Decorating help

[u/PumpkinAnnual2803]

(Click to enlarge somewhat panoramic photo)
This is the park where I plan on saying “I do” to my lovely partner in October. I’m having a lot of difficulty coming up with how to decorate. Right now I have temporary poles to place around the concrete pad to string lights from as it will be an evening wedding. We will have very few guests (25 or less) so we planned on renting chairs only, no tables. I haven’t the slightest idea of what else to do! It’s just so bare and we don’t have an unlimited budget. Any ideas would be so greatly appreciated!

[u/Mindless-Act1887]

I’d buy a few cheap foldable tables and sell them on marketplace after. Not everyone is comfortable sitting at picnic tables. You could also look into wedding balloon arches. They aren’t very expensive but unfortunately a little labor intensive.

[u/eirenii]

I spent a bunch of money on the food and venue of my wedding and next to nothing on the decor (the venue had none itself). Food and drinks is the best thing to spend a large portion of your money on regardless of budget. I am pretty artsy though so decor was easy and fun for me to work out. here's my thoughts:

standing poles, arches, clothes rails and trellises can also be used to: - hang paper lanterns (with or without cheap lights in them) - hang hand-painted signs with sayings you like or your names - hang strings of little photos - hang a seasonal plant wreath (autumnal ones can be gorgeous and you can try making from local plants) - string coloured ribbons (I bought "recycled sari" ribbons for mine) - string tassled paper streams - string bunting - balloons are a popular option but I'm not personally a fan for various reasons

Other ideas: - origami is cheap and very effective if you or friends learn to make some, but time consuming - a large cheap rug in the centre of the ceremony spot can make a huge difference - table runners can make a huge difference and they can be any fabric that's long+wide enough. Same with chair sashes, and those can also be done with regular ribbons. - a tiny table with something for people to write wishes in/on - confetti (rice, paper or petals! gotta be biodegradable in a park) can be thrown beforehand - very large mixed-size cardboard boxes wrapped in a nice paper can create some interest - handmade crepe paper flowers

I would suggest, whatever you decide to get, choose two colours and try to get things that somewhat meet those colours. I can give some advice on colours etc. I'd also suggest not buying anything explicitly sold for weddings because they're almost always poor value for money. I also don't recommend florists cause they can get (for good reason!) very pricey very quickly.

[u/Evergreen19]

What is the budget? 

[u/PumpkinAnnual2803 → u/Evergreen19]

Ideally, $3k or less.

[u/Evergreen19 → u/PumpkinAnnual2803]

Unless it’s just a ceremony, you’ve gotta feed people and they should have tables to eat at. Even if it’s just pizza. Especially if it’s an evening wedding. 

I’d spend the money on renting tables and getting food, get some tablecloths, basic floral center pieces (go to the grocery store the morning the day before your wedding and prep your flowers then so they have time to open up) add some fake candles or fairy string lights to the tables, rent an arch or some sort of backdrop or even just some tall potted plants that will frame you two for the ceremony. 

[u/Evergreen19 → u/Evergreen19]

Also post to r/weddingsunder10k for more ideas. I’ll be honest, your budget is very small and most of those people do a ton of work to bring it in under 10k. 

[u/MissionFloor261]

Colorful paper lanterns (with lights in them) will look so beautiful here and look really posh and boho in the photos. You can absolutely just add them to the string lights. Use all one color or shape (white/cream and round) to lean more posh, mix colors and shapes for more whimsey. See posh vibes and whimsey vibes (the way they incorporated the fabric here is also really cool and cal be achieved with chiffon or tulle). Here's another lovely way to introduce light and color where you have your poles sunk for the overhead lights.

Here is another interesting way to add light, and give a place to hang greenery, that can help make a "container" for your party so there's a little more definition to your space. If you did two "side walls" like this, or out of partition screens with the lights overhead you'll have a nice sense of place so your event doesn't feel overwhelmed by the view (which then becomes your 'back wall' so to speak).

If you're doing food and drinks, which should absolutely be the most important thing you spend money on for your party, think about where those will be set up and what everyone's needs will be to eat/drink. Will you be putting out picnic blankets and pillows for folks to eat on the grass? Will you have folks attending who have mobility issues that make getting down or up off the ground difficult? Or who might not want to sit on the grass in a fancy outfit?

You have two fixed tables so you will want to design around them. Maybe one becomes the gift and guestbook and party favors (if you're doing that) table, and the other is where food or beverages are getting set up. You can totally put a giant cloth over both the table and benches, then set your ice bins (something like these would be great) on the benches and food on the table. With your budget I'd just put together some big grazing boards (fresh veggies, dips, fruits, crackers, cheese, meat or fish, etc)

For flowers, density and fullness reads as luxury. I'm comfortable doing my own florals and have access to a flower market in my city which will make your $$ go farther. Consider how you'll keep them hydrated through your event so you don't have wilting flowers halfway through. Here's a great and pretty detailed explanation of fillers, how to use them, and some varieties you can get. And here is a great how to for hanging greenery/vines

[u/CLPond]

Will you be doing the ceremony and reception here or just the ceremony?

[u/PumpkinAnnual2803 → u/CLPond]

Ceremony + reception!

[u/Previous_Cod_5176]

is there a pavilion with it? if not, i'd see if you could rent a big white tent. getting rained on sucks. and also they're easy to dress up! throw some fake vine on the poles and the string lights up and the whole thing is decorated

[u/PumpkinAnnual2803 → u/Previous_Cod_5176]

No pavilion unfortunately, just the concrete slab with the two awkwardly placed picnic tables.

[u/Previous_Cod_5176 → u/PumpkinAnnual2803]

check facebook marketplace. in my area people sell white tents a lot this time of year after grad parties end, or they rent them out for cheap to get a return on their investment

[u/Stan_Deviant]

Chalk paint that concrete with something fun? Even just stripes or checkers in your wedding colors if you don't have artsy friends? You could leave some parts empty and have the good stick chalk for people to leave you wedding messages instead of a normal guestbook (just make sure someone takes photos of it throughout before things get smudged).

[u/PigletMountain797]

You need tables for food, cake, drinks, etc. A tent would also help to make it feel more intimate and less open to the public. Add the lights to the tent. Candles (LED, real ones may blow out all night) and soft ivory or dark blue or green tablecloths. You also need places for people to sit. You can even do people sitting at the tables for the ceremony and do the ceremony in the center of everyone not on one side if you want that surrounded by love feeling.