Paper Butterfly Party Backdrop | Party Ideas by a Pro

the idea

A spectacular and enchanting origami paper butterfly party backdrop is a great way to add some wow factor to your party decorations or a dessert table display

pink and peach paper butterfly garland party backdrop

the how

Choose color, length, and number of strands
Attach strands to horizontal hanging wire or twine (not included)
Attach the horizontal line to the wall with damage-free adhesive hooks (see below)
Alternatively, attach each strand to a backdrop stand / frame
Check out my separate page of Backdrop Stands, Frames, and Fixings for help hanging your paper butterfly party backdrop.

cream paper butterfly garland party backdrop

rainbow colored paper butterfly garland party backdrop

the why

as a backdrop

Value; allows you to create a large, eye-catching, feature wall / display
Maximize budget; by concentrating decorations around one larger display rather than dress entire room
Impact; a backdrop creates a strong visual impact, turning a bar / food table into a display
Special; a dessert / buffet table with no backdrop can look a bit sad, lacking, or underwhelming
Visibility; backdrops help identify the location of bars and food stations in large or crowded rooms
Focal points; more visible bars and food stations encourage mingling by creating destinations for guests to explore
Versatile; a backdrop to a dessert / buffet table or bar can double as a photo booth backdrop later in the evening

yellow and orange origami paper butterfly party backdrop

pink, orange, and white paper butterfly garland party backdrop

the why

AS PERIMETER / WALL DECORATIONS

Transformative; helps transform a domestic space or empty venue into a party environment
Masking; helps hide or distract from existing or incompatible room décor
Size; can help dress large areas
Atmospheric; perimeter decorations are important early on, before the room fills up, to help create a party atmosphere and ensure it feels like a special occasion
Intimacy; helps define the party space and envelope guests to create an intimate atmosphere

book pages paper butterfly garland party backdrop

AS overhead DECORATIONS

Visibility; overhead decorations remain visible when the room is full of people
Intimacy; lowers the ceiling, reduces empty space, and makes large rooms and cavernous venues feel more full, which helps create a buzzy atmosphere
Focal points; decorations above bars, food stations, dance floors, or activities can identify their location in large or crowded rooms and encourage mingling by creating destinations for guests to explore

colorful paper butterfly garland party backdrop

the why

this idea

Light; easy to hang with or without a stand or frame
Wow-factor; decorative backdrops offer more wow-factor than vinyl or tapestry backdrops
Personalizable; can be personalized with a custom name sign (see bottom of page)
Dramatic; makes a big and bold display to wow guests
Memorable; guests remember creative, unusual, or unexpected decorations
Elegant; lends your decorations an elegant and sophisticated touch
Professional; makes it look professionally decorated and elevates it from a party to an event
Photo-worthy; a great photo-op for guests to share and tag on social media
Unusual; a less common party idea to impress guests
Reusable; can be re-used for future events or home decor

pink paper butterfly garland party backdrop

pink and white paper butterfly garland party backdrop

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“These look best when you hang each strand fairly close together. You wan’t to avoid leaving too large a gap between each garland, otherwise you dilute the ‘curtain’ effect and it looks less like a backdrop and more like general hanging decorations (check out the image below of yellow butterflies hung against a dark wood background for an example of strands just a bit too far apart).

Also, give some thought as to what will be behind the paper butterfly party backdrop. These actually look best when they’re NOT hung up against a wall. If you keep each strand close together, it’s actually best to have some open space behind them to make the most of the ‘curtain’ effect.

If you’re planning to hang these from a backdrop stand, I’d recommend you choose one that’s got a decorative frame, rather than the basic black metal backdrop stand, as the delicate strands won’t be able to hide the legs, sides, and crossbeam very well.

Check out my Backdrop Stands, Frames, and Fixings page for tips on different ways to hang a paper butterfly party backdrop.

Alternatively, you could hide the backdrop frame by surrounding it with a balloon garland, paper flowers, or—for a more natural look—some artificial flower / garlands / wine. (Check out the links at the end of this post.)

You can also personalize these backdrops by pairing them with a custom name sign. Check out my round-up of creative party signs here or preview some in the images below.“

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