Description
A ceremony arch on the shore of Tuyen Lam Lake is built for the wind first and for the photographs second. Air moves off the water all afternoon, so the frame is anchored before a single rose goes in. That is the kind of detail a Dalat wedding turns on: a cool mountain town where the setting does most of the work, and the decor has to hold up beside it.
Most couples who plan a Dalat wedding live somewhere else, in another Vietnamese city or another country. They can visit the venue once at most. Their real worry is that the day will look different from the design they approved months earlier, with nobody they know on site to check.
Jolie Mai Wedding & Events has decorated weddings at Terracotta Resort on Tuyen Lam Lake and at Colline Hotel in central Dalat, and works with couples in English from the first call. This page covers what the decor includes, how the Terracotta weddings were built, what it costs, and how the planning runs while you are still abroad.
In short: an arch, an aisle and bridal flowers come to around VND 30,000,000. A ceremony and reception with table flowers, a backdrop and a gallery start from VND 80,000,000. The final quote is itemised after the site survey.
What Dalat wedding decor includes
There is no fixed list. The items depend on the venue, the number of guests and whether the ceremony is outdoors or in a ballroom. These are the pieces couples usually choose for a Dalat wedding.
| Item | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremony arch | Timber, metal or natural branches, dressed in fresh flowers and chiffon | The first thing guests look at, and where you stand for the vows |
| Aisle | Low fresh flowers on both sides, optional tall flower stands | Outdoors it is weighted against the lake wind |
| Bridal flowers | Bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere | Made in the same palette as the arch |
| Table flowers | Low runners along long tables or vases on round tables, candles in glass | Long tables suit an open terrace |
| Backdrop | Stage or photo backdrop | Mostly for ballroom receptions |
| Welcome and gallery table | Wedding photos, flowers, welcome sign | At the entrance, where guests stop longest |
| Cake table | Flowers around the cake, linen in the wedding palette | Set where the background is open |
When the vows and the dinner happen in the same place, a Dalat wedding usually takes every item in the table. A short vow ceremony needs only the first three: the arch, the aisle and the bridal flowers.
A Dalat wedding at Terracotta Resort, 3 April 2024
On 3 April 2024, Jolie Mai decorated a Dalat wedding at Terracotta Resort, on the shore of Tuyen Lam Lake. The ceremony and the dinner took place on one stone-paved terrace under the pines, along a railing that looks out over the water. The crew on the day was ten people.
The palette was cream white and green. The couple wanted guests to see the forest and the lake first and the flowers second. So there was no large backdrop anywhere. Every piece stayed low or open, and the water showed between the trunks from every seat.
The branch arch
The arch was built from natural timber branches and set between two pines, with the lake behind it. Flowers were massed asymmetrically on two corners: cream-white roses, white hydrangea and white phalaenopsis orchids, with trailing greenery. White chiffon was draped across the frame. A small crystal chandelier hung inside it, so the centre still held a point of light after sunset.
The aisle and the chairs
The aisle kept the resort’s own stone paving. Low mounds of small white flowers ran along both sides, from the first row to the foot of the arch. Guest chairs were dark timber cross-backs, close in colour to the pine trunks. Because the flowers sat low, guests in the back rows could still see the bride walk in.
Long tables by the railing
After the vows, guests moved to long tables on the same terrace. White linen, a low runner of white roses, small white blooms and greenery down the centre, and candles in glass. At intervals a vase of white flowers stood on a tall stand, high enough to leave a clear view of the person opposite.
Welcome table and cake
The welcome table held framed photographs of the couple, a geometric timber frame and blush roses mixed with white. It was the only place in the whole wedding with any pink.
The two-tier white cake stood on blush linen, ringed with white flowers, with the railing and the lake behind it.
Work in the pines takes more hands than a ballroom dinner of the same size. The arch is fixed against the lake wind. Fresh flowers go in last so they hold their shape through the evening. The terrace is cleared and returned to the resort at the agreed hour.
The clear marquee: a second design at Terracotta
For a Dalat wedding with a long evening dinner, the same resort also suits a much warmer look. In another design Jolie Mai built at Terracotta, dinner sat under a clear-roofed marquee among the pines, with the lake and the hills still in view. Peach chiffon was swagged from the ridge down to each pole. A ring of white orchids circled the crystal chandeliers at the centre, and long blush tables with rattan chairs ran beneath it.
