Emma's answers to Decorating the venue

Question

Our reception is taking place in an old library in a Jacobean house with dark wood balconies all around. We are doing the table decorations ourselves (glass vases filled with lilac flowers), but think the venue might need something to set those balconies off. We're on a very tight budget.

Answer

Have you considered using garlands made from twigs and berries, or simple green ivy or even hops? You can buy swags of hops, known as Hop Bines from a couple of sources. Try www.hopmania.com/Hopbines.htm or www.essentiallyhops.co.uk

If you don't want any kind of horticulture, why not use balloons to create a festive look or use ribbons and tulle. Simply tie lengths of tulle around the balconies and then mask the joins by tying the ribbon into bows. Ribbon can also be used to decorate the chairs by tying bows and attaching them to the backs of the chairs.

Fairy lights always look magical. Tie lengths of dark material around the balconies (or you could just as easily use garlands of leaves) then
intertwine strings of fairy lights.

Emma x