Unexpected Ways to Use Tulle Throughout Your Wedding

There's no material quite like tulle—it feels quintessentially bridal. Its lightweight, open-weave texture looks whimsical and romantic; its netting adds dramatic volume to veils and ball-gown skirts. What most brides don't realize, however, is that tulle is extremely versatile: It can be used on more than just your ensemble on the big day.

In fact, when used as a piece of décor, the sheer material adds feminine elegance to ceremony and reception spaces. Not sure you want to incorporate tulle into the main part of your event's decorations? Think again. You'll be surprised to discover that some of the big-day décor ideas you've been bookmarking are actually made of tulle—especially those pretty tents and airy ceremony backdrops. Another benefit of the material? You can drape, hang, or tie it anywhere. Use it to add an ethereal vibe to your seating chart or to secure your silverware. This gray iteration only added to the Old-World feel of vintage flatware from Etablir Shop—but it also wouldn't look out of place on a more modern set.

While we'll always love seeing tulle transformed into a veil or the skirt of a wedding dress, the fabric can make a huge impact on your celebration's décor. It makes an excellent ceremony or photo booth backdrop in classic bridal white, but you can always use dyed versions to add a pop of color to your reception space or on your tabletops. If you want to see just how versatile really tulle is, we've got you covered. Ahead, we've rounded up our favorite tulle wedding ideas that will help you drape, loop, and tie the fabric around every big-day detail.

Versatile, voluminous tulle can do so much more than trail you to the altar. Pair flouncy tutus with real ballet flats, and send your flower girls pirouetting down the aisle.

Gussy up your invites with diaphanous layers of the fabric.

Upgrade plain paper cones into frothy favors with a quick wrap-and-gather. (Bonus points: It's sturdier than tissue paper, and far chicer than cellophane.)

Stitch the middle of a ribbon onto a ring pillow, and slide your bands onto the tails for your ceremony.

If you're looking for a way to work your color scheme into your reception tables, layering a solid tablecloth and tulle is the way to do so. Not only was this couple's pink-and-white palette illustrated through floral arrangments by Laetitia C. Fleurs d'atelier, but Shannon Leahy Events also chose a pink linen and white tulle overlay from La Tavola to drive the shade combination home.

It's so simple to upgrade your chairs with tulle. Just take notes from Pearl & Godiva and position a dyed sheet of the fabric over the top of your seats. The blue iterations here matched this table's linens and napkins.

Regardless of whether or not your wedding dress is made from this airy fabric, a pair of tulle bow shoes—like these from Bella Belle—will bring a hint of romance to your bridal look. The pumps made a gorgeous addition to this flat lay, which was designed by Joy Proctor and featured an invitation from Lazaro Press.

While tulle looks pretty at any venue, we're partial to the way it photographs in an outdoor locale. The reason? It gives off an ethereal vibe (and creates a dynamic image!) when it blows in the wind. That was the case for this display by The Wedding Bliss Thailand. With florals from IAMFLOWER, the ceremony arch was a dreamy addition to this aisle.

Want to mask a certain part of your venue? Tulle is a practical and pretty option. JMK Events suspended the material from the corner of this couple's reception room and dressed it up with a vine from April Baytan Designs. The greenery also referenced the colorful floral arrangement at the front of the setup.

Don't just limit tulle to the top of your tables—it looks just as pretty underneath colorful linens (these were provided by La Tavola). Take notes from Enjoy Events Co. and pick two materials that pay homage to your color palette—the blue and white ones here referenced the event's oceanside location and matched the table's muted centerpiece from Max Gill.

Although tulle is a traditional bridal material, you can still incorporate it into your ensemble in new and unique ways. Rather than opting for a tulle veil or dress, wear a cape, like this one by Gibson Bespoke.

It's no secret that transparent details are gaining popularity at weddings, but there's one caveat: You have to make sure that your guests can see what's written on them. To guarantee attendees could see the calligraphy from Design House of Moira, Gilded Lily added a tulle backdrop to the back of this ceremony program sign. Florals from Blade dressed up the station.

Few materials are as versatile as white tulle—you can pair so much with the fabric. That's why it's the perfect medium for your ceremony arch. Tulle added a bit of romance to this structure by Victoria Canada Weddings & Events and matched the white flowers and greenery from The Flower Studio.

Of course, you can still feature tulle in traditional ways by outfitting you or your bridesmaids in the fabric. Although these attendants' Jenny Yoo gowns were made of the classic fabric, the blue hue made the dresses feel fresh and new.

Creating a cozy lounge space (this one features pieces from Curated Event Rentals) is essential for your cocktail hour and reception. If you're throwing both outside, note that tulle is the perfect material for staving off bugs. During the day, prevent the panels from blocking your views of the merriment by making like Events by Mint and tying up the fabric.

Chairs are the perfect canvas for decorations, especially when they're ladderback options like these. Tulle can easily be woven between each slat for a breezy look. The Wedding Bliss Thailand was responsible for this setup.

You'll quickly learn that tulle will make any big-day detail feel more ethereal. Although this sweetheart table's flowers from Modern Bouquet felt romantic all on their own, Events by Talissa also added tulle draping overhead for an elegant touch.

A tulle overlay is a simple way to upgrade any table linen. For proof, just look to this display by Melanie Gabrielle and Jessica Sloane. All it took was a gray stretch of tulle and florals from Julia Rhode Designs to upgrade this otherwise neutral tablecloth.

One of the best parts about tulle? It can be dyed any shade, which means it is easy to work into your big-day color palette. Emily Events lined this ceremony structure with this pink piece; it matched the arch's florals.

Need more proof that tulle is the perfect addition to your reception tables? Just look to this display by Encore—the team allowed the excess tulle to drift away from the table for an airy display.

Throwing a beach wedding? Beige tulle nods to the sandy setting and is transparent, so guests can still see the ocean behind you. Moments and Oneiranthi Weddings were responsible for this structure.

Tulle pairs well with all kinds of textural elements. If you're holding your event outside, consider adding leaves to the mix. Kelli Corn Weddings & Events used green and brown leaves and tulle to surround this seating chart.

Although a white tulle overlay will elevate any table, a pop of color will give it an extra touch of elegance. This mix of roses, dahlias, and greenery from Fallen Floral Design was a simple, but pretty addition to this tabletop.

Create an airy look with tulle by draping pieces of the fabric from the rafters of your tent (this one is from Stuart Event Rentals). To draw attention to the top of the space, opt for tall centerpieces, like Charmed Events Group did here, with these lengthy Tango and Foxtrot arrangements.

When you're using brightly-colored tulle on your ceremony structure, you may want to make like Laura Dova Weddings and keep the rest of the design minimal (you won't want to overwhelm the arch). Instead, add plenty of matching florals (the ones seen here are from Veronique Lorre) in a similar shade.

You don't need bright colors to make your reception tables stand out. In fact, you can make a statement by giving them a little texture. Although beige tablecloths and muted place settings were used to create this Beth Helmstetter Events tablescape, the setup felt elevated thanks to a textured tulle overlay.

Tents are great because they protect you and your guests from the elements, while also giving you an outdoor experience. However, you don't want them to obstruct your view of nature completely. With a tulle tent (this one is from Loulu Palm and Mango Seasons Weddings), the sheer material will allow you to get a glimpse of your surroundings.