It has happened to a lot of couples who were planning their wedding.

They get the outfits picked out, hire the venue, and buy the rings, only to then find they don’t have much money left over for decorations at the wedding reception.

Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a striking wedding after-party, and with a few helpful tips, you can spend well under a hundred dollars dressing up even the blandest of reception locations to look like a five-star venue.

So, how can you get the wedding banquet hall display of your dreams without needing a huge budget?

Flowers

Now, before you jump to the ‘but flowers are expensive’ card, there are many ways you can incorporate flowers into your wedding banquet without spending an excessive amount of money.

You can transform even the dullest hall into looking like one of the sought-after high-end banquet venues by adding floral centerpieces to the tables and the area where the food is laid out. Try to opt for seasonal flowers, as this will reduce the prices, and try to match the centerpieces with the color scheme of the wedding. This will create a cohesive look, which will add a touch of class to your reception.

Lighting

Chances are that you are going to be renting your wedding reception venue, so you won’t want to set anything up that could cause you to lose your deposit.

Also READ: Discover the Best DIY Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas for a Festive Home!

One option to add a striking effect to the banquet hall is to add lights. Try string lights, LED lights and even LED candles. This will help the day ceremony move seamlessly into the more romantic nighttime part of the reception without the fire risk. You could even use LED lanterns and place them on every table, which will highlight your wedding theme and provide lighting, and won’t cost a fortune.

Seating Arrangements

At your reception, you will probably have tried to keep certain family members apart, as, to be honest, a lot of drama that kicks off at weddings is because two family members are sitting too close to one another!

So, while you are drawing up the seating arrangement, why not add an elegant touch to the banquet hall with some tablecloths (linen is best) and some place cards so your guests will know where to sit? This will add a high-status look and will avoid conflict (hopefully!).

Neutral Color Schemes

Not all weddings have to be ivory and gold, and if you are aiming to have a more minimalist or contemporary wedding, you can add an appealing décor to your reception hall but add neutral colors. This can look like light gray napkins paired with pastel flowers and even bright white table runners. Such colors and vibes will create a simple chic, which will elevate the feel of the banquet hall without you having to spend excess on the accessories. Just make sure that chosen colors match the colors of the wedding, as this will create continuity.