ugly venue walls... help

Oh i should have mentioned we can't hang anything on/ off the wall. so if we build something has to be"free standing " if thats what you call it

This sounds like it could get very expensive. If you are having a DJ that offers uplighting this could be an option. Flower walls are also a thing. Or you could just focus on doing a free standing wall behind areas that will be heavily photographed like the sweetheart/head/kings table. Can you ask the venue if they (or you) can take down the curtains for the night? Would it help at all?

Ignore the ugly walls. Let them go dark. Don't try to hide the ugly wall with pvc piping and drapes ... it will look like you're trying to hide something and draw even more attention to it.

Use uplighting in areas you want to show off or have peoples' eyes drawn too. Uplighting is meant for this very reason/situation!!!!

Uplighting.

They said they don't really want the curtains taken down.

They said they don't really want the curtains taken down.

I agree with Kathleen! Our venue had dark red walls and green concrete floor. No one notices. We had the lights down low. I think it would be more money and effort than it is actually worth.

My venue had 20 feet ceilings and the quote to drape the room was $8000. I ended up using giant 3ft balloons and up-lighting to decorate instead.

Leave the curtains up and add uplighting.

The walls that i have to figure something out for

I think that is a nice location and I don't think people will focus too much on the curtains

Uplighting would definitely help!

With the right up lighting, you can make them transform color and no one will notice. Or focus on other decor in the center to pull the eye away. I'm using drape along one wall that's 16' tall and including hardware, it's $10/ft plus labor to rent. You do not want to try to set it up yourself, I promise you. If you lower the lights and illuminate the centerpieces, the eye will be drawn away from the walls and you should be good.

I agree with uplighting. Those curtains seem pretty dark so they won't stand out too much, I think!

Some DJ's will do draping on PVC piping. Never hurts to ask, but I think it will be more money than its worth. Lighting can do wonders!

Once the room goes dim they will probably just look black. They are VERY dark in the pictures.

Honestly I wouldn't worry about it at all. Remember you're not going to want all the bright overhead lights on for your reception anyway. Lots of candlelight, and maybe uplighting as others have suggested, will make it look totally different.

Oh, I was expecting a much uglier red. I like this color! I would just keep the room very dim, with lots of candlelight and maybe some gold votives. Perfect for a fall wedding.

Hi Stephanie!

Don't fret, there is certainly hope for using draping to create walls to hide the not-so-matching details of your venue. Here are some ideas and considerations for using drapes to conceal your venues' walls.

DIY PVC Pipe Drape Frames:

There are several tutorials on youtube and pinterest explaining how to construct the PVC pipe sets for hanging drapery. The concern with PVC is sturdiness of a PVC pipe set as large as the one your venue would need. The taller and wider a PVC pipe is, the more you sacrifice stability. The *last* of your concerns on your big day should be a PVC structure toppling.

An additional drawback to making your own PVC set is the cost of time and materials. Even though PVC is relatively inexpensive, you definitely don't want sacrifice more time than you had anticipated on a DIY project or end up spending almost as much on PVC as you would have buying or renting a professional pipe set.

Professional Pipe and Drape Sets:

You certainly will have more stability with a professional Pipe and Drape Set, they feature heavy bases so falling over isn't an option. Another reason a professional Pipe and Drape Set would suit your venue is because many of them have adjustable bars perfect for covering large areas and tall ceilings- like your venue!

The price of Pipe and Drape set will naturally be higher if you pay for the convenience of an Event/Wedding Planner or Rental Company to drape wedding venue. A more economical option may be purchasing your Pipe and Drape set and Drapes from a wholesale event supply company. Aside from saving money on set up, buying your drapes would also allow you to handpick your drapes to perfectly match your wedding decor.

There are so many gorgeous things you can do to decorate Pipe and Drape sets, adding them really upgrades a wedding's decor.

Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!

I say uplighting would do the trick for a better price and easier. Like someone else said, keep the lights down low and add candles everywhere instead (battery operated or real candles)

Can you maybe just use the existing rod and just hang long pieces of fabric over the existing rod, you wouldn't have to attach anything to the wall and they would be just sitting on the existing curtains.