Choosing your wedding venue is just one part of planning your wedding. Even once you’ve found the perfect venue, chances are it still might not match your and your partner’s personalities 100%. That’s where wedding decor comes in, and helps you to personalise your wedding so it reflects your life, interests and values.

Your wedding day is about celebrating your love, so why not add a few extra touches that help the day be all about you?

In this post, we’re going to take a look at how much wedding decor costs, what factors can affect the cost of wedding decor, and whether you should consider hiring a professional decorator for your wedding.

What is wedding decor?

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Wedding decorations are the additions you make to your chosen venue to help create a beautiful, romantic and – most importantly – personalised setting. Your decor can be as bold or as subtle as you want and can help to create an overall theme for your wedding that goes beyond a simple colour scheme.

For example, you could have something traditional like a rustic or vintage theme, or even something out there like a superhero or steampunk theme – whatever you choose is up to you. Spell out your new shared surname in giant lights with Letterhire.com , or introduce a ‘Pintrest-esque’, rustic feel with The Rustic Wedding Company. Your decor will ensure that your theme resonates throughout your entire wedding, from signage through to the table decorations.

When it comes to wedding decor, you can be as creative as you like. Examples of what to include are:

Candles
Table centrepieces
Fairy lights
Table runners
Chalkboards
Photo collages
Balloons
Chair covers
Unique signage

You can even incorporate your theme into the ceremony, with plenty of opportunities to add that personal touch, such as altar decor, a ring pillow, or an aisle runner. Just remember, you’ll only spend a small portion of your wedding at the ceremony, so don’t blow your entire decor budget on something your guests won’t get to appreciate for very long.

What’s the average cost of wedding decor?

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As our ultimate wedding budget breakdown will show, we found that couples tend to spend around £1,500 on average on professionally sourced wedding decor (as opposed to DIY wedding decor). However, this doesn’t include the cost of flowers, which have a separate budget, so this is something to bear in mind when planning what to spend on decorations.

Should you hire a wedding decorator?

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Wedding decor is something many couples choose to arrange for themselves, but if you’re looking for custom items then you may want to consider hiring a professional to take care of it for you. Similarly, you may have a vision for your wedding that you could struggle to make a reality by yourself – wedding decorators have the skills and experience to bring your ideas to life in ways that you might not.

It should also be said that some decor can take a lot of time and energy to put together. When planning your wedding you’ll have a lot of plates to spin, and custom decorations can be one of the most time-consuming. Yes, hand-making your own bunting may save you money, but it might unnecessary stress to what can already be a stressful process.

That being said, if you’re on a tight budget then organising your decor yourself is one of the first cuts you can make. For more tips check out our guide to saving money on wedding decorations.

What factors can affect the cost of wedding decor?

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Whether you choose to hire wedding decorations, hire a decorator, or do it yourself, there are various factors to be aware of that can push that cost up or down.

The venue: The larger the venue, the more expensive it’s likely to be to decorate to your own tastes. It’s also important to check with the venue whether they restrict certain items.
The location: Is the venue difficult to get to, or in a less populated area which means sourcing decorations from nearby may be challenging?
Date: If you’re hiring decorations, then expect to pay a little more during peak times such as during the summer months or at weekends.
The number of tables: If you have fewer tables then you’ll need fewer centrepieces.
Style and theme: The more grandiose your style and theme, the more expensive it will be to hire the relevant decor.
Customisation: Custom decorations are more expensive than those that are off-the-shelf. A DIY approach may save you a lot of money – check out our best DIY wedding ideas for some inspiration!

Plan your wedding today with Bridebook

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And if you’re looking for ways to save money on your wedding decor, we’ve got all the advice you need to decorate your venue without breaking the bank.

Happy Planning!

Sophia Shafiee

Sophia is a passionate writer and editor and expert on all things wedding content related, with a First Class degree from the University of Oxford. She frequently shares her wedding advice and tips with leading UK publications on behalf of Bridebook.com, including Harper’s Bazaar, SheerLuxe and Porter Magazine.

Last updated: 21st Feb 2024