Jessica was nice enough to share some of her best money-saving tips with us on how to save big on your wedding decorations. Planning a wedding is fun for about a week, then the stress of money and making everyone happy starts to set in. Early on, your best bet is to set the stage for keeping stress to a minimum. My best piece of advice is to keep your guest list small. See my post on guest list ideas for more information.
Once that's out of the way, let Jessica at Mad in Crafts inspire you to create some beautiful decorations that won't break the bank. Take it away Jessica!
1. DIY the Décor – For both my wedding and for my cousin’s wedding, I did the reception decorations myself. You can find diy ideas and tutorials all over the internet and then customize those ideas for a one of a kind wedding!
These centerpieces were inspired by a Rachael Ray centerpiece and assembled out of things I already had on hand. Totally free décor!
2. Fix Your Own Flowers – Silk flowers are very forgiving, so even a novice floral arranger can make beautiful arrangements. If I can do it, so can you! For tips on putting together large floral arrangements, check out my tutorial here.
3. Beg, Borrow and Steal – Ask around to see if you know anyone who has reusable items left from their own weddings. Search Craigslist and Freecycle for cheap or free décor, tableware, lighting, etc. It costs nothing to ask, and you will be AMAZED at what you can find!
The lights and tulle for my cousin’s reception tent were borrowed from a friend who had just gotten married herself. Again, totally free!
4. Double-Duty Family – Do you have an aunt who takes beautiful photos, a cousin with a kickin’ sound system, an uncle with a great sense of humor? Then you have a photographer, a DJ and a reception emcee… likely for considerably less than hiring those jobs out would cost. Most of the time, family members love to be included in the big day, and you can spread the love without having 67 bridesmaids. Just make sure you give them a thoughtful gift for helping out.
5. Recycle and Re-purpose – It’s hip to be green, and it’s really cheap too! Take a look around your own home (or your parents’) and see what you might be able to use. Mismatched glassware can be used as flower vases, an antique dresser can be used as the cake table, baby food jars would make sweet little lanterns, or Grandma’s tablecloth might make a beautiful backdrop for a photo booth.
You can accomplish a good deal of your wedding plans spending little or no money at all. It just takes some thought and planning to have a gorgeous wedding for $500 or less!
Thanks so much, Heather, for letting me share some of my DIY I Do ideas here today! For more ideas, please visit me at Mad in Crafts.
Interested in being our next Top 5 Feature? Show off your blog by highlighting your five best money-saving tips for a wedding, reception, wedding dress, the menu, etc. Email them to us with some pictures!
0 comments:
Post a Comment