Wedding decor and lighting to buy: what to check

Some families hire a decorator for the big events and dress smaller functions, homes and rooms themselves. These are decor types you might buy for that. Buy for reuse where you can: the same lights and fabrics can serve several events and go home afterwards.

LED string lights

Draping trees, railings, backdrops and balconies for evening events.

What to check

Power type: plug-in, USB or battery. Plug-in sets suit long events; battery sets suit tables and places with no socket.
Total length you need. Measure the surfaces first and add extra for reaching the socket.
Whether the manufacturer says the set is suitable for outdoor use, if it will go outside.
BIS registration: LED lighting chains are on the BIS compulsory registration list, so look for the R-number on the product or box and check it in the BIS Care app.

What to avoid

Sets with no manufacturer name or address on the listing or box.
Joining more sets end to end than the instructions allow.

Safety: Keep plugs and adaptors off wet ground and switch the lights off when nobody is around.

Sources: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): Products under Compulsory Certification: Scheme II (Compulsory Registration Scheme); Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): BIS apps: BIS Care. Checked 26 October 2026.

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Flameless LED candles and tea lights

Table and aisle decor close to fabric, flowers and guests, where open flames are risky or not allowed by the venue.

What to check

Battery type and how long a set runs, so they last the whole event.
Battery compartments that close firmly, ideally with a screw.
A warm light colour if you want them to look like real candles.
Timers or remotes if there are many to switch on.

What to avoid

Leaving spare button batteries loose on tables or in reach of children.

Safety: Button batteries are dangerous if swallowed. Store spares away from children, food and medicine.

Source: Health Canada: Button battery safety (date modified 29 September 2026). Checked 26 October 2026.

Shop link: search “Flameless LED candles and tea lights” on Amazon.in (opens in a new tab)

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Backdrop fabric and drapes

Photo backdrops, stage backs and covering plain walls for home functions.

What to check

Width and drop: measure the frame or wall, and allow extra for gathers.
How the colour looks under warm lights. Ask for a swatch photo in evening light if you can.
Whether it can be washed and reused for another event.
How it hangs: rod pockets, ties or rings, and what frame or stand it needs.

What to avoid

Hanging fabric close to lamps, heaters or candles.

Shop link: search “Backdrop fabric and drapes” on Amazon.in (opens in a new tab)

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Artificial flower garlands

Doorways, railings, swings and stage edges where fresh flowers would wilt, and decor you want to reuse.

What to check

Length per strand and how many strands you need.
Whether there is wire inside so the garland can be shaped.
Colours that suit your palette in daylight and under lights.
A storage plan, so the garlands can be reused rather than thrown away.

What to avoid

Buying far more than you need because the pack price looks low; unused bulk decor ends up as waste.

Shop link: search “Artificial flower garlands” on Amazon.in (opens in a new tab)

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Table runners and cloth napkins

Dressing tables for home functions and smaller dinners without hiring a decorator.

What to check

Size: measure your table length and add a drop at each end.
Fabric that can be washed and ironed after a spill.
Enough pieces for every table, plus a few spares.

What to avoid

Plastic table covers meant to be thrown away after one use.

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Easel stand for welcome signs

Welcome boards, seating charts, menus and direction signs.

What to check

Height, so the sign is readable above a crowd.
The size and weight of board it can hold.
A wide, stable base or a way to weigh it down outdoors in wind.
Whether it folds flat for travel.

What to avoid

Thermocol (polystyrene) sign boards and cut-outs, which are on India’s single-use plastic list for decoration.

Sources: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Gazette of India (copy published by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board): Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021: notification G.S.R. 571(E), 12 August 2021; Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Government notifies the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibiting identified single use plastic items by 2022 (posted 13 August 2021). Checked 26 October 2026.

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Reusable fabric bunting

Colourful lines across courtyards, terraces and entrances.

What to check

Total length and the number of flags per metre.
Colours that will not run if they get damp.
Strong string or tape with loops at each end.

What to avoid

Plastic flags, which are banned single-use plastic items in India.

Shop link: search “Reusable fabric bunting” on Amazon.in (opens in a new tab)

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Rules referenced on this page

LED lighting chains, rope lights and self-ballasted LED lamps are on the Bureau of Indian Standards’ Compulsory Registration Scheme list.

Source: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): Products under Compulsory Certification: Scheme II (Compulsory Registration Scheme). Checked 26 October 2026.

The free BIS Care app can check a registration number (R-number) under the scheme and accepts complaints about misuse of BIS marks.

Source: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): BIS apps: BIS Care. Checked 26 October 2026.

Health Canada warns that a swallowed button battery can cause serious injury: one stuck in the throat can burn through the food pipe in as little as two hours. If you suspect a child has swallowed one, get emergency medical care at once; do not wait for symptoms.

Source: Health Canada: Button battery safety (date modified 29 September 2026). Checked 26 October 2026.

Under the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, notified on 12 August 2021, India prohibited the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of listed single-use plastic items from 1 July 2022. The first group on the list includes plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks and thermocol (polystyrene) for decoration. The second group includes plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, straws, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners under 100 micron, and stirrers; it does not apply to items made of compostable plastic.

General buying and safety information, not legal or professional advice. Rules can change; check the current rules with your local authority or the body cited above before you rely on them. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for electrical and battery-powered items. If a child may have swallowed a button battery, get emergency medical care at once.