What Wedding Decorations Do I Need? Our Top 10 List of Must Haves

There are a lot of things to think about when planning a wedding. Unlike choosing a dress or an entrée, choosing décor can be the most overwhelming part of the planning process because it involves so many details. From choosing colors and styles to figuring out how to decorate your ceremony and your reception spaces, it can be hard to wrap your head around all of your options!

Are you feeling stuck on the question, “What wedding décor do I need?” As a leader among wedding décor websites, we know a thing or two about stylish, essential wedding decorations. Here is our wedding décor guide with options that will appeal to all brides and grooms, no matter what the theme or style of your big day.

Unplugged Ceremony Wedding Sign: Elegant Wedding Invites

Signs

Signs are a great way to decorate your ceremony and reception spaces, but they can also provide guests with information, like where to sit and whether your ceremony is unplugged or not.

Customizable acrylic wedding signs are among our favorite wedding decorations, but canvas wedding signs are also an option. Ask guests to sign one like a guest book and you’ll have the perfect keepsake after your wedding day.

Circular Ceremony Arch Covered in White Roses: Our Italian Fairytale

Ceremony Arch and Alternatives

An arch at the alter is a great way to decorate your ceremony space, but you have other wedding décor options if a traditional arch isn’t really your thing. Consider a round backdrop, decorate with potted plants, or choose your spot carefully and you can take advantage of a sweeping vista or existing interior décor.

Hanging Lantern Wedding Aisle Decoration: Hitched

Aisle Décor

Aisle wedding decorations might include an aisle runner, whether you choose to walk on carpets at a festival wedding or a traditional fabric runner at a church ceremony.

Aisle décor also includes items that line the aisle, are displayed at the ends of the aisle, and items that are tied to chairs. From decorating the aisle with fruits, like apples and pumpkins, to floral arrangements, your options are endless, but we especially love the idea of using lanterns. Wooden lanterns can be used at a rustic wedding while rattan lanterns are great for a boho wedding.

Vases Filled With Pampas Grass and Eucalyptus: Junebug Weddings

Flowers and Alternatives

No list of must-have wedding décor items is complete without flowers! They can sit in vases on reception tables, adorn ceremony arches, and they can even be used to decorate the wedding cake.

Looking for wedding décor without flowers? There are plenty of alternatives. Potted plants and greenery, like eucalyptus, are popular with modern brides, as is wedding décor with pampas grass. If you want to avoid the look of florals altogether, think outside the box. You could decorate with balloons and streamers at a whimsical wedding, while books and teacups would be beautiful at a garden wedding.

Bare Bulbs Hanging Over a Reception Table: Boho Weddings

Candles and Lighting

Candles can set a romantic mood at any wedding. Tealight candles, pillar candles, and taper candles can be mixed and matched to provide your ceremony and reception spaces with a soft glow. If you don’t want to deal with open fire laws, you can use flameless candles instead.

Looking for wedding table décor without candles? You can light up your space with fairy lights, Edison bulbs, and string lights. Chandeliers are also an option.

Reception Table Dressed in a Tablecloth and Table Runner: Style Me Pretty

Fabric and Tablecloths

Don’t just focus all of your attention on the decorations on the top of your reception tables. You should think about how you dress them as well! Soft cheesecloth table runners are beautiful at nearly any wedding, while heavy velvet tablecloths are great for fall nuptials.

There are other creative ways to use fabric as wedding décor. Hang fabric from a ceremony arch, create a dreamy photo booth backdrop, or hang fabric on the backs of chairs.

Chairs With Fabric Chair Backs Decorated With Flowers: Wedding Chicks

Chair Décor

Speaking of chair decorations, there are many more ways to decorate chairs than draping them in fabric. A simple burlap chair sash can dress up worn, wooden chairs at a farmyard wedding, floral nosegays can hang from the backs of chairs at an outdoor wedding, and furs can be placed on the seats of every chair at a winter wedding.

Place Setting Featuring a Charger Plate and Unique Napkin Ring: Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Table Settings

Many brides and grooms focus on creating wedding table centerpieces, but with the right table settings, you can halve almost no wedding décor in the middle of the table while still making a big impact on your reception space.

Charger plates are a must. Other details, like napkin rings, placemats, and place card holders can create a stunning table setting, regardless of your centerpieces.

Bride and Groom on a Lighted Floral Dance Floor: Brides

Dance Floor

You have a lot of cool options when it comes to dance floors! You can use decals to create a print on the floor where you want your guests to dance, monograms can go on an existing floor, and you can rent mirrored glass panels. Some even come with lights that create a sparkling, starry effect.

Don’t forget about decorations above the dance floor! Paper lantern wedding decorations are fun, easy, and affordable, and they look great mixed in with disco balls. A wire rack can help you create a stunning floral display, while projectors enable your guests to dance under the stars.

Macarons Displayed Under a Bell Jar: Martha Stewart

Cake, Candy, and Sweets

The cake table is a focal point, so make sure you add it to your wedding décor checklist!

Hopefully your cake is delicious, but it’s also a decoration, so design it accordingly. You can personalize your cake even further with a cool geometric cake stand and a rustic Mr. and Mrs. Cake topper.

Other sweets and canady can double as décor too! Place candy in your wedding colors inside apothecary jars, create a donut wall, or place custom sweets on every table.