Designing the perfect reception decor can be an arduous task – from stage decor to cake table, seating arrangements to photo backdrops. Luckily, supporting our clients with design is also one of our favorite parts of the process. We discuss the vision, colors, and feel our clients want, and match it with their budget. From there, we support with finding the perfect decorator and other vendors to bring the vision to life.
Here are some of our past clients’ reception designs that we love – and hopefully you do too! Our clients have planned receptions that were luxe and glam, to those with a rustic chic theme – and in each, their unique styles show in every detail.
1. Pink Candlelight Glam
Venue: Hayes Mansion
Florals & Decor: Bahar Shakor, Shakor Decor Events
This client went for a grand look for their reception decor, opting to cover the floors of their venue in white plush high-pile carpet, and drape the full surface of the walls in white with pink up-lights. There are clear accents throughout the room: the acrylic chairs, the candelabras, the glass plates, and the vases of the centerpieces.
The round table centerpieces perfectly compliment the rest of the room. The roses and hydrangeas create a luxe feel, while the pink and white color scheme is more muted and matches the rest of the decor. The use of more white flowers than pink makes the florals pop against the more uniformly pink background.
While the floral arrangements are relatively large, they are kept out of guests’ eye lines by tall clear vases. This allows for an unobstructed view of the reception stage and dance floor from every angle, so guests can enjoy the speeches, first dance, and cake-cutting wherever they are seated. The use of multiple floral pieces at different levels creates additional visual interest, and creates a cohesive feel whether guests are seated or standing.
This client opted for two long, clear King’s tables for their families and bridal parties. In keeping with the rest of the decor, each table featured a long, low arrangement of pink and white roses and hydrangeas. These pieces waterfall off the tables and onto the floor, creating a unique look that also masks the lower part of the table in photos, as there’s no tablecloth on those tables.
The King’s tables also feature candlesticks, both on tiered candelabras and individual, lower coordinated holders. The reflections of the candlesticks on the chairs and tabletops created a shimmering effect that comes through beautifully in photos.
2. Jewel Tones and Gold Accents
Venue: The Plaza Hotel Monterey
Florals & Decor: Sania, Saba Decor Rentals
This client opted to coordinate their decor to enhance the existing feel of the room. Their reception space featured lots of natural wood, on the ballroom floor and the ceiling, and gold chandelier light fixtures. They worked with Sania from Saba Decor to create a beautiful, lush ballroom with leafy arrangements and gold accents throughout.
The table decor echoed this theme. The cake table stood out with a sparkling, gold sequin tablecloth, while round tables were draped in satin cream-colored linens. Place-setting napkins contrasted in a deep ruby jewel tone. The surrounding chairs have elegant gold backs, and the whimsical table numbers matched.
The centerpieces tie the look of this reception hall together beautifully. Jewel toned flowers created stunning contrast with the cream and gold details of the rest of the room. The leafy details in these arrangements
Tables close to the center of the ballroom featured lower arrangements, which allows for easy viewing of the head table. Tables further from the dance floor had floral arrangements on tall, clear tapered vases, which create a beautiful leveled effect without drawing eyes away from the couple.
This client went with one long head table at the front of the room for the couple, each of their parents, and their siblings. The couple sat on a bench atop the stage during various speeches and performances throughout the evening. The bench is surrounded by floral arrangements similar to those atop the round tables, while both the backdrop and the head table feature a long leafy arrangement. This creates a visual frame effect around the bride and groom, and there are no concerns of the family’s faces being obstructed by florals.
3. White Roses on Lush Greenery
Venue: Pleasant Hill Community Center
Decorator: Asma, Asma Designs
This couple’s venue had a stunning floor-to-ceiling window with views of outdoor greenery, so it’s no surprise that their decor was designed to match. This couple’s reception design featured a mix of white flowers and sprigs of beautiful greenery for a muted design that still looks fun and whimsical.
Lower centerpieces were placed in white bowls with gold accents, and taller centerpieces were positioned on gold stands. This coordinated beautifully with the gold chairs and gold accents throughout the room. Both designs featured candles in glass holders, which tied together the remaining decor.
The cake table followed this theme beautifully, with the same glass candle holders all the way around the base. The cake also had white roses along each tier that coordinated with the round table centerpieces. Our favorite part about this design is the clear cake stand with the floral arrangements underneath. The orchids and greenery tied the look in with the rest of the room!
The king’s tables for family and bridal parties featured high candle arrangements and lower florals, in contrast to the round tables. Going all the way down the table, taller candlesticks were surrounded on either side by short candles elevated on transparent platform candle holders. The floral arrangements, while similar to those on the other tables, had an “invisible” base so they appear to sit directly atop the table. Like in other designs we’ve seen, this allows for an unobstructed view of the couple’s closest family and friends during the events of the reception.
The stage featured a couple’s table in front of a stunning candle display backdrop. The floral arrangements along the corners of the stage backdrop coordinate perfectly with those around the rest of the room. There are also candles on either side of the stage on leveled candle holders with gold accents. The tabletop decor features lush greenery that appears to spill over onto the front of the table, creating a grand look for the whole room.
4. Sparkling Pink and Simple Florals
Venue: Marriott Hotel, Fremont CA
Decorator: Noreen, Aesthetika Events
This reception design featured shimmering pink table linens with purple napkins at each place setting. This color scheme was extended into the rest of the venue with pink and purple lighting along the walls, and gold chairs added an accent that was reflected throughout the venue in the details like the lanterns atop tables and the lettering on the custom dance floor.
The round table centerpieces varied from table to table. Some featured a gold and glass lantern-shaped candle holder with low and simple white floral arrangements on either side. These centerpieces rested atop a round mirror to create contrast against the pink table linens. Other tables featured tall tapered vases with bold white floral arrangements. These tables also included the same all-white floral arrangements.
The cake table followed this theme of extravagant design. Rather than following the traditional cake table design, featuring only the wedding cake, this couple opted to showcase a full dessert spread. The beautiful display included cupcakes of many different flavors on risers to create a leveled effect. The main cake riser also had cascading crystal accents that drew attention to it in a cohesive way.
The king’s table design included pink linens to tie the whole room together. The low floral design and leveled candles allows for guests to easily converse across the table without any obstructions. Gold place settings set this tablescape apart from the rest!
These four designs represent very different styles, but they each show off our clients’ distinct visions. Every detail in the designs marries functionality with the clients’ personality to create a cohesive experience for guests. These thoughtful touches around the venue create a unique look and feel for each space that is truly in line with our clients’ visions.
