How Do You Decorate A Community Hall For Your Wedding? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

Question from Kim:

Our wedding reception is being held in a typical community hall that has a tall ceiling, large square room with basic paint and the horrible rectangular tables.  I am having a hard time trying to create a dramatic table setting that makes the hall feel more upscale but still allows the eye to flow easily through the room so that the guests may see one another throughout the night.  My colors are cobalt, black and white.  We will also be having a buffet dinner and a few bottles of wine for the tables. I am open to any suggestions, please help me!!!

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Kim, and congratulations on  your upcoming wedding.  The trick with community halls is in the lighting.  Once the lights are dimmed, you will find the walls will visually disappear.  Then you need to bring light back into the room where YOU want it.  “Up lights” can be purchased at your local hardware store or anywhere lighting is sold.  I have picked them up for $10 and they are readily available.  Also, any floodlights will work as well.  You might be able to borrow flood lights from family or friends who like to light up their Christmas decorations outside in the winter.  Sometimes, your church might have some that you could borrow.

Then you will need to have focal points for your lighting.  Imagine light shining through the table skirting on the head table (from underneath the table).  It will look very dramatic and depending upon the lighting in the room, it may even look like the table is floating on light.  The use of a few clusters of pillar candles in different heights will bring lighting to each table, as well as create a dramatic look. 

The picture in this post shows the use of a trumpet vase to create dramatic height.   You do not need these vases at each table, but, depending upon your budget, could be randomly placed around the room.  You can use fresh flowers, silk flowers from the ‘dollar store’, add some twigs and branches, and some feather, and you could have a dramatic floral arrangement.  Fill the vase with sand (or coloured sand) to add more colour to the table. 

That should get you going with some ideas.  Google images for “wedding reception tables” to get some visual ideas.  If you get stuck, I always recommend hiring a professional.  An interior designer or wedding planner can be hired for the day to do the decorating for you, and they aren’t that expensive.  This video on ‘wedding reception table centrepieces’ might be helpful.  There are other videos in this wedding planning series that will give you other ideas for decorating your reception site.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, please feel free to email.

Angela Fiebelkorn, The Wedding Expert