[cswanhart]

Im getting married Next april, and my wedding and reception is at a horse ranch here. I love the reception location but the reception hall or as they call it (party barn) looks just like that - a barn. It's a 40' x 60' square room with a kitchenette section and ugly lighting. My original idea was to cover up the kitchenette with a curtain and to hang tons of tulle from the ceiling with christmas lights.Ii have just been informed i cannot hang anything from the ceiling or on the walls. Thank goodness I didn't buy the tulle yet! What should I do about decorations? I was thinking maybe lots of ficus trees with lights in them would be enough lighting or get some kind of poles to put in the corners and maybe one in the middle of the room and suspend tulle from those to cover the ugly ceiling. Any ideas from the experts?

This post has been edited by TWQadmin: 31 January 2026 - 09:08 AM

[flowersue]

[crazy]What it sounds like to me is that you are trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear...so to speak. A barn is a barn no matter how you dress it. First a good cleaning...then try to begin to embrace the place in a more minimal way, covering up may not be the way but redirection of your focus. For instance...if the ceiling is ugly leave it dark and bring the lighting down to a different level with paper lanterns or something that will cut off the view above it a bit. Wood poles on heavy umbrella stands can support lights like that. Concentrate on creating a really beautiful focal area rather than covering up flaws. You may want to create a great center area and ignore the edges. Also any room full of people looks a lot different than when it is empty. (In a house with no furniture you see all the flaws...but when it is furnished you notice other things.) Don't knock yourself out with a big elaborate cover up project. Step back, rethink and the ideas will come. Good luck and breathe...it will all be great!!!![;)]

This post has been edited by TWQadmin: 05 October 2025 - 05:52 AM

[The Video Pros]

What a great venue!! If you haven't already decided upon a theme you might want to consider "chuck wagon" style. Since it is being held at a horse ranch, perhaps they would provide some ranching implements to decorate the hall. Bales of hay situated around the perimeter, with a couple tilted against the wall, can provide comfortable lounging areas. Inexpensive blankets with Indian designs (purchased at Walmart, etc.), could be placed over the bales to provide a non-scratchy surface for sitting.

The center of the hall could have a "fake" fire in the middle, with rocks circling the pit and several pieces of mesquite, with a big kettle suspended above. The flames are really colored cloth being blown from below by using a small fan. A lot of the Halloween theme parties use these fake flames for cauldrons. It is very realistic. One great benefit is smoke doesn't get in your eyes! It could contain punch, or party favors, or whatever.

Some split rail fence pieces set up across the corners would take care of those areas. Or if you can get a hold of corn stalks, gather up some of those and secure with ribbon matching your color theme and set in the corners. If you can't find those, ask if they have any old wagon wheels that could be propped in the corners. Battery operated lanterns that look like the old fashioned kerosene lanterns could be placed on the tables and help keep the theme, yet provide cozy low lighting. Colorful hats and kerchiefs could be placed at each setting as favors. One color for the boys and one for the girls.

For the kitchenette area, set up a buffet table that looks like a chuck wagon.

Good luck!