Ballroom weddings are popular for a reason—they can be pretty darn seamless to plan. You have a seasoned on-site staff to work with, if connected to a hotel it can host your out-of-town guests, and they can easily accommodate nearly any size wedding. But we’d be lying if we said the everyday ballroom wedding was dripping in personality. Adding character and energy to typical ballroom spaces can take some serious strategy, but these design tips can help.

Cover Those Carpets

If the ballroom you’ve booked is covered in unsightly carpeting, ask your wedding planner about options to cover it up. Depending on your budget, you can lay temporary carpets from wall to wall, bring in area rugs and textiles to cover certain areas of the carpet, or even lay temporary hardwood floors down.

Add Some Greenery

The right florals and greenery will help breathe life into an otherwise bland space. Think about bringing the outdoors in with beautiful floral garlands and—our favorite option—stunning floral chandeliers. The goal is to draw eyes away from unsightly carpets or boring divider walls.

Cover Divider Walls

If your ballroom has a divider wall, consider covering it with a super chic, one-of-a-kind backdrop. For those with a larger budget, try leaning large living walls chock-full of succulents and greenery along the wall. Textiles are another great option—have your wedding planner or designer pull some options and hang a wall of pretty fabric.

Lighting, Lighting, & More Lighting

The number one way to transform a venue—no matter the space—is strategic lighting. From up-lighting, charming market lights, and romantic candlelight, figure out what kind of lighting is feasible for your ballroom wedding. The more mood lighting, the better.

Encourage an Open Airflow

If your ballroom faces the ocean, a stunning lake, or even a nice outdoor patio, consider keeping doors propped open during your reception, giving the ballroom more of an open-air feel so guests don’t feel like they’re celebrating in a box. If this isn’t achievable with your ballroom, make the space feel like a world in and of itself with details that create an atmosphere in line with your overall wedding aesthetic.

Overall, adding character to a ballroom wedding is all about making strategic design choices within your budget. Know what items will give you the biggest bang for your buck—like lighting and greenery—and spend what you can there before moving on to less impactful design items. And, as always, working with a seasoned wedding planner will ensure your ballroom wedding is as swanky and stunning as possible!

Hero photo courtesy of Stetten Wilson

View the full feature in Volume 1 of The Aisle magazine