Fall Wedding Ideas: DIY Reception Table Decor

This weekend I had the opportunity to decorate for a couple who was getting married in the church I attend. I had always wanted to decorate for a wedding, so I let my creative juices go...Here is what people were greeted with upon entering the church.


The color scheme chosen by the bride was soft yellow and green. I really had a lot of fun coming up with the decor, using many items that I had collected from garage sales and thrift stores.

Completed Entryway/Guest Reception Table



When I purchased this cabinet door I had plans to make a chalkboard out of it, but I knew that I wanted to use it for the wedding and that black would not go with the bride's taste.



Now that I knew I was going to use the cupboard door as the signage for the reception table, I decided to design the welcome message on my Silhouette Cameo. I cut it out in the sample of green vinyl that came with the Cameo package when I purchased it. It turned out to be just the right amount. I will definitely be ordering more of this color!

Here is a closeup of the vignette. Most of the flowers were from the dollar store except for the hydrangea which was from Hobby Lobby.



The bride had purchased this cardboard box for cards, I simply embellished it with some scrapbook paper, ribbon, silk flowers and some of the dried flowers used in the pew decorations. The LOVE sign was one I had on hand that I was planning on using for a wreath. After choosing the right typeface for LOVE, I made a stencil out of clear acetate and then sponged the word onto the little sign with black paint.



The guest book was a plain satin covered guest book that I embellished. The bride had shown me some pins on her Pinterest board of guest books that she liked and hinted that she wanted burlap. My challenge was in figuring out just how to cover it with the burlap without it looking bulky, wrinkled and inelegant. I had to wrap my brain around that for a while...



I knew that my sewing skills were not great and that it might look a bit bulky, so I came up with the idea of giving it a sleeve that was covered in linen to give it the same feel as burlap without the bulk and potential mess.



I then embellished it by adding a little strip of the linen to the pen as well and then some ribbon for subtle drama. The rose is made out of raw linen and the leaves I simply took off of some faux autumn flowers I had bought on sale from the craft store last year after Thanksgiving.



I also used the same leaves to offset the cones I made for the pew decorations.



I used burlap for the cones and a mix of dried flowers that the bride wanted with a sprig of silk hydrangea to add some interest.

I am really pleased with how they turned out! I placed one on the pew at the entrance to the church and then one on every other pew on the inside of the church.



And here is a picture of the newlyweds on their way out of the church. I couldn't help but smile when I caught a glimpse of the groom as he came into the church and stopped dead in his tracks in front of the display as he did a double take to view all of the details. It made it all that much more worthwhile knowing that it was appreciated even by the groom!



Congratulations Nyles and Camille! May God grant you many wonderful years together on your new marriage adventure!

I think I may want to do this for a living! Would you hire me to do your wedding?

I am linking up with...

DIY Showoff
Shabby Love ~ Vintage Mellie
Nifty Thrifty Things
Fabulously Creative Friday