Gym Reception

Try to keep in mind that you will worry about this more than any of your guests. Your guests will see and care about what's right in front of them on the tables. Sometimes when you try to hide or camouflage something, you end up drawing more attention to it. There is a whole page on Pinterest about basketball hoops.

If you are already planning on draping tulle, use the hoops to anchor the tulle at the ends.

Uplighting will make a HUGE difference. You can rent lights fairly inexpensively online; try diyuplighting.com I think it's called.

Perhaps you can hire a tent company and build a tent in the gym? Google "gym reception" because a ton of things come up.

We considered this too in the beginning of our planning.

Take a look at what high schools do to dress up gyms for dances, there are some good ideas out there and I don't know what your budget is like, but I remember there being companies dedicated to decorating gyms that schools use to find ideas and party supplies, this is the one I could remember: https://www.stumpsparty.com/homecoming-supplies/c/305 Good luck!

As a guest, I'm of the opinion that if I have a comfortable seat, good food, and good drinks, everything else is just icing on the cake! Your plans so far sound fine, and I wouldn't stress about the decor too much, the food is so much more important!

I agree with this, I've seen this done its crazy how they can hid things!