Making a bland hall pretty

My finance and I are looking to have a private/small ceremony with immediate family and then a reception with friends and slightly extended family afterwards. We want this to be on the cheap side, like I’m thinking around 5-6k (we might get a reality check real soon). One option my finance suggested was a veterans post/community center. It’s a pretty bland hall and would need a lot of work to look nice. I’m curious if anyone has done this and how it worked out?
All I’m looking for is suggestions, we don’t have a date or are set on this yet.