In contrast, my space in the tiny apartment I now live in is like 40 square feet. Or less. How much room does a bed, nightstand, and dresser take up? As for decorations…well, I propped up a frame on my nightstand. Does that count? Now all of a sudden I realized I have a huge room to decorate! When I look at all these gorgeous wedding pictures I feel like we’re brushing over the hours they put into the decorations—and I don’t even know where to start.
Well, I’m going to start here, with a few elements I plan on including. Our venue is essentially a blank space. Fortunately I think the high ceilings and glass doors lend themselves to less rather than more decorating.
1. Tissue Paper Poms
Image via Martha Stewart Weddings
I’ve already made a few of these—they’re currently decorating my 40 square feet by hanging in a row over my nightstand. They’re easy to make, cheap, and pull in some color. The room has six sets of double glass doors with a glass panel on either side and above—here, let me show you a picture.
Image via Pleasant Ridge Camp & Retreat Center
Can you see the glass doors and windows in this picture? I’m thinking about hanging a pom in each of the side glass panels—12 total. I don’t want to hide the view of the deck and woods, just add some color.
2. Bunting
Personal photo
Remember that I’ll have approximately 150 feet of bunting to use anywhere in the building. I definitely want to drape about 10 feet at the fireplace (more on that later), but I also will have plenty to drape along the stage and the welcome and food tables.
3. Fireplace
Image via Pleasant Ridge Camp & Retreat Center
Oh, the fireplace. I’m so in love with it. Besides draping the bunting across, I want to throw a few books and our larger Scrabble tiles with out names on the mantel. I also want to use candles in the fireplace like in this picture. How cute are those? I plan on picking up eight or ten pillar candles of varying heights and arranging them in the fireplace for a little ambiance. Now I just hope our officiant doesn’t step too far back during the ceremony.
4. Tables
On the tables we will have our crossword puzzle programs and I Spy sheets, neatly tied together with a coral ribbon at each place setting. To the left, we’ll have three layered beverage napkins. (I’m thinking light yellow, light blue, and green for color.) The centerpieces will be our simple book stacks and Scrabble table letters. I’m so tempted to try to emulate Mrs. Treasure and include our cakes on each table—I’m planning on talking about it with my caterer when we finalize the menu!
I have a couple other ideas, but we’ll save those for later! Anyone want to help me out with suggestions or modifications? How did you decorate?
We are lucky that our room is also beautiful and doesn’t need TONS of decor. For the reception, the one decor I have is bunting that says “Thank You” and “Love Is Sweet” for the gift and candy buffet tables. Then our centerpieces which are glass tile mirrors, gerber daisy and hydrangea arrangements, tealight candles/holders, and frames with the table numbers. The linens I guess are kind of decor as well. All tablecloths will be navy blue with coral linen napkins. We will also use frames (very beautiful and delicate frames in gold, navy and coral) with pictures of us and candles throughout the space for ambiance on tables like the gift table to add a little extra. I did make 12 pomander balls for the ceremony, will have big flower arrangements, and a flowery arch but overall we only spent like 1,000 on ALL decor.. (this includes our flowers).
Love the tissue paper poms idea as well as your bunting! I think, if it were me (as in: I am NOT an interior designer by any means, so take this with a grain of salt 
), I would focus on trying to just add color everywhere instead of actual items/decorations. Does that make sense? Your venue is so gorgeous, it could just potentially be dark because of all of the wood, so the tissue poms, beverage napkins, bunting, are all easy ways to light up a space. Have you thought of doing ribbons around the chair backs? Are you doing table runners? Just random ideas. I’m excited to see the finished product!
Mrs. Lemur, Greenville, South Carolina Age and Occupation: 22, Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Security Officer Engagement Date: October 9, 2012 Wedding Date: May 2013 Venue: Pleasant Ridge Camp & Retreat Center About Me: I may fancy myself a doctor after too many episodes of House—but in reality I'm finally almost done with my degree in business administration (less than three months left!). My fiance and I met at school in undergrad hundreds of miles away from either of our hometowns and have been happily running and hiking together ever since. We're undertaking a long distance relationship as I finish school and we plan our casual wedding for a day after graduation—needless to say, it will be the busiest and most exciting weekend of our lives so far!
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