Do you want to know why every Pinterest wedding (aka fake wedding shoot) is super tiny and only has ten people at it? Because decorating a small space is easy. And more importantly: decorating a small space costs significantly less than decorating a big space with the same amount of stuff. (Math! It’s never your friend.)
So if your wedding plans involve a big empty space (think social hall, rec room), it’s understandable if the prospect of decorating might be… daunting. Big empty spaces come with their own set of challenges: tiny details are liable to get swallowed up, but trying to tackle the question of scale without destroying your budget is hard. Which is why the answer for big empty spaces is often less about how you fill it, and more about how much you can fill it. Aka buying inexpensive decor in bulk. Think: paper streamers, honeycomb decorations, balloons, and anything else you can buy large quantities of, fill lots of space with, and not spend a million dollars on. But how do you do that without making your wedding look like a children’s birthday party?
The answer is: it’s all in the execution. So when our friends at Oh Happy Day launched their brand new party shop this month, we were pretty excited. While the online shop features some things you’ve probably seen before (honeycomb decorations, streamers, balloons), this #lazygirl is very into the idea of having it all in one place, curated by someone with a designer’s aesthetic, so I can give my Googling a rest. We thought we’d use the launch of their shop as an excuse to show you a bunch of different ideas for decorating big empty spaces with lots of cheap (cute) decor. Because with a cool idea, bulk decorations in a big empty space can actually look way more stylish than the intricate details you see on those fake weddings on Pinterest.
Just… don’t tell Pinterest I said that.
Use: Honeycomb diamonds ($7)
To Make: A cool oversized ceremony backdrop. Bonus: this design is scalable, so make it as huge as you want for a really oversized backdrop.
Use: Giant balloons ($5)
To Make: Have a space with really tall ceilings? Use giant balloons to make floating centerpieces that pack a lot of punch.
Or: If you don’t want to bother with helium (more on that below), stick big balloons to a wall for a big ass ceremony backdrop.
Use: Paper Garlands ($10)
To Make: A photo booth backdrop (or to highlight any other part of your reception.)
Use: Washi Tape ($4)
To Make: You don’t need to go for broke to make a cool backdrop or statement wall. Some strategically placed washi tape will suffice.
Use: Bright Balloons (6 for $6)
To Make: Sometimes you just gotta FILL the space. Colorful balloons are a cheap and effective way to do just that (and I think these dip-dyed ones would look super cool.)
Use: Honeycomb Balls ($7)
To Make: Honeycomb balls look great hanging from a ceiling or a tree, but you can use them pretty much anywhere, including as ad hoc wall decor.
Or: Use smaller honeycomb balls for an easy centerpiece.
Use: Mylar Numbers ($5.50)
To Make: Floating table numbers. Makes your table easy to find, and fills up lots of space. Win/win?
Or Use: Mylar Letters ($5.50)
To Make: A personalized ceremony backdrop.
Use: Geronimo Balloons ($60)
To Make: A cool dance floor.
A note on setup: If you’re ordering balloons from a local party store, you should be able to order pre-inflated balloons. If you’re ordering from a place like Oh Happy Day, you’ll need to look into getting a helium tank. Call around your local party stores to ask about renting, or you can order one from Party City right here. For hanging paper products, Oh Happy Day’s Jordan recommends white gaffers tape for its staying power and because it won’t ruin walls.
