No matter how much time you think you have to plan, one day suddenly—BAM!—it’s your wedding day. And with so much going on, how do you make each guest feel comfortable, yet special? How do you make the evening (or afternoon or morning) fun and memorable?

Well, stop with the fretting and the frown lines because we have some great DIY wedding reception decorations and ideas that will show off your fun side and get everyone enjoying the party and your newly wedded bliss.

Have no reservations

With our free printables and some card stock, you can stop laboring over a seating chart for your reception and just let the chips fall, or rather, guests sit where they may. With our “We’re casual” seating sign and “Reserved for family” printable table cards, you can spend your seating-chart-organization hours getting a much-deserved pedicure instead. All you need are some sheets of card stock and a frame and stand for the sign.

Download the reception seating printables

Bons Mots

Why use boring old numbers for the tables when you can spell out sweet words such as “love” (or “cake” or “happy”) with our printable table letters? Print out all the letters you need from our downloadable alphabet, and have fun choosing your words. Guests will be delighted—and really, what guest would mind pulling up a chair to the “cake” table?

Download the place setting printables

Fan-favorite photo ops

Enjoy working with your hands while you watch TV, do you? Have we got a fun DIY project for you. With some pretty crepe paper, tape and a little accordion folding (OK, maybe A LOT of accordion folding), you can create the backdrop of your dreams—perfect for selfies, us-ies and everything in between. You can add to the fancy illusion (and it is just an illusion because these things are so easy to make) with some hole-punching to adorn the edges.

Download the wedding reception photo op instructions

Center-stage centerpieces

Guests will be carried away by this beautiful balloon and flower centerpiece bedecked with ribbons. We’ll show you how to create one step by step.

Download the wedding centerpiece instructions and printables

Although it sits in royal splendor atop your wedding cake, there really are not very many choices out there for super-creative cake toppers. So, how about making your own? We’ll show you seven ways to top that wedding cake here.

Em Bronson is a Hallmark designer with a passion for baking and crafting that manages to consume most of her free time. A Southern girl at heart, Em loves sweet tea, rap music, flip-flops and fireworks of all kinds.