Bring the heat this wedding season with some jaw-dropping décor items for your DIY summer wedding reception. Summer weddings call for bright, bold colors, where a play on fruity flavors is totally acceptable, and wild themed wedding styles! Dive into the summer season with us as we hit on all things DIY Summer Wedding Reception!
Let’s start the cocktail hour off with fun appetizers and cocktails! Take advantage of the seasons fresh fruits and vegetables with this Charcuterie and Cheese Board from Kara Woolery of Lillian Hope Designs. With fresh caprese bites, crisp grapes, and an assortment of meats and cheeses you can’t go wrong!
With the summer weather being hot and humid, stock the bar with some refreshing “his” and “hers” drinks your guests will keep coming back for. Try this tasty and refreshing Cantaloupe Margarita by Sara and Melissa of Alice & Lois for “her” pick. Garnish with lime slices, fresh mint, and a Kosher salt rim to add some color on this festive day!
Boys will be boys, so set “his” drink with something all the fellas will enjoy! Sticking with our bright and beautiful colors for summer, there's no exception with this vibrant blue concoction by Kara Woolery of Lillian Hope Designs. Try her Blue Pineapple Cocktail Recipe for “his” pick of the night.
Assigned seating comes with many planning hours, so make it easy for your guests to figure out their assigned table with this DIY Framed Wedding Seating Chart by Missy & Kristen of Sweetly Chic Events and Décor. This adds a fabulous piece of eye candy to your wedding décor before your guests walk into dinner.
Give some thought to your color palette or wedding theme/style. Are you more glitzy? Are you more rustic? Here’s a stunning example of a boho wedding theme that takes the cake! Check out Rachel McAffee of Fawn blog Desert Boho Tablescape! We are loving the contrast of the wood pieces with shiny copper. If you’re swooning over the boho trend, this wedding theme is the one for you!
Nautical weddings are always a huge hit in the summer time. Whether you’re having your reception on a boat or indoors overlooking the water, this trendy summer wedding look is stunning and can be done on a budget! Check out how Missy & Kristen of Sweetly Chic Events and Décor styled their DIY Nautical Wedding Table.
Hit your reception venue with a POP of color with this Pantone Color Greenery Wedding Centerpiece by Tonya Coleman of Soiree Event Design. This color is so bright and clean for a fun summer color palette!
Going for more of “reception in the tropics” theme? Try this Sophisticated Tropical Wedding Table from Michelle Edgemont of Michelle Edgemont Designs. I love this idea of simple, yet elegant with an intriguing royal blue, green, and white color scheme.
Did someone ask for color? This DIY Floral Pineapple Centerpiece from Missy & Kristen of Sweetly Chic Events & Décor surely won’t disappoint. We are loving the bold color palette of hot pinks, lush greens, and oranges!
Continuing with the vibrant colors, pair these Citrus Orange Place Cards by Missy & Kristen of Sweetly Chic Events and Decor with your tropical theme for a fun, refreshing play on seasonal fruits for your headtable! Place cards at your headtable not only take it above and beyond from the guest tables, but also makes it easy for your wedding party to find their seats after grand entrance!
Since we’re talking about headtable design, let’s keep the fun rolling! Headtables get the extra special elements because it’s all about the happy couple! Add a chair adornment for the newlyweds with this DIY Fern Mr. & Mrs. Chair Décor by Dawn Parsons of Party Til Dawn Events. Give the table a personalized touch and help the bride and groom find their seat easier!
Whether your headtable is a sweetheart table that’s just set for the Mr. and Mrs., a 20 person wedding party, or anything in between, there’s lots of fun elements to spice up the honorary table like this Jewel Toned Bride and Groom Wedding Table from Kara Woolery of Lillian Hope Designs showing off a stunning headtable pergola that we think would be a perfect addition to your summer reception! If you’re looking for a statement piece to take your reception over the top, this just might be it!
Now that your centerpieces and headtable is all set, there’s only one more thing we need to complete dinner tables—menus! To match the summery season, try these Beach Fan Menus from Dawn Wade of the Fun365 Team to finish off your place settings! And you can personalize them according to what’s on the menu for the evening. These are the perfect way to give your guests a taste of paradise!
After dinner, routine formalities begin such as toasts, signature dances, and, of course, cake cutting! Let’s take a couple steps back and see how we can make your cake table ready for its debut. Backdrops are trending not only for headtables, but for behind your cake table as well! You’ll definitely have a lot of photo traffic that way, so we might as well make a statement! With fresh blooms on your guest tables, let’s bring them out for your cake table too! This Tissue Paper Backdrop from Gillian Ellis of A Coastal Bride is sure to do the trick!
Kara Woolery of Lillian Hope Designs has this stunning Jewel Tone Wedding Cake Table set up that really has us swooning. Take a look at her gorgeous details like the personalized champagne flutes, DIY cake cutting set, and even FREE printable labels for flavors and other desserts on the table!
Are you a bride that likes a little variety on your cake table? Say, maybe other desserts, perhaps. Well, we’re with you! We have a couple extra options to go right along with the vibrant and refreshing perks of a summer reception! These Pina Colada Cupcakes by Missy & Kristen of Sweetly Chic Events and Décor are full of tropical flavors and will be a great compliment to your cake table!
Our second favorite option to add onto the dessert table is these Raspberry Lime Mousse Cups by Christie Troxell of Ritzy Parties. These little gems are a match made in heaven with their tangy, creamy flavor combo of raspberry and lime! These fresh and fruity cups pair perfectly with the summer theme and are definitely a crowd pleaser.
End your night with some entertainment by hosting a photobooth station! Photobooths are fun for guests for all ages and gives them an experience of the night they can remember for years to come! Kara Woolery of Lillian Hope Designs created this DIY Wedding Photobooth sure to end the night off right! You can even keep track of photos from the night by creating a wedding hashtag for you and your guests to use!