The painter's greatest challenge? A white canvas. The writer's? A blank page. The wedding planner's? Nothing gets his adrenaline pumping and creative juices flowing like a gargantuan ballroom. Whether it's empty and unadorned or decked out in rococo embellishments and colorful details, the predicament is the same: how to prepare a space that's colossal, towering, and (often) poorly lit for the most intimate of moments -- your wedding?

Matthew Robbins is a veteran of many a ballroom transformation, and he has the tricks up his stylish sleeves to prove it. From bare walls to high ceilings to unflattering lighting, there isn't a difficulty he hasn't encountered and conquered. But before you even choose a reception space, he has some important words for you: "Don't pick an elaborate, baroque-inspired ballroom if you want a modern loft experience! If you need to completely transform a space in order to realize your vision, keep searching." The secret to pulling off the wedding of your dreams without ringing up the bill of your nightmares? "I always encourage my clients to think about adding elements that enhance the space and don't look completely foreign to the venue." Or, in blunter terms, work with what you've got.

Meet the Designer: Matthew Robbins of Matthew Robbins Design, New York City
The events expert has planned weddings of all sizes, under all circumstances. Which is why he's our go-to guru when it comes to big-day quandaries. Being that Robbins is based in New York City, he's thrown countless ballroom fetes -- and being that he's particularly good at what he does, none of them (not one!) feels cookie-cutter in the least.

The Walls
If these partitions could talk, they would say, "Dress me." Here's how to do just that.

There's nothing wrong with naked walls, particularly if you like a clean, modern aesthetic. But for your wedding -- a day that's about friends, family, and ooey-gooey sweet love -- blank, white walls may feel sterile, says Robbins. With so many interesting, inexpensive, and innovative options to liven them up, you'd be remiss if you skipped the opportunity to put your figurative stamp on them. 

The most budget-friendly option is to use walls to exhibit personal photos. (This works especially well in long entrance halls or connecting spaces, such as a room that links the cocktail area to the dining room.) A gallery of images of friends, family, travels, and past weddings of your loved ones "can activate a space," says Robbins, "and make it interactive as your guests mingle and view the photos." In essence, your walls become a conversation starter ("Oh, my goodness! Look at Cheryl in braces!"). 

For an edgier, more of-the-moment version of this, project home movies onto bare partitions. It makes for wonderful "background ambience," says the designer, particularly when the films are rendered in glamorous black and white. If you're not the type of couple to display pictures of yourselves even at home, rest easy -- there are other solutions. Installing mirrors is a simple and fantastic idea that adds an extra dimension to the space. And if you're working with a very contemporary venue, consider painting large canvases with solid washes of color to inject "an element of 'art' into an otherwise drab and boring wall." You don't need a creative bone in your body to pull this off, but you do need to work within your chosen color scheme. 

The same holds true if you're going to use lighting to upgrade a wall; make sure it casts a flattering shade and goes well with your palette (turn the page for lighting fixes). Draping walls with fabric is the costliest option, but you can't argue with its luxurious, glamorous results. Just be sure that the material you pick is fire-retardant, especially if you're going with a synthetic. If money is an issue but you love the look of drapery, use it just on the wall behind your ceremony space: Even unbleached muslin can create a romantic and warm mood.