When you plan your wedding decorations, cutting costs is always something that needs to be considered. After all, whatever you can save can go to other things. To those who are truly cost cutting, the issue of where to get decorations for both the ceremony and the reception will come up. Usually, wedding planners or coordinators have a group or team that they hire to put up decorations for them. These decorations are usually for rent, unless of course there are very specific decorations the bride and groom want that are not among the decorations the team already has, then there will be extra costs.

      You can get in touch with these same suppliers or party decorators who rent out decorations (often times with free labor) and see how much it will be to rent out decorations for one night. Going directly to the source will often be cheaper than going through the wedding planner. Usually these companies rent out items like cocktail tables, chairs, dining tables, tablecloths, ribbons for chairs, ribbons for cocktail tables, cloth for the surrounding walls and other wall décor, or a canopy flowing from the center of the ceiling onto the four corners of the room.

      If you will be getting outside labor, such as family and friends, however, you may need to get your decorations elsewhere. Some party suppliers don't like having other people set up their decorations because they aren't assured that it will be handled properly. If this is the direction you're leaning towards,  figure out what decorations you need and visit cloth warehouses and other warehouses and find out how much it is to buy cloth and decorations at wholesale prices. Usually you will get to specify the size you need as well. Compare the prices of buying your own decorations and having outside labor to the prices of finding and hiring a decorating team that rents out decorations.

      Should the team's prices come out cheaper, you're all set! Should the outside labor and outside decorations come out cheaper, then be sure to buy good quality decorations. You will usually be able to use these items elsewhere. For example, the cloth you use for ribbons and a canopy may be used around your home (maybe even for future holiday decorations.)

      At the end of the day, always compare prices and see what comes out cheaper. Like the other aspects of your reception, plan your wedding decorations as soon as possible and in the second quarter of your timeline.

Next Article: Plan Your Wedding Decorations: Flowers