings that were a celebration of the couple themselves. These weddings always have those individual and thoughtful touches that personalise the celebration, and in terms of the reception, this is most commonly evident in the decor of the room and the structure of the event. For brides-to-be looking for some inspiration on how to personalise the reception decor, we have a few tips that can help you start thinking in the right direction...

 The Theme: Why It's Important

This isn't about picking an era or concept to theme your wedding on, it's about setting the right tone so that all of the stylistic elements work together. For this, you need only to look to the style that reflects you as a couple. Interestingly, this isn't always reflective of your personal styles. For example, while one of you could have a chic, minimalist style and the other could have a more traditional personal style, the elements that represent the two of you as a couple could be something completely different again. A relationship is not the sum of its parts--it is something new that is created by the coming together of two people, and therefore when thinking about style, think about the words you'd use to describe your relationship--fun, flirty, romantic, intense, casual, elegant? Whatever those words are, these are the ones you should start trying to infuse into your reception decor. A wedding planner or designer can be an invaluable asset when it comes to doing this--taking an emotion and visually translating it is a big part of their job.

Personal Touches For Any Style

No matter what style you decide on for your reception decor, it is the personal touches that will really make it feel special. Centerpieces, bombonieres and photographs are elements you can take into account when trying to find ways to inject a bit of 'you' into the design. Some couples like to include framed wedding photos of their parents and grandparents as an hommage to their families. Others choose to include personally reflective items in the bomboniere--for example if the bride and groom are from different backgrounds including traditional sweets from each of their cultures is an excellent way to tie in a personal touch. Another incredibly effective touch is personalised notes on the back of place cards. While this takes some time, choosing to hand-write a short note to each of your guests thanking them for coming and expressing what they mean to you is something that will stay in their hearts and minds long after the wedding day is over.

It's easy to forget in the mania that precedes a wedding that the day is primarily a celebration of the couple--their love, commitment and those unique qualities that drew them to each other in the first place. Designing a reception to reflect this is an integral part of ensuring your wedding is both memorable and one-of-a-kind.