For the ceremony, a white arch faced the lake with the hills behind it, and the aisle was lined with deep mounds of white flowers on pale paving. One resort, two moods: green and open for the vows, warm and enclosed under the marquee once the evening cools.
Outdoor wedding Dalat or ballroom: choosing the setting
Couples choosing a setting in Dalat usually decide between two kinds of space. Each suits a different kind of wedding and a different amount of decor.
| Pine forest by the lake (Terracotta) | Hotel ballroom (Colline) | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Pine trunks, water, sky | Walls, ceiling, the room’s own lighting |
| Decor needed | Little backdrop, many low flowers, focus on the arch | Backdrop, stage and gallery to give the room its own character |
| Weather | A rain plan is needed | No weather risk |
| Best light | Afternoon, before the mist comes in | Evening, under the room’s lights |
| Suits | Vow ceremonies, small and mid-size dinners | Large guest lists, evening receptions |
At an outdoor wedding Dalat couples hold by the lake, the decor should step back and let the setting lead. A big backdrop there would hide the very thing you chose Dalat for. In a ballroom the decor does more of the work: the backdrop, the lighting and the table flowers create the feeling of the evening.
Colline Hotel in central Dalat
Jolie Mai has also decorated a wedding reception at Colline, a hotel in the centre of Dalat. The stage was built from folded panels in a bronze-brown finish. Above them, flowers hung in clusters: coral and peach roses and white phalaenopsis with trailing stems. A row of low white flowers ran along the base, lit from below so the blooms stood out against the panels.
The gallery table was dressed in white chiffon, with chiffon drapes on either side and a crystal chandelier above. On it stood wedding photos in gold frames, metal candlesticks and vases in the same peach tones. A trail of coral roses spilled from the tabletop to the stone floor, breaking the symmetry of the long table.
A ballroom reception suits couples who want guests in one place, easy to reach, with no weather to watch. Some couples combine both: vows outdoors in the afternoon, dinner indoors at night. That means two set-ups, but it keeps the pine-forest photographs and the certainty of an indoor dinner.
Weather, light and flowers for an outdoor wedding Dalat
Dalat sits at roughly 1,500 metres, and the altitude shapes everything from what guests should pack to how long the flowers last. The town has two clear seasons. The dry season runs roughly from December to April, with clear skies and few afternoon showers. The rainy season runs roughly from May to November, and the rain tends to arrive in the afternoon, exactly when most couples want their ceremony.
For every outdoor wedding Dalat couples book, Jolie Mai agrees the rain plan with the venue at the site survey: move into the resort’s indoor space, or put up a cover on site. The plan goes into the build schedule, so nobody has to decide on the day.
Light under pines is different from light on a beach. The canopy breaks the sun into streaks, so afternoon photographs have softness without extra lighting. After sunset, mist settles quickly and the temperature drops. Crystal chandeliers, candles and warm lights are what keep the space feeling warm once the sun is gone.
Dalat is one of Vietnam’s main flower-growing regions. Roses, hydrangea, chrysanthemums and orchids are grown close by, and the cool air helps fresh flowers keep their shape longer than at a seaside wedding. The trade-off is that lake wind and morning dew bruise small blooms easily, so the flower work still goes in last.
Destination wedding Dalat cost
The cost of decorating a Dalat wedding depends on what you want and how many items it covers. A short vow ceremony and a reception dressed in flowers throughout can differ by more than three times. These are reference levels in Vietnamese dong.
| Level | What it covers | Reference price |
|---|---|---|
| Short vow ceremony | Arch, aisle, bridal bouquet | Around VND 30,000,000 |
| Ceremony and reception with more flowers | Adds table flowers, a backdrop and a gallery | From VND 80,000,000 |
| Large reception with many areas | Flowers across several areas, to a concept of your own | From VND 100,000,000 |
Every quote for a destination wedding Dalat lists each item, flower type and quantity. It is issued after Jolie Mai surveys the venue and the design is agreed with you. The price is fixed in the contract, and changes happen only when you request them in writing.
Payment comes in three stages:
- A deposit when you sign, to hold the date.
- A second payment before the build day.
- The balance after the wedding, as set out in the contract.
Couples weighing the mountains against the coast can compare the Nha Trang wedding venues Jolie Mai has styled, or the beach wedding in Nha Trang page.
Planning a destination wedding Dalat from abroad
Most couples who choose Dalat do not live there. The process below is built so you do not need to travel to Vietnam until the wedding itself.
