Frugal Decorating for a Banquet Hall

1. Music: A couple of boom boxes, or a portable stereo, play the music the couple enjoys the most. Or, big band era, 50's, something fun but not annoying.

2. Luminaries for the walk: Spray paint sturdy lunch bags gold and then use stakes, and string Christmas lights inside them. Or, cut a hole in the bottom of the bags stick the light bulbs inside and hang them upside down like Chinese lanterns.

3. I think the little tulle bag of candy is a good idea definitely cheaper...

4. Pictures: If you wanted to have pictures of the couple, why not enlist someone from the family to create a collage from their marriage to show off. Maybe a poster size or an 8 x 10 to sit on the sign-in table.

5. Sign-in table: Get one of those $4.00 round tables from Wal-Mart and a nice starched white sheet to table cloth. You could get the glass for on top and put pictures under the glass. A single taper candle and a bud vase with a single rose.

You could create a small heritage scrapbook with a picture on one side and on the other side your guest can sign and say a little something about that specific picture. (by the way, I made one for my parents and it was great. They really loved to look back on it.)

6. Cake table: Again, use one of those round tables from Wal-Mart. Starched tablecloth or sheet. If you're using the glass, then you can place pictures on the perimeter of the cake. I think a gold tablecloth with a lacy topper would be pretty.

7. Candles: Take some old jars fill half-way with colored sand, insert small votive candles inside. You can easily color playground sand with food coloring. Fill a gallon sized Ziploc bag with sand and add a few drops of food coloring, seal bag real good, and squish... it's a lot of fun too. Tie some pretty lace or ribbon with a little card at the top of the jars. Later, you can raffle them off as door prizes.

8. Colors: I think it's real important to another color too. Purple is a great compliment to the gold. It will look very pretty in photographs. See if you can get a large purple flat sheet, hang it behind where the couple are sitting and affix a big 50 on it. You could probably print them out on the computer using sturdy cardstock for the numbers and double-faced tape. It will also give a nice backdrop for the photos.

9. Table setting: Have you tried the "dollar store" for your plates and silverware? Sometimes, if you call there they can hold it for you. Try imaginative napkin folding; you can do these ahead of time. That is always a big eye catcher. I can scan some instructional pictures for you if you would like.

10. Checklist: Put together 3 checklists for yourself. Do Ahead OF Time, Who You Call and Time To Go...