Decorating the hall for your wedding reception
Decorating is a great way to incorporate your wedding colors and create a wonderful ambiance for your wedding night. Guests will spend sometimes up to 9 hours at the hall for dinner and dancing, so you want an environment that will make them want to stay.
Here are some decorating tips from my experience:
1.) The ceiling - Before you begin, ensure that the ceiling is a smooth surface. If you plan to put the balloons anywhere that the ceiling has spackle or sharp surfaces, the balloons will burst!
2.) Balloons - Everyone loves balloons. They come in so many shapes and colors. Incorporate your wedding colors in various balloon combinations and by varying the length and color of the ribbon. Do not cheap out on balloons! More expensive balloons are worth it as they leak less. You can also fill higher quality balloons fuller before they pop, allowing them to stay afloat longer. Plan for one balloon per square foot or double that for complete ceiling coverage.
3.) Helium is a must. If you have access to the hall the night before, I recommend decorating at that time, as the last thing you want to do on the day of your wedding is to spend your time blowing up balloons. Helium filled balloons will stay afloat for approximately 10-12 hours depending on the environment. If you want the balloons to stay afloat long enough for the reception, I recommend using a product called Super Hi-Float, which seals all the tiny holes inside the balloon and slows down the escape of the helium. In terms of time it takes about 45 minutes for 2 people to inflate 100 balloons.
4.) Streamers - Attach various colored streamers to the ceiling, chairs, walls or anything else you can think to wrap them around. Twisting different colors together can create a nice effect.
5.) Table - Each table is a great host for decorating. Use tablecloths, napkins and centerpieces to display colors. Don't forget about your wedding favors to help add decoration.