Weddingbee Blog

While Mr T and I were playing model in Old Town Alexandria, a few of the guests were at Teaism decorating for the big party. (Yes, we put our guests to work!!!)

The reception space was spare and modern, so it didn’t require over-the-top decorating. We hung paper lanterns in our wedding colors and scattered Ikea tealights, chocolates, and flowers in small, square dollar-store vases. The wonderful friend who served as Decorator-in-Chief also employed a favorite budget trick that goes a long way — separating a handful of roses into individual petals and scattering them around the tables.

(A favorite votive holder imported from home)

In a small space, the food itself can add a significant amount of decorative style. Especially when there are lots of tempting desserts!

In fact, there were so many desserts that we made bags for guests to take cookies home. We used the Chinese lantern design from the front of our invitations, some white paper bags from the food section at Michaels, and our trusty Gocco — the whole project took less than an hour. And it must have been a success because, while we ate leftover cake and cupcake for weeks (orange ginger buttercream frosting, mmmmm), there wasn’t a leftover cookie in sight!

Teaism has two levels, so we held the cocktail hour upstairs before everyone moved down for dinner and (what would have been) dancing. It was fun to have an actual staircase for the grand entrance:

People made themselves comfortable whereever they pleased (thank heavens, no seating arrangements to figure out). And then, party time!

(All photos by Punam Bean)

What are your favorite budget-decor ideas? Anyone else putting your guests on Decor Duty??