Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life. Understandably, you want everything to be perfect and to be picturesque. One way to do so is to use a gazebo for your wedding venue. The quaint structures have an intrinsic romance about them that are simply perfect for weddings and receptions.
Are Gazebos a Good Choice for Weddings?
If you plan to use a gazebo for your wedding, you’ll have many things to consider. The structure and the surrounding space should be able to accommodate everyone you want to attend, and you’ll have to plan for the weather. Even chillier areas can incorporate a larger wedding tent, covering the gazebo for warmth.
How to Decorate a Gazebo for Your Wedding
If you play your cards right, you can glam up your gazebo to perfection, transforming it into a beautiful focal point for your big day. We have our recommendations here. Keep in mind that many of these suggestions can also work for pergolas
Greenery
Greenery, in its many forms, is one of the most common components of decorating a gazebo for weddings. You can arrange flowers above the entrance to the gazebo, perhaps even draping a garland of them artistically. You should attach them to the gazebo with clips for a temporary and damage-free solution. Alternatively, you can also use grapevine garlands.
The flowers you use can be real or silk depending on preference. You can arrange your flowers in hanging baskets hung around the edge of the roof or in entryway pillars (the more oversized the better). If the gazebo you intend to use is on your own property, you can plan ahead and plant appropriate flowers and shrubs for a seamless appearance.
Garlands are wonderfully diverse wedding decorations for a gazebo. They can be wound around posts, draped around the ceiling, or woven through the slats of the gazebo itself. Alternatively, you can create a similar effect with ribbon or tulle.
Drapery
A bit of cloth is a great way to garnish a gazebo for your wedding. Consider draping white tulle and creating bursts of color with vibrantly-hued flowers. Drape the center table in a lovely table cloth. Add curtains around the outside edges of the gazebo. If your wedding is in the summer, you can elect for semi-sheer drapes
Lighting
Lighting is an important part of decorating a gazebo for your wedding. Many gazebos do not have their own lighting, and if you are planning an evening ceremony or simply want the gazebo to remain visible throughout the reception, you’ll need to make lighting accommodations. Having a lighting plan is a good idea anyway in case the day becomes overcast. Good lighting will also help your photographer get better shots of the event.
You have many lighting options for your gazebo for your wedding. Candles are a romantic and beautiful addition whether you light them or not. Keep in mind that some venues do not allow open flames. You can put real or electric candles in lanterns placed on the floor or hung from the ceiling, or you can place candelabras on the altar. Luminaries are a popular choice for lining the aisle.
Alternatively or additionally, consider fairy lights in white or yellow for a neutral yet magical feel. You can also use strings of lights in your wedding colors. String lights can line the openings of the gazebo, wrap them around the columns or railings of the gazebo, or drape them over the openings as a kind of curtain. For a real flare, some wedding supply stores provide the option to rent chandeliers.
Other Ideas
If you want to add more surface area for draping garlands, flowers, or fabric, you can set up decorative trellises around the gazebo. If you are looking for a more thrifty option, you can always opt for balloons. A balloon arch is a classy option if you’re worried about balloons looking cheap.
Consider a Theme
You may choose to follow a theme as you decorate your gazebo for your wedding. Here are just a few:
Garden—For a garden theme, really lean into the flower element, adding blooms around the gazebo and even covering the floor in flower petals. You could also include cloth butterflies and decorative stepping stones. Consider setting up a fountain or birdbath outside the gazebo.
Autumn—If you get married during the harvest, you can decorate with seasonal flora including sunflowers, pumpkins, and wheat or corn stalks. You can celebrate the abundance of the season by adding bushels of apples or pears.
Beach—A beach theme always lends an airy and exotic air. Incorporate seashells, netting, starfish, and sand. You can even conduct the ceremony barefoot.
Rustic—Rustic weddings should include lots of foliage, especially of the evergreen variety. Incorporate pine cones, leaves, branches, and anything else that feels sufficiently woodsy. You could use a decorative stump or barrel in place of a table in the center.
Christmas—Christmas-themed weddings often utilize décor ideas like snowflakes, icicles, and bows in red and green. You can even work wreaths or a Christmas tree into your decorations for a gazebo for your wedding around the holiday season.