As soon as (if not months or years before) the word “yes” is uttered from a lady’s lips following a gentleman’s proposal of marriage, she is already beginning to plan the most intricate details of her future nuptials and all the fabulous festivities to go along with it. The future bride imagines the gorgeous dress she will wear, the flawless bouquet she will carry down the aisle, and the best friends who will stand by her side as bridesmaids in the ceremony. It is often not until the end of the planning, when both the wedding budget and the bride’s patience have been exhausted, that she starts to plan exactly how she would like the ceremony and reception venues decorated.

To avoid financial friction and unsightly meltdowns, read on for advice from Janet Catoe, the owner of Nashville-based event-draping company, Draping Designs, on how to approach enhancing the look of any wedding venue with ease!

1. Find a decorator with the knowledge and attitude for your needs.

In order to make decorating your wedding a positive experience, it is important to find someone with experience and who knows the right questions to ask for your unique situation. Before starting Draping Designs, Janet lived in Michigan and graduated from college with an art degree and worked in various corporate offices as well as working as an optician. Craving more creativity in her career, she moved to Nashville and began working for event designing firm, Zeigler and Company. As she painted and helped design various events, Janet noticed there was a need for event draping that was not being met by anyone else in the area. Starting from the ground up, she created Draping Designs to help brides create that extra special look for their weddings. Almost 15 years later, Janet continues to approach every wedding with the idea that once she knows what the bride is looking for, her customer should not have to worry about anything. The bride should be able to simply arrive on her wedding day and enjoy the beautifully decorated venue that awaits her.

2. When faced with a smaller budget, incorporate small items in your decorating to make a big difference at your event.

Once your decorator knows the venue and budget for your event, she can show you how your vision can best be accomplished. If you are working with a diminished budget, Janet suggests draping in just the areas where people are focusing the most, such as the head table, the entrance the wedding party comes in through, or even just around the dance floor. She finds that brides like to drape with mostly simple ivory or white fabrics and then use “up-lighting” around certain areas to highlight the main focal points. This is a cost-effective way to keep the entire look simple, yet elegant.

3. Use experiences at past events you have attended to come up with ideas for your own wedding.

Frequently, it is difficult for brides to imagine a romantic fairy-tale setting for a wedding when the chosen venue is rather bare or cold-looking. Janet notes that many brides will brainstorm ideas for transforming that church basement into a tropical paradise by recalling what they have seen at previous weddings they have attended and, of course, by researching the internet. She also mentions that brides should take into consideration that their venues may only allow them a certain amount of time to set up and take down the decorations. This may help determine how extravagant or simple they want to be with their draping.

I truly enjoyed speaking with Janet. Her extensive decorating knowledge and warm personality are sure to put any bride at ease! Check out her website to get more information on all the services Draping Designs provides. Give Janet a call at (615) 430-6577 and tell her The Pink Bride sent you!

All photos courtesy of Draping Designs website.