- Video consultation. You send your date, venue, guest count and reference images. The call on WhatsApp, Zalo or Google Meet takes 30–60 minutes, in English.
- Itemised quote within 24–48 hours of the call.
- Contract and deposit to hold the date. The contract can be signed electronically.
- Design. Jolie Mai sends two design options. You choose one and can revise it twice within the contract. The design is approved before anything is built.
- Site survey at least 7 days before the wedding: measurements, power points, set-up hours and the rain plan, agreed with the resort or hotel.
- Build day. Frames first, then fabric and lighting, with fresh flowers last. Progress photos reach you on Zalo while the crew works.
- After the wedding. Dismantling, cleaning and handing the space back to the venue.
From the first call to the last box packed, one coordinator handles your Dalat wedding. Every change goes through that person and is recorded in writing.
Why couples choose Jolie Mai for a Dalat wedding
- Built in Dalat before. Terracotta Resort on Tuyen Lam Lake (3 April 2024, a crew of ten) and Colline Hotel. Every photo on this page comes from weddings at those two venues.
- Twelve years of resort weddings. In Nha Trang, Jolie Mai has decorated weddings at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Amiana, Vinpearl Hon Tre, Amanoi and other resorts.
- Used to building outdoors. An arch in the wind, fresh flowers holding up in the open, a rain plan agreed early: the work is the same on a beach and in a pine forest. The Nha Trang wedding resort ceremonies at Amiana and Alibu show the coastal version.
- Itemised price in the contract. You see every line before you pay a deposit.
- Public reviews. Past couples’ reviews are on Jolie Mai’s Google Maps profile.
Family members who prefer to read in Vietnamese can follow the Vietnamese page on Dalat wedding decoration.
Dalat wedding FAQ
How much does Dalat wedding decor cost?
A short vow ceremony with an arch, an aisle and bridal flowers is around VND 30,000,000. A ceremony and reception with table flowers, a backdrop and a gallery starts from VND 80,000,000. Larger receptions with many decorated areas start from VND 100,000,000. The final figure is itemised after the site survey.
How far ahead should we book a destination wedding Dalat?
Couples coming from abroad usually book 6–12 months ahead, especially for the dry season from December to April. Booking early secures the date with both the venue and the decor team, and leaves time for two rounds of design changes.
Which months suit an outdoor wedding Dalat?
The dry season, roughly December to April, has the fewest afternoon showers. The Terracotta wedding on 3 April 2024 fell at the end of it. The rainy season still works outdoors, as long as an indoor move or a cover is agreed in advance.
What happens if it rains on the day?
The rain plan is set with the venue at the site survey and written into the build schedule. Usually it is one of two options: move the ceremony into the resort’s indoor space, or put up a cover on site. You know in advance which one applies.
Do we need to visit Dalat before the wedding?
No. Consultation, design approval and the contract all work over video, Zalo and email. Jolie Mai surveys the venue on your behalf at least 7 days before the date, and sends progress photos on the build day.
Where has Jolie Mai decorated a Dalat wedding?
At Terracotta Resort on Tuyen Lam Lake and at Colline Hotel in central Dalat. If you choose a venue Jolie Mai has not worked at, the site survey at least 7 days ahead is required, to measure the space and agree the details with the venue’s management.
Is Jolie Mai a Dalat wedding planner or a decorator?
Design and decoration are the core of the work: the arch, the flowers, the tables, the lighting. Coordination on the day and full planning for couples abroad are separate services, quoted on request after the first call.
Can we hold the ceremony outdoors and the dinner indoors?
Yes. It takes two set-ups: the arch and the aisle outside, then the backdrop and the table flowers inside. The quote covers the items in both areas.
Does it get cold at a Dalat wedding in the evening?
Yes. After sunset, mist comes down and the temperature drops quickly, especially by the lake. If dinner runs into the evening, hold the vows in the afternoon, tell guests to bring a warm layer, and consider moving dinner indoors.
Does Jolie Mai work in English?
Yes. Consultation calls and messages are in English, on WhatsApp, Zalo or by email. Vietnamese-speaking family members can join the conversation in Vietnamese.
Start with the Terracotta photographs
A Dalat wedding often looks best when the decor knows when to stop. The pines and the lake do their part, and the flowers sit only where guests look longest. If you would like, Jolie Mai can send the full photo set from Terracotta so you can picture the space. To talk about your Dalat wedding, message WhatsApp or Zalo on +84 909 993 928 or email joliemaiwedding@gmail.com.
Henry –
Good service.