Your wedding reception is going to be a festive and joyous part of your wedding day.
Since it's a much less formal atmosphere than the wedding itself, it will give you a chance to spend some personal time with your guests in a lovely environment that you create yourself.
Whether you hire a professional decorator or not, your personal taste will shine through at your reception and make it a warm, delightful part of the day for everyone involved.
The first thing you need to decide is what kind of a reception you want.
Do you want something elaborate and elegant or more homey and casual? Your choice of venue can help you decide what would be most appropriate.
If the reception is being held in a rustic old local meeting hall, you probably won't want to plan a wedding reception complete with white tablecloths and fine china, for example.
So take your cue from the reception facility that is available, and use your best judgment to determine the kind of décor that would best fulfill your idea of a dream reception.
If you are trying to have a nice reception on a modest budget, there are a lot of corners you can cut without losing any of the fairy tale look you're trying to create.
Online searches will help you find numerous sites that will give you ideas for decorating for your wedding reception.
Paper streamers are always appropriate and inexpensive, and you can use paper table runners instead of cloth tablecloths, and they will look nice, too.
If you'd first considered decorating your reception area with fresh flowers or a floral arch, you might want to consider using balloon decorations instead.
They can be just as festive and won't cost you nearly as much.
Check out local rental centers.
You may be surprised at how many items you can rent instead of having to buy them.
Things like crystal punch bowls or potted trees can be rented for a nominal fee and then returned when you're finished with them.
You can also create your own centerpieces by arranging bouquets of discount store silk flowers in pitchers, vases, or teapots you find at flea markets.
Decorating on a budget can still be fun, and your guests will be impressed by the atmosphere you have achieved.