Since we have been talking about DIY weddings this week, I thought I would touch upon one of my favorite creative materials to make your mark on your wedding.

Ribbons are so versatile and of course they come in a bazillion different colors and widths to get your perfect match. They can be used for so many different purposes- lace them up the back of your dress to create a corseted effect or create a sash around the waist. With a strapless dress, try adding ribbon straps. They don’t need to be supportive as a strapless dress is designed to be supportive enough so you can create any look you like- cross straps, halterneck or pretty bows tied at the shoulder.

Ribbons can be tied to chair backs to add color to to attach small posies of flowers. You can use double sided tape to wind narrow ribbons up tall glass vases, or tie wide bows around them and add a few stems of flowers for simple yet effective centerpieces.

One of the most beautiful examples of decorating with ribbons is the ribbon marquee. Ribbons are tie to a center point in the ceiling and draped outwards to the edges of the room. The ribbons hang in shallow loops, and create a canopy. Coordinate with your wedding colors for a colorful look, or stick to white for a more traditional style. I'll warn you in advance, you will need a LOT of ribbon for this, but it is well worth it, especially if you are holding your reception in a very sparse, plain room or hall.