If you’re planning a wedding, you’ve quickly come to the realization that they’re a pricey affair. From the venue to catering, wedding attire, and decor- all these items cost a pretty penny. Thankfully, there’s one area where you can save a few bucks, and that’s decor. Specifically, upcycling decorations. Rather than buying all wedding decor brand new, look for readily available items that you can repurpose to create stunning centerpieces.
Sounds pretty easy, right? The truth is, you’ll need to do a lot of research to find upcycling ideas that work for your wedding. Finding answers to these questions should shed some more light regarding upcycled wedding decor:
- What are popular items to upcycle?
- What can I make for a DIY wedding?
- How can I reuse my wedding decor?
- Is a DIY wedding cheaper?
What are popular items to upcycle?
There are tons of items that you can upcycle. The most common are vintage vases, glass bottles, tins & cans, pots, photo frames among others.
What can I make for a DIY wedding?
Want to save money on labor? There are several things you can DIY ahead of time and save money on outsourcing. These include:
How can I reuse my wedding decor?
There are a couple of ways you can reuse your wedding decor. Here are some ideas:
- Use the hanging lanterns to illuminate your porch or garden
- Place the family photos to your gallery collection
- Use the wedding rugs in your foyer or hallway
- Reuse the beverage dispensers in other events
- Use the succulents as indoor plants
- Use the throw pillows to jazz up your seating area
Is a DIY wedding cheaper?
Oftentimes, it is. However, this will also depend on the specific tasks that you choose to do yourself. To save costs on a DIY wedding, consider working with a professional. This wedding expert will advise you on the tasks that you can DIY and those that should be outsourced to save you time and energy.
3 Useful Upcycling Ideas
1. Good old pen and paper for signage
You’d be surprised to learn just how much wedding signs cost. Whether it’s a seating chart, a welcome sign, or a food menu sign, you can expect to spend anywhere between $30 and $200 per sign.
To save a few bucks, use the good old fashioned pen and paper to make some DIY signs. If you’re a naturally artsy person, then this should be a fun and easy task. Alternatively, consider
Tracing the signage texts through a printout or your computer screen.
2. Create a photo board using old pictures
If you’ve always wanted to have a photo display at your wedding, then repurposing old pictures is a brilliant idea.
All you have to do is collect old pictures then look for simple items that you can use to display them. Some pocket-friendly photo display items include wooden crates, window shutters, wooden pallets, wood board or a ladder. If the wedding is being held in your backyard garden, then you can even pin them on a tree.
3. Paper cones to serve starters
Looking for a fancy but minimalist way to serve your wedding appetizers? DIY paper cones are the way to go. Sure, folding paper to make every individual cone shape will take some time. But think about all the money you’ll save from having to rent out or buy utensils.
3 Upcycled Wedding Decor Ideas
1. Dixie cup garlands
Remember those Dixie cups you bought the last time you went for a camping trip? Chances are, you’ve never used them since. You’ve probably stored them in a supply cabinet or worse, inside a box that you stashed in the attic. If you’re planning a DIY wedding, this is the perfect time to pull them out.
Use a thread to tie them all together to create a Dixie cup garland. Or, you can paint them in some cool patterns and colors, then suspend them on fairy lights.
2. Glass bottles
There’s no doubt that you have a couple of glass bottles at home. Whether you’ve accumulated them from your favorite smoothie joint, liquor store or have your own wine collection, these glass bottles will come in handy.
Once you’ve collected enough glass bottles, look for ways to spruce them up. You can either paint them or keep it simple and just tie a jute rope around them. Glass bottles are extremely versatile. As such, they can be used to hold a wide range of items; flowers and other decorative elements.
3. Wooden Crates
Looking for a minimalist way to display flowers? Well, a wooden crate is the perfect item for this.
You can use small-sized wooden crates to display a bouquet of flowers on each table. Or, you can opt for larger crates that hold several bunches at a time then position them strategically throughout the venue.
3 Wedding Table Decorations
1. Books as centerpieces
Are you an avid reader? If so, you probably have a large collection of books at home, perhaps you’ve even set up a home library. If this is the case, you can pick out a few of your favorites and use them as centerpieces on each table.
2. Repurposed pumpkin vases
Flowers don’t come cheap, neither do vases. However, this doesn’t mean that you should give up on using flower decorations entirely.
One money-saving tip is to skip pricey flower vases and repurpose pumpkins. All you have to do is drill a hole in the top of the pumpkin, hollow out the innards then insert a floral foam to hold your flower arrangements. This idea works particularly well if you’re having a fall wedding as this is pumpkin season.
3. Homegrown centerpieces
Don’t want to spend a fortune buying a ton of flowers for each guest’s table? You’re not alone. So one way to save money but still achieve show-stopping table decorations is to rely on homegrown greenery.
Look for some beautiful potted shrubs and place them in vintage concrete planters. If it feels too rustic, consider adding candles throughout the table to soften the look and create a cozy atmosphere.
Decor plays a big role when it comes to creating your dream wedding. This is one area where you can impress your guests while showcasing your true self.
Unfortunately, not everyone is financially capable of bringing those Pinterest decoration ideas to life. If you don’t want your wedding budget to skyrocket, consider upcycled decorations. You can repurpose everyday items to create sophisticated and elegant wedding decor.
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