I am planning a November wedding and the reception hall has acoustical tiles and a metal grid that I would like to hide somehow. I am on a tight budget and cannot do anything permanent.
I would just invite some 'ugly people' to the reception. Your guests will be so busy commenting on, who are those ugly people?, , , they wont even notice the ceiling. I've been to a lot of receptions, but I dont remember any ceilings. I have much more fond memories than that.
tulle costs about $1 a yard but since you need one and a half times the length of the span from center to edge to tent drape a ceiling. I would like to suggest you start shopping the everything for a dollar stores and buy white plastic table covers. They are nearly opaque, You can lift the acoustic tiles and tape the edge of the covers to th silver framing and drop the tile back down, drape to the end of the table cover and secure the end the same way. They measue about four feet by seven feet. If you cut the covers in four equal strips you can drape across the ceiling in a basket weave pattern by securing the 'cloths', skipping two tiles, lift the tile, lace the entire cloth strip through and then skipping two. On the next row you secure one tile, skip three thile and create the basket weave. You could also alternate between white and pink or whatever your wedding colors are. Find a friend or family member with a drop ceiling basement and practice the look till you get the one you want. You only need three or so to practice.
Inexpensive Ceiling Ideas
you could buy really inexpensive solid cotton fabric in a color that will compliment the room and stretch it across ceiling with tacks in the ends to hold it in place. You could do it in black if you want to ceiling to completely disappear.
The 4th of July decorations will go on clearance everywhere right after the 4th I would wait to buy any decorations until then. Maybe try an all american theme use lots of red white and blue have a picnic type motif and menu it keeps the cost of food down to make a big batch of potato salad and maybe some fried chicken with baked beans and coleslaw lemonade and watermelon you could even throw in some PB&J sandwiches to make it child friendly. If you use family members to help make these simple picinic foods it will keep the cost way down. Use vases of fruits instead of flowers. a tall vase of lemons tied with a navy ribbon a fish bowl of blue berries tied with a red ribbon a different shaped clear container with the strawberries tied with a yellow ribbon and stick the little american flags in the center of each so it sticks out the top. You can also get some fake grape leaves or ivy and twine it around the bases and drape it across the table. Another idea get red white and blue cupcakes(at your walmart if you have a supercenter) and put a cake stand at each table with the cupcakes then serve a small elegant wedding cake. That way you get the beautiful cake you want but keep it small for cost and serve the cupcakes. this takes care of the centerpieces and keeps the cost of the cake way down. They even put little american flags in each cupcake. You can use a red and white checkered table cloth then cover it in the opposite direction with a white cloth then on the next table put the red and white table cloth with a navy in the opposite direction. Simplicity in your decorations is the best way to save money. Often if done in the right way less is more!
