I stink at decorating!! PIP

Julie2013

Here are a couple of pictures of my venue. The pics don't exactly show all the space, but it's the main space where the ceremony will be and the guests will be seated. I plan to have 6 tables, 3 on each side of an "aisle" for my daughters and I to walk down to get to the stage area. I haven't decided whether or not to use the stage for the ceremony or to put their provided trellis up in front of the stage to have the ceremony in front of that. The lights can be dimmed so the street lamps glow and provide the main light. My Junior and Senior Proms were held here and I remember how neat it was with only the lamps on.

Anybody have any suggestions they'd like to share? I can't stress enough how awful I am at decorating. But I am good at DIY and thought this might be a fun time to make some things.

Thanks!!


 

emilyb213

So, I just googled "romantic courtyards", and here's what I came up with:

What about some large planters of greenery around the perimeter? If you have an Ikea near you, they always have large houseplants for fairly cheap. Depending on the overall vibe you're going for, you could use rough concrete planters for a Euro look, or you could do colored planters for a pop of color.

Can you hang cafe lights anywhere?

Oooh!! Or...if you get a couple of topiary plants, and put twinkle lights in them, that would look so pretty with the lights turned down.

What about some sort of candle centerpieces? When I think of courtyards, I think of something like this, with lots of glowing lights and green plants everywhere.

sopraffina

It's hard to see in that picture, but is that a light fixture hanging in front of the stage? Are you able to hang anything from that? I'm thinking something like a hanging DIY pompom backdrop.

http://pinterest.com/pin/163959242654374571/

Otherwise, I think that hanging DIY pompoms from that drop ceiling might have a nice effect, if they allow that and have a reliable ladder.

Is there a lot of natural light? If not, you can just light the tables with candles and use the streetlamps. I think the key will be defining the space you are using. Then it won't seem so big and there won't be as much that you have to decorate. Are you having a DJ? If so, he will probably have a lot of lighting himself.

I'm using a lot of potted palms and ferns from Costco for our ceremony and then putting them in the hall for the reception, like this wedding:

http://www.tooleart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/C10_4872-copy.jpg

Julie2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2013-weddings_i-stink-at-decorating-pip?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:f30b0bfc-508d-415c-bf59-ab83e327da37Discussion:0bd6318a-820c-4b3f-af6b-609710adc253Post:8996615a-9561-42dd-80d8-5ef8e9d98c55">Re: I stink at decorating!! PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]So, I just googled "romantic courtyards", and here's what I came up with: What about some large planters of greenery around the perimeter? If you have an Ikea near you, they always have large houseplants for fairly cheap. Depending on the overall vibe you're going for, you could use rough concrete planters for a Euro look, or you could do colored planters for a pop of color. Can you hang cafe lights anywhere? Oooh!! Or...if you get a couple of topiary plants, and put twinkle lights in them, that would look so pretty with the lights turned down. What about some sort of candle centerpieces? When I think of courtyards, I think of something like this, with lots of glowing lights and green plants everywhere.
Posted by emilyb213[/QUOTE]

I don't have an Ikea anywhere near, but there are several greenhouses in the area that I could probably get a good deal on plants. Around the perimeter? Oh, I forgot to mention that there is a netting they put down the lower sides to hide the under-balcony area along with signs saying Private Party. Those are hotel room doors under the balcony, but our group will be using most of them that night. We can put in strings of light, too. It seemed there were lots of outlets in the space. Neat ideas! I love the picture you included in your post! Lots of inspiration there!

Thanks, emilyb!

Julie2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2013-weddings_i-stink-at-decorating-pip?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:f30b0bfc-508d-415c-bf59-ab83e327da37Discussion:0bd6318a-820c-4b3f-af6b-609710adc253Post:2321e2d0-53f3-4a84-a2b1-1b4ad4506004">Re: I stink at decorating!! PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]It's hard to see in that picture, but is that a light fixture hanging in front of the stage? Are you able to hang anything from that? I'm thinking something like a hanging DIY pompom backdrop. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/163959242654374571/" rel="nofollow">http://pinterest.com/pin/163959242654374571/</a> Otherwise, I think that hanging DIY pompoms from that drop ceiling might have a nice effect, if they allow that and have a reliable ladder. Is there a lot of natural light? If not, you can just light the tables with candles and use the streetlamps. I think the key will be defining the space you are using. Then it won't seem so big and there won't be as much that you have to decorate. Are you having a DJ? If so, he will probably have a lot of lighting himself. I'm using a lot of potted palms and ferns from Costco for our ceremony and then putting them in the hall for the reception, like this wedding: <a href="http://www.tooleart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/C10_4872-copy.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.tooleart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/C10_4872-copy.jpg</a>
Posted by sopraffina[/QUOTE]

That long strip on the ceiling in front of the stage is sort of a frame with adjustable spotlights hidden on the side away from the audience. Things can be hung from it for sure. I don't think any of us could get up to the ceiling. For my proms, the ceilings couldn't be decorated because they were too high for us to get to. After the lights were dimmed, we couldn't even see the ceiling. It seems we may have draped crepe paper streamers in a way that made a false ceiling for one of those proms. I've forgotten after 25 years! LOL

There isn't any natural lighting at all and we won't be using a DJ. We are planning to use the middle square inside the street lamps as the eating/mix & mingle area, an area for dancing (going to bring our own music) maybe in the front area where the stage is, and the sides will be used for the caterer, a candy buffet, a guestbook area somewhere, a cake table, and a candy buffet for party favors.

Thanks for the ideas, sopraffina!

Julie2013

Maybe I should hit the after-Christmas sales for small white Christmas tree lights?

emilyb213

I'd definitely snag some twinkle lights from the after Christmas sales. And like Sopra said, I'd use potted plants and greenery to define the area that you'll be using (that's what I meant by perimeter).

Julie2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2013-weddings_i-stink-at-decorating-pip?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:f30b0bfc-508d-415c-bf59-ab83e327da37Discussion:0bd6318a-820c-4b3f-af6b-609710adc253Post:6142e6a6-1fc9-4980-a9e2-11ba4eadd652">Re: I stink at decorating!! PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]I'd definitely snag some twinkle lights from the after Christmas sales. And like Sopra said, I'd use potted plants and greenery to define the area that you'll be using (that's what I meant by perimeter).
Posted by emilyb213[/QUOTE]

Gotcha! The courtyard pic you posted as a pretty example seems to glow. The lights would help with the effect, I bet! Cool!