Guest blogger: Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com.
After planning her own green wedding in 2007, Kate wrote the best-selling green wedding book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy. Kate has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master's from Yale in Environmental Policy.
Costs add up so quickly when you're planning a wedding. The good news, though, is that you don't have to purchase brand new items for every single aspect of your big day. If you take a look around your home, local thrift stores and flea markets, you'll be surprised at what you can repurpose into wedding décor with a little creativity.
And, of course, aside from saving costs, adding repurposed décor has another great benefit: you will help the environment by reducing the amount of waste generated by your wedding. You'll also create a unique aesthetic that will be all the talk of your wedding!
Here are my top five favorite repurposed wedding décor ideas.
1. DIY Cupcake Stands Made from Old Plates and Vases
There’s a certain charm to mismatched vintage plates and vases. Shop for a variety of plate and vase designs that you love.
Photo Credit: bamroberts.blogspot.com
You can customize your handmade cupcake stands depending on your overall theme and color palette. Then, simply glue the plate to the vase to make these lovely cupcake stands!
2. Vintage Drawers as Food Trays
If you have some antique furniture, consider using the drawers to house the desserts or favors.
Photo Credit: loveandlavender.com
Stack them on top of each other for a topsy-turvy whimsical look and line up your treats in neat little rows. Your guests will love this unique tabletop décor. Once the wedding is over, you won't be throwing away plastic trays — you can pop the drawers back into your furniture.
3. Succulent Terrariums Made from Used Light Bulbs
These terrariums are adorable and so easy to assemble.
Photo Credit: dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com
Add some sand or gravel to the bottom and place small succulents inside. You can place these at your guest tables as centerpieces and encourage them to take them home at the end of the night.
4. Seating Chart or Centerpieces from Discarded Wine Corks
Cork is a great crafting material because it's both lightweight and easy to work with. Plus, its neutral tone compliments most color schemes.
Photo Credit: katiebrownblog.com
If you drink wine regularly, save your corks from each bottle. Ask friends and family members to do the same so that you can gather even more. And check in with a local bar or restaurant; many will be glad to give you their corks free of charge. For a simple yet stunning centerpiece, place your wine corks in a clear vase. Or, glue them to a backing to create an elegant place card board.
5. Paper Garlands Made from Old Maps or Recycled Paper
Everyone has old paper maps that they don’t use, especially in the age of GPS and smart phones. Turn them into garlands of all shapes and sizes with this fun DIY project.
Photo Credit: Etsy.com
Consider getting your bridesmaids to help and make an evening of it. Try using vintage or antique maps for an interesting theme, which you can find at a local thrift store or consignment shop.
So, get creative and look at your household items in a new light to create beautiful wedding décor!
—Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com
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