How do you decorate a large venue?

It's about $1,500 give or take. I might be able to squeeze it upwards of 2 grand.

But- the venue includes the centerpieces and floral arrangements for the head table and parents tables so I don't have to worry about those.

@Nicole, it was a local furniture store. We used to get furniture from them, for plays, for less than 400 people. So, not a huge draw, but it is still free advertising for them.

Also- that budget includes the chapel as well. Ahh who am I kidding I won't be able to spend 2- it will probably be $1,000-$1,500 haha.

Okay, next question, so, the venue only does the head table and parents tables and you do the rest? That will cost you dough, depending upon what you do for centerpieces.

Can you make a list of everything you have to cover with that $1500? Centerpieces, lighting, decor, altar pieces or pew bows at the church?...

That might help narrow things down.

All centerpieces are included. Head/parents tables just get extra pedestal arrangements.

I definitely want uplighting so I'm going to get a few quotes for that and go from there.

My mom was thinking tulle-like fabric with white lights wrapped around the posts in the chapel.. a few other simple things for that it's really beautiful the way it is. Something for the aisle/pews and something for our background.

That sounds really nice. Tulle is really inexpensive. Our florist used tulle on our pews and then wrapped tulle/garland around the banisters on the front steps as well, I think maybe she charged us $50 or $75 for that.

I think for $1500, you can definitely do some uplighting, maybe some pinspot lights or a monogram/gobo/projection, the tulle decor at the chapel, and then see what you have for extras like furniture rental.

Aside from that, you'd be amazed at how a couple of highboy tables and a bunch of very cheap tealights and scattered flower petals can really transform a space!

Yeah- I'm really looking forward to it... and I'm addicted to the idea of fairy berries.... so I kind of want to just scatter them everywhere

I have to control the sparkle for FH's sake... hahaha... but we love hiking and being outside so I thought the "forest" theme would work really well if I could figure out how to run with it. I'm thinking some decorative moss... something with wooden objects.... I'm just excited I am finally settling on a general idea! Only took a year.... haha.

The moss will be great! And you have time to collect pine cones and branches on sale or even out in the woods.

Yeah!! Oooh pine cones if I gather them myself that will be awesome... I should do that. Thanks for bouncing ideas with me this is really helpful...

My sister has a similar issue with the reception hall she is using. It can seat 450 and she is inviting around 200. The biggest thing she is doing to make the room not feel as big is to double up her tables. The venue only has rectangular tables that seat 4 to a side, so she is pushing two tables together to create one square table (basically matching the scale of the tables to the scale of the room). I attached a picture where we got the idea from, but we won't be putting the 2 chairs on each end unless her guest list goes up.

She's also hanging tissue paper poms from the ceiling in groupings over each table to make the space feel less open/cold.

Our venue also had high ceilings,etc. It would hold 400 plus or so..and we had the same fear that with our 100, it would look empty. It was fine..what we did do is make each table 8 people rather than 10...that gave people elbow room as well as adding a few extra tables to take up the space. We put candles everywhere as well as votives with flameless candles to skirt the flame rules yet still add a decorative look. Does your venue offer hanging fabric draping from the ceiling? That adds quite a bit as well. We did one room only (of two)..since it was $550 per room to do.

In addition to all of the wonderful ideas presented, I suggest creating those special tables in different areas like Kris did. Also, You could do a continuous slideshow in one corner(close to the bar). This way, your story is told but noone has to sit through a slide show taking away from fun time. You can do a DIY photobooth in another area with a specialized backdrop.

Cate's grand ballroom could accomodate far more than her 150 guest count. To spread things out, she had her tables moved futher apart. Also, Her tables could seat 10, but she had them max at 8 or even odd number for that single guest.

Well I looked at the venue and it looks like there is two different rooms one with a baloney rail and it's up really high is there one on the other side of the room too?

Then the other from on the website had a lower ceiling I would use fabric to make is seem smaller the room with with lower ceiling is a push panel ceiling so you can get clips to hang from there the other taller room can go from the rails to the chandeliers or you can create an air wall affect you can hang these strips from the ceiling it's a way to make it smaller and will look great with the lighting Oh I wish I lived in your area to decorate your wedding what a great location I wish we have a place just as beautiful here and I have been to a lot of locations over the years .

Let me know if you need fabric.

@Free design, I love that look. Is that one that you did?

I missed all the comments over the weekend- I'll have to see if the venue will let me change the number of ppl at the tables. I don't believe that they, themselves, offer draping but I know there are rental companies that will (and also might help with uplighting).

I won't put anything behind our head table because it's in front of a massive window that looks out onto the pond (it's a gorgeous back drop).

Does anyone know if Kris posted pictures (or Kris, if you see this- do you have more pictures) of what those extra table areas look like? Or where I can get ideas?

The room I am in is one of two that are joined by a grand staircase in the front (they put a divider between the 2 rooms or open it for extremely large events.

How do you know how much fabric to get?

Ahh, good ol Kays Pier. Fantastic room. Chat with Melissa about some options. Give her your ideas. She will be able to point you in the right direction...