Decorate yourself or pay for one?

Im not sure I understand the way your venue is set out. Are you saying that the main function room is where the ceremony will be and then the venue have no staff to remove the chairs and then set up tables for your food.

View quoted message Sorry I've probably not explained myself well. The room where the ceremony will be then changes to the wedding breakfast then into the reception area.
I'm hoping they will be moving the tables in and out yes but not sure if they will decorate them? I'm waiting on a reply. Obviously we would take everything we want on the tables to the venue.

Most venues I know will do it for you as they lay the tables with cloths and cutlery unless you have very big flower pieces but that would normally be in a situation where there is a separate wedding breakfast room that can be pre set up.

Usually the venue will do the decorations for you that you supply but if its a venue that is not a full time wedding venue then they may not be keen on the extra work. Keeping your decorations simple may help but if you are talking about gold fish bowls full of water lined with elephant grass and coloured stones in the bottom toped off with floating candles then that may be different.

Most of the time when I see very elaborate / extensive decorations is when there is a separate room for the wedding breakfast and a professional will come in to do it mid morning. Otherwise if it is a room turn around situation then the venue will do it.

We are having the ceremony, wedding meal and evening reception all in the same room. The venue will turn the room round for us, they have a separate bar that we can use and another large room which we haven’t hired as it was too big for our set up so they will put the tables up beforehand in that space and then move them in after the ceremony. We have a florist who will do all the room centrepieces and bouquets etc as I did not want the hassle of decorating ourselves. The florist is saving money and time by using vintage lanterns down the aisle and then moving them onto tables as centrepieces with foliage round them. She is also using fake foliage to offer a cheaper option so there are ways to do this.

We decorated ourselves and it worked out really well, definitely saved money and added a personal touch. We boxed everything per table with photos so friends could help set up while we were off doing photos. If you keep it simple and prep ahead, it’s totally doable. Also, if you’re into creative touches, something like a Paint By Numbers Kit can be a fun way to involve guests and doubles as a keepsake after the day.

Hi Amy! 👋

Totally understand where you're coming from — it’s such a special day, and of course, you want it to look beautiful without the stress or big spend. DIY definitely gives that personal touch, but the turnaround time during the wedding day can be a real challenge, especially if you're doing everything yourself. 🌸

One unique option to consider — especially for backdrops, aisle decor, or even photo areas — is using artificial grass panels or green mats as part of the design. They bring a fresh, elegant vibe indoors or outdoors and pair really well with artificial flowers or rustic decor. Best part? They’re easy to set up, reusable, and make a big visual impact without the big price tag. 🌿

If you’d like help with this side of the setup, we offer affordable artificial grass installation and event styling options right here in Abu Dhabi, Dubai — whether you're decorating a venue entrance, ceremony space, or photo booth area.

Wishing you the most beautiful wedding day — whatever you decide! 💚