Ceiling Wedding Decor That Goes Above Beyond

To say “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to wedding design fantasies has never been more true than with the ever-increasingly popular trend of spectacular ceiling wedding decor. Because why merely decorate the aisle and the dinner tables and the dance floor and… (you get the idea), when you could decorate the sky?!  From unique light fixtures to elaborate greenery to brightly-colored flowers, the different ways in which you can bring your own style and personality to your venue with ceiling wedding decor are truly endless. Ceiling wedding decor is more popular than ever, and couples are constantly showing us new ideas to add dimension, light, and pops of color to all kinds of event spaces. Modernize a rustic barn, brighten up a dark industrial room, turn your backyard into a glowing oasis from day to night…ceiling wedding decor is all about that “wow” factor. It might be one collection of blooms exploding from the sky, a selection of chandeliers carefully hanging above your reception tables, or perhaps an assortment of paper cranes (Trust us, you do not want to miss that one!).

We’ve hand-picked some of our very favorites to inspire your own sky-high wedding day dreams.

Twinkling Ceiling Wedding Decor

String lights may not seem like the way to an over-the-top installation, but when hung up in abundance—especially to create a sort of light-up drapery in the sky—wow! The seemingly subtle design addition makes a major difference as your venue goes from day to night. Plus,  even copious rows and rows of string lights, which are more decorative than they are brightening, are one of  the most effective (and cost-effective) ways to create warmth and whimsy. No matter your setting—whether it be, a garden estate, a western ranch, or a beachfront hotel—twinkling lights are as versatile as they are classic.

Light-Up Ceiling Wedding Decor

Whether you’ve chosen a dimly-lit barn or a lush, outdoor wedding venue, you can always use a little more light. We love choosing traditional light fixtures, like chandeliers and crystal pendant lights, to create an elevated indoor-outdoor or high-low contrast in either space—or to add some extra glamour to a more minimal event space. Ultimately your light fixtures can coordinate with the rest of your decor to convey your overall theme, while also contributing to the mood of your ceremony or reception. With sparkling chandeliers and other glamorous elements, these weddings show how much ceiling decor can completely elevate your entire event space. These examples of ceiling wedding decor are also incredibly functional, and can be as ornate or minimal as you like. And if you want the best of both worlds, you can never go wrong with ceiling wedding decor that’s  a combination of lighting and greenery.

Floral Ceiling Wedding Decor

Hanging floral installations are among the most eye-catching, photo-worthy options for ceiling wedding decor. For this particular feature, you can work with your planner and floral designer to customize the perfect burst of beautiful flowers. There’s really nothing quite so jaw-dropping as free-flowing florals overhead, as evidenced by our favorite examples here, which incorporated each event’s color palette and theme into each sky-high arrangement. Moral of the story: Your bouquet and tablescapes aren’t the only things your florist can conjure up for you!

Greenery Ceiling Wedding Decor

Gardens, forests, and even your venue’s vineyards are the ideal settings for these examples of greenery ceiling wedding decor. There are so many ways to embrace the great outdoors, whether you’re inside or out, by intertwining leafy elements with existing fixtures, along rafters and architectural details, and, of course, draped amid the peaks of an outdoor tent. Even if your ceremony boasted florals everywhere, mixing it up with vines and green garlands is an aesthetically gorgeous choice for your reception. 

Fabric Ceiling Decor

Fabric drapery has the ability to soften any space—or create an indoor feel outdoors, when woven through garden structures or draped along tent ceilings. We love the effect that fabric drapery has as ceiling wedding decor, for both highly-designed and effortless weddings alike. Through different methods, these fabric-covered ceilings add dimension and creativity to every event space. Not to mention, it's a relatively straightforward method of completely transforming your surroundings.

Basket Ceiling Wedding Decor

From nest-like pendant lights in a garden setting, to rattan lanterns hanging from an exposed outdoor tent, these boho-style ceiling wedding decor options show the many ways you can light up a venue—in a very on-trend interior design way. Generally in natural shades of tan or brown, rattan is made from a palm and often used in wickerwork. You can even match these ceiling wedding decor pieces to your reception chairs, basket flower arrangements, and other design elements of your ceremony or reception spaces.

Unique Ceiling Wedding Decor Options

This is where creativity really goes to the next level. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of dancing under a sparkling array of disco balls, or want to greet your guests with a festive display of colorful hanging tassels. Incorporating various spherical shapes into your ceiling wedding decor is a popular choice for more modern events,  or for a garden-themed wedding you can even have a butterfly effect—quite literally. Once you’ve established your desired theme, don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to innovative ceiling wedding decor that could work for your celebration.

What You Should Know Before Deciding on Ceiling Wedding Decor

If you’re ready to start dreaming up the most fantastical decor for your wedding, we recommend considering your venue and who can create these aerial arrangements. Keep in mind that some logistics are required: For starters, make sure your venue or tent provider is on board. Some of these places may not permit large-scale installations, while others may offer some alternative options. Plus, you’ll need to hire the appropriate vendors to set all of this up—which, depending on the intricacy, may be no small feat. Depending on the scope of your ceiling wedding decor fantasies, the execution will potentially be managed by a lighting provider, your florist (for greenery and flower chandeliers), your tent provider, or any production staff your planner or designer  hires.

As stunning as overhead installations are, they require a lot of extra hands, time, and investment. Discuss the details and needs with your partner, and anyone else involved in your planning process, and figure whether your overhead ideas are feasible for your big day. 

Rather than qualifying ceiling wedding decor as a “nice-to-have” at your celebration, we’d argue it’s a pretty-amazing-to-have because the wow factor is pretty unbeatable. On top of that, there is no shortage of ideas when it comes to crafting or curating your own ceiling wedding decor, and these are just a few of our most beloved styles. What qualify as Instagram-worthy backdrops, and an on-trend feature at any fête, are sure to be conversation-starters—and make for epic wedding photography. Once you’ve determined whether your venue will permit you to hang or display something from the space’s ceiling, let the brainstorming begin. You can work with your planner to come up with creative ideas, determine the best options, seek out the vendors who can help bring your vision to life, and learn all the ways you can make your special day as memorable (and gravity-defying!) as possible. Let your imagination fly!