Reception Decoration

We had 6 tables for guests, and a large table up front for drinks and cake. I got ivory table cloths for the 6 tables, all from Bed Bath and Beyond (I had a gift card--a bridal shower present), on sale, $15, marked down from $50. I borrowed the long table cloth for the big table. Down the center of each of the guest tables were strips of blue and brown satin cloth, purchased at Wal-Mart for $4 a yard. I bought 5 yards and cut them into 4 strips. These were loosely laid down the centers of the tables. On top I put small candle jars with coffee beans on the bottom and a tea light on top. Each table had 3 of these. With them, each table had 2 jars filled with a mix of blue M&M's and Raisinettes (blue and brown!) and a long handled (iced tea) spoon with brown ribbon bows tied on them.

I had 3 easels, borrowed from my work--ask a local school, arts association, etc. On each was a collage frame. One was pictures of me as a child, one of him as a child, and the last, pictures of the two of us together. On the cake table was a framed copy of the photo we put on our invitations.

At either end of the cake table was a large ficus tree borrowed from the church (they were in the lobby). And really, that was it. It was simple, and I thought it looked very elegant.

I got our decoration items at Michael's. The cart contained: 3 collage frames, 1 8X10 frame, a signature mat, 12 small tea light jars, 9 larger jars for candy, all the stuff for corsages, bouquets and boutonnieres, toasting glasses, cake server, flower girl basket, etc. I spent around $260 at Michaels, however, later on we found the tea light jars for way cheaper at WalMart, and instead of a signature mat, my sister enlarged a photo of us, mounted it on foam core and left a huge border around it, so we took back that other stuff.

Our Out of Pocket for reception decorations (minus flower stuff--which is accounted for above--and the stuff we took back): $190