Decorating a Home for a Wedding

5 tips for infusing romance and personality into your big day!

Decorating a home for probably one of the most important days of your life is a stressful process. After all, you’ll get out of it as much effort as you put in, and creating a plan for your wedding theme and backdrop until you go full tilt into arranging flowers and hanging garlands is a good way to stay on track and not get too overwhelmed.

Here are five tips for decorating a home for a wedding and guaranteeing a romantic look for your special day…

1. Start by de-cluttering

The first step preparing for a wedding in your home is to de-clutter. You know, get rid of all the everyday stuff that you have out on your counters, coffee tables, etc., that you don’t need wedding guests to see (i.e., pictures of your nieces and nephews, your coffee pot and cake mixing bowls, etc.). Banish the unrelated everyday things from your wedding backdrop and start with a fresh canvas by tucking unneeded items into shelves, closets, dressers,  and cupboards around your house. That also means clearing all the flat surfaces—countertops, mantles, exposed shelving units, table tops, above cupboards, cabinets and coffee tables and end tables.

2. Choose a color pallet

If you are the bride and groom, let your wedding colors (the ones chosen for the bridesmaid’s dresses, accent colors, flowers) dictate the decor of the home. Use these colors as your starting ground and coordinate, don’t compete, by adding flowers, garlands, place settings, etc., in the same colors or complimentary tones.

3. Start the decorations outside to draw guests in

By staring the decorations on the exterior of your home, for instance in the entry way, you’ll set the tone for the rest of the home and lead guests into the home for the festivities. Do your own test walkthrough, noting where your eyes go and use this as a way to guide guests through the point of entry with elements like flowers, greenery, and romantic décor into the area where the ceremony will take place.

4. Add greenery and flowers

Living elements will add to the fresh, new feeling of a wedding. Try winding in some flowers, maybe a large bouquet or centerpiece in each room as well as in the entry, main sitting area, ceremony and reception areas. Accent with smaller bouquets and garland on food tables (if it’s a dinner reception) and gathering areas (if it’s a mingling reception).

5. Think personality rather than tradition with wedding-related décor

Just because it’s a wedding, you don’t need bells, hearts, and doves everywhere! Instead, think about the personalities of the couple, the décor should say something personal about the bride and groom—how they met, their hobbies, their individual and co-mingled personalities. For instance, if they met on a beach vacation, you could use shells and sand candles to decorate the table settings.