Did you know that $72 billion per year is spent on weddings? From the clothes, the flowers and the decorations; weddings are expensive. However, when it comes to putting together a budget friendly wedding there are plenty of ways to cut costs and stretch your pocketbook. Whether we’re envisioning cost cutting ideas for your wedding or suggesting alternatives to throwing out your wedding supplies, there are plenty of ways to cut costs without cutting style. With a little imagination and creativity you can create one-of-a-kind wedding centerpieces within your budget. From metal lanterns to Manzanita branches, all of these wedding products can be used to create reusable centerpieces without breaking the bank. Keep reading for ideas on how to transform these simple wedding supplies into home decor and gifts after your wedding day!
{Wedding Centerpiece Supplies: Metal Lanterns, Manzanita Branches, Cupcake Stands, Placecard Holders & Frames, Wood & Bark Vases, Crystal Votive Holder, Favor Boxes, Natural Miniature Topiaries}
What to Do With Your Centerpieces after the Wedding
Planning a budget friendly centerpiece is only half the fun. Instead of wasting the beautiful centerpieces you’ve worked so hard to create, giving them a new home or reusing them will help you feel better about the cost. You’ll be able to admire your beautiful vases and decorations if you make them a fixture in your living room or kitchen. Because wedding decorations and centerpieces can be a big part of the budget, it doesn’t make sense to just throw them out! So we have our top ten favorite creative alternatives to throwing out your wedding centerpieces. Any of these eco-friendly ideas can be incorporated into your wedding to help you save money.
- Dessert Centerpieces: Donuts, cupcakes and other delicious wedding desserts can really be a highlight for your centerpiece. With a cake stand or serving plate, serve up sweet treats at each table. Give guests take home favor bags for edible favors. You’ll be able to decorate your table with a unique theme while saving money on wedding favors.
- Donating To A Local Homeless Shelter: Flowers, food and beverages can all be donated to your local homeless shelter. Contact your local shelter and ask them what they accept for donations. They may be willing to pick up food and flowers after your reception instead of letting them be thrown out.
- Sharing Your Flowers With a Convalescent Home: Add a beautiful bouquet to your local convalescent home. Elderly patients in nursing homes would appreciate having a nice floral bouquet. The flowers and bouquets can be placed in guests rooms for a beautiful way to add a bit of fragrance and color. Why throw out your flowers when you pass them on to someone else and cheer up their day?
- Guest Giveaway: If you’re looking for a creative way to give away your centerpieces, place a sticker on the bottom of a chair or plate at each table. The person who finds the sticker on their seat gets to take home the centerpiece. They’ll have a special prize and your centerpieces won’t go to waste!
- Planted Centerpieces: For sustainable eco-friendly brides, planted centerpieces are a great way to use herbs, fruits or lavender to create a centerpiece. The potted vases are great for gifts and can be given to grandmothers, mothers and special wedding guests.
- Fruit and Vegetable Centerpieces: Add a little seasonal flair by showcasing local produce. Make the theme for each table a different vegetable or fruit. Then guests can find their place by locating the fruit. Or use large beautiful wooden vases or baskets with delicious fruit and vegetables for a nature inspired wedding. Lemons, tomatoes and pears are beautiful for decoration. After the wedding, you can use the food in your kitchen or give to guests for a nutritional edible wedding favor.
- Next Day Brunch: Floral arrangements can be used the next day for your brunch. Many couples host a next day brunch to open gifts and thank guests for attending. Reusing centerpieces for brunch is a great way to stretch your budget.
- Take Away Centerpieces: Double your savings by using your wedding centerpieces as your wedding favors. Create a take away centerpiece by using a collection of small gifts. When you cluster candles, plants or favor boxes together in the center of the table guests can take home their wedding favor at the end of the night and you won’t have to gather up the centerpieces. This is a great idea if you’re using edible favors or cute personal succulents.
- Home Décor: Candles, vases and lanterns can easily be used for special home décor. Incorporate your centerpieces into your living room or patio for a special reminder of your wedding day. Manzanita branches and metal lanterns make great mantle decorations, especially with a few candles. Table number frames can be filled with honeymoon photos or wedding pictures to hang on the wall. You’