| There are lots of good reasons to book a venue | | | | the center of each table would be very chic and |
| for your wedding reception. Hopefully, one of the | | | | would cast a romantic glow onto your guests at |
| reasons is because you think it is beautiful, but | | | | dinner. Choose shades in a flattering color like rose |
| sometimes other considerations have to take | | | | or apricot. A small wreath of flowers around the |
| priority. If you choose your venue for its size, | | | | base of each lamp will complete the effect. |
| price, or proximity to the church more than its | | | | Another idea is to rent chandeliers to hang over |
| beauty, fear not. These tips will help you to turn | | | | the tables. Finally, do not overlook the wonderful |
| your diamond in the rough into a beautiful gem of | | | | ambiance which you can create using masses of |
| a reception site. | | | | candles. |
| The first step when trying to beautify a reception | | | | Another common issue at reception venues is |
| site is to prioritize your concerns. Is it | | | | walls in unattractive colors. They may be painted |
| architecturally too bland? Or perhaps the walls are | | | | in a bright and obnoxious shade, or perhaps the |
| painted in a color you dislike, the flooring is | | | | color is not inherently hideous, just one that you |
| outdated, or the lighting is too harsh. All of these | | | | happen to dislike. Either way, something must be |
| concerns can be addressed, it is simply a matter | | | | done. A good place to start is with visual |
| of first deciding on which issues you should spend | | | | distraction. Use lighting and flowers to draw |
| your money. It also helps to remember that any | | | | attention to the center of the room, away from |
| room will look prettier when filled with floral | | | | the eyesore walls. Especially if the room is fairly |
| centerpieces, not to mention all of your festively | | | | dim, that may be all you need to do. Keep in mind |
| attired guests. | | | | that it is best to spend your money on the parts |
| Bad lighting can be a big problem. There are far | | | | of the wedding that really matter like the music, |
| too many reception halls out there with that | | | | the food, bridesmaid gifts, and an open bar. The |
| hideous fluorescent overhead lighting. The problem | | | | less you have to spend remaking the reception |
| with fluorescent lighting is two-fold: first of all, it is | | | | venue, the more you will have to put into the |
| unattractive in its own right, and secondly, it casts | | | | aspects which directly impact how much people |
| a harsh and unflattering glow onto everything in | | | | enjoy your wedding. |
| the room (including the bride!). If your venue has | | | | When distraction is not enough to hide an ugly wall |
| this type of lighting, getting around it should be | | | | or another unattractive feature like a pipe, it is |
| your number one priority. In fact, if you can | | | | time to turn to camouflage. Fabric can be one of |
| make the lighting in the reception hall more | | | | the best ways to beautify a reception site. |
| flattering, everything else will look so much better | | | | Shirred fabric panels stretched on gold painted |
| that you might find you have no other pressing | | | | wooden frames make excellent standing screens |
| decor issues to tackle. Use the extra funds to | | | | to hide pipes or other utilitarian features in a |
| buy really special bridesmaid gifts or to serve a | | | | room. If you have anyone handy in your family, |
| better class of wine. | | | | the screens can be homemade using inexpensive |
| The chances are that you will not be replacing the | | | | lumber and fabric remnants to cut costs. You can |
| overhead lighting in your venue, but there are | | | | also use colorful uplighting to transform the color |
| several things that can be done to lessen its | | | | of walls, as well as tall potted plants to distract |
| effect. Find out if it is possible to turn off half of | | | | from them. When it comes to improving the look |
| the lights to reduce the glare of the fluorescent | | | | of a wedding reception venue, you will find that |
| panels. To make sure the room does not end up | | | | with a little ingenuity and creativity, big changes |
| too dim, bring in your own attractive lighting. A | | | | can be made on a small budget. |
| small bistro style glass lamp with a silk shade in | | | | |