Ceremony & reception details

I’m new to the forum, HI.

We’re having our coctail reception at a bowling club in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. This room is BASIC rather old looking and in need of TLC.  I have run of the whole room for 6 hours as in there will be a manager behind the bar but other than that from the impression I get i’m on my own in regards to organisation, planning caterers etc…  HOW/ WHAT do I decorate with?  I have a company who can put up curtaining for half the room to cover the plaques etc… but i’m stuck for ideas for the basic stuff that you don’t have at a sit down reception.  Our budget is extremely tight so can’t afford the traditional “decorator” to do it for me and have no-one who I can think of to help me decorate… i kinda feel like i’m in this alone…. any help/suggestions/feedback is going to be greatly appreciated

My Suggestion is make google your friend, type in Cocktail wedding decorations and you will find numerous articles and pictures.  Also wedding stores like prior engagment have numerous options which may inspire you.  Have you set a theme as this will also make decoration much eaiser

Personalized Napkins could be one way to bring in your own special touch.

I am personally a big fan of candles as they add a beautiful atmospher and are relatively cheap however it depends on your venue as to were you can put them.

Also another idea I came across was to have a signature cocktail eg cosmopolitan or Fruit Tingle etc, which everyone gets on the way in.

First thing to work out is what furniture is included……then go from there.  At Last is right – google is very much your friend, and once you know what’s included in the room you can get a better idea of what to add (ie. do they throw in cocktail tables and stools – if so, why not some colourful linens and really tall vases filled with flower, feathers or reeds on the tables?).  also, do you have a particular theme in mind?