Inexpensive Decorating Tips for Your Wedding Reception
Planning a wedding here in Utah County comes with its own flavor: big Pinterest energy, tight student budgets, family expectations, and a hyper-local vendor scene.
The good news? Luxe doesn’t have to mean expensive — but it does require understanding your vibe, venue aesthetic, priorities, and how to make design decisions strategically.
Here’s how to stretch your decor dollars while still getting the editorial, romantic aesthetic you’ve saved on your boards.
1. Make the Venue Do the Heavy Lifting
A venue is the foundation of your entire visual story. We built La Fête to be beautiful on its own and represent a modern post-factory and barn aesthetic that many modern brides are seeing on their Pinterest boards.
Before you buy a single taper candle or make a greenery moodboard, take time to understand the actual space you’re decorating. Every venue has strengths and limitations, and knowing them early helps you avoid wasteful spending and focus on what really changes the vibe.
In Utah County, venues span everything from barn-chic to ultra-modern. The trick is to evaluate how much effort the space requires to look good in person and in photos (because yes, photography matters — a lot).
At La Fête, clean white walls, natural light, and minimal architecture mean you don’t need to “cover up” anything. That alone saves hundreds in florals, draping, or rentals.
Focus visual spend on the areas guests notice most: bookcases, slide shows, dining tables, and bridal table. That’s where your budget buys the most impact.
2. Budget for Impact (Not Excess)
A budget isn’t about restriction; it’s about strategy.
Many of today’s Utah County brides are working with smart financial limits — tuition, rent, part-time work — but still want a luxe aesthetic. The key is to invest in the elements that shape your guest experience and photography, instead of scattering funds across dozens of small details that get lost.
That’s why high-impact categories like simple bud vases, candles, table runners (that don’t hide our beautiful-as-is tables), signage, and tablescape styling matter more than tiny decor fillers.
La Fête’s Decor Package bundles the most popular pieces that create that modern, candlelit moment (runners, florals, centerpieces, hurricanes, framed photographer, etc.) into a single add-on instead of DIY-ing and reselling everything later. It’s cost-controlled, consistent, and lets you skip 20 different rental invoices and 15 trips to Hobby Lobby.
Our Decor package is continually growing as we curate new and interesting pieces at the forefront of tablescape design. And did you know that 75% of our brides opt for our decor package, which offers great value and is a stress-saver as well.
Bud vases, votives, and brass-accented candlesticks are having a major moment right now — paired with lace or chiffon runners in white or in whatever shade suits your vision. And truly, never underestimate what a few well-placed ribbons can do for texture, movement, and romance on top of that base.
It’s less about piling decor on and more about curating pieces that work together. For just $300, our Decor Package gives you access to the entire inventory — a thoughtful, current collection of pieces that make styling effortless. And because we want you to see how it all comes together, we offer on-site consultations where we physically lay items out on the table so you can play with combinations, swap pieces, and get a feel for your ideal vibe. And don’t forget to talk to us - we’ve seen alot and we know what works.
Whether you lean toward minimal, clean looks or prefer a more layered, editorial tablescape, you’ll walk away with a look that feels intentional, elevated, and very you.
3. Use Local Vendors as Budget Allies
Working with local vendors is a major budget hack — not just because it’s cost-effective, but because local vendors understand the Utah County wedding ecosystem and its price realities. They know what’s in season, what’s overhyped, and what actually makes a difference in photos. Talk to them and get their input - and don’t forget to bring that Pinterest board! Trust me - they’ll vibe with your curation.
When you communicate openly about your budget and vision, good vendors get creative instead of upselling. Florists can sub greenery + texture for big blooms, rental companies can bundle items, and planners can recommend solutions that look luxe without being extra. Utah County’s creative community is also tightly networked — a single referral can unlock multiple options.
Instagram browsing and word-of-mouth are the fastest ways to scout talent with receipts (reviews + photos + pricing context). Local often means flexibility, customization, and fewer hidden fees — three things national vendors rarely provide.
Note that we have an in-house florist that gets our aesthetic (she helped us build it) and she knows what works here - a real time-saver and shoulder to lean on. That and she does all the work in her own 1000 sq foot floral studio onsite.
4. Pick a Theme That Works With the Space (Not Against It)
Your wedding theme isn’t just a vibe — it’s a cost strategy. Themes that complement the venue naturally require less decor, less labor, and fewer rentals. For venues like La Fête, with a clean architectural base, themes like modern luxe, romantic minimal, and editorial chic thrive because they rely on texture, candlelight, and styling rather than just volume. And this is what our decor package was built to bring to the table (pun intended).
Seasonal theming is another power move for Utah County weddings. Fall and winter weddings especially benefit from rich colors and accessible florals, making cohesive design easier and cheaper. Plus, seasonal themes always photograph well and feel intentional instead of forced.
When your aesthetic aligns with the space and season, you spend less and look better.
Final Take: Luxe Is a Strategy
A luxe wedding isn’t about spending the most — it’s about designing with intention. Brides who pull off the polished, editorial Utah County wedding on a realistic budget tend to:
Leverage the venue’s natural strengths
Prioritize high-impact areas
Bundle decor instead of DIY-ing everything
Work with local vendors
Let the theme, space, and season collaborate
Spend where it shows and skip what doesn’t
The result is a wedding that looks expensive, feels elevated, photographs beautifully, and doesn’t leave you panic-listing 200 candlesticks and 40 yards of chiffon on Marketplace afterward.
Reach out to us, and we can help you achieve the overall experience youhave dreamed of.
