5 Clever Ways to Make a Large Wedding Ballroom Seem Smaller
Is your wedding ballroom larger than your planned nuptials need it to be? A large venue gives you plenty of space and options, but it can create unwanted empty space within the layout. The good news is that you don't need to stress over a slightly oversize venue if it fits your needs in other ways. You can instead make it look and feel cozier and more filled. Here are a few ways to do that.
1. Add Lounge Seating
Lounge areas are the perfect space filler because most people won't realize that's what they are. Lounge seating consists of any number of temporary furniture, including love seats, armchairs, bar stools, coffee tables, side tables, buffets, and carts. They take up a lot of space, and you can deploy as much or as little as you need.
2. Use Different Tables
Some tables take up less space than others. Generally, round tables fit better than comparably sized square tables. You can also rent larger or smaller square or round tables that seat more or fewer people. By altering the types of tables and how much space you give each diner, you can add tables and place them farther apart without anyone noticing.
3. Use Draping
Drapery and fabrics bring the walls and corners inward from the actual permanent boundaries. Draping is a relatively inexpensive decorating tool that you may use to move a short wall forward, camouflage unwanted corners, or even make a ceiling seem lower. Guests will think it's simply decorative, but it can be a very strategic tool.
4. Focus on the Center
Bring attention away from the sides or ends of the ballroom by focusing it on the center instead. A center dance floor, decorations, and the DJ stand is a good way to start. You might also place key wedding festivities — such as the sweetheart table, the cake, or the photo booth — more in the center of the room rather than along a wall.
5. Use Large Greenery
Bring the outdoors in using large greenery as decoration. Small trees or large shrubs in containers block the view of extra space and fill up significant amounts of extra floor space. They provide a fun and unique decorative element, as well, camouflaging their true purpose as space fillers.
Want more ideas to make your large ballroom more right-sized? If so, start by meeting with a ballroom venue, such as Russo's On The Bay, in your area and learning from their expertise. The result will be a space you'll love and that feels right for your big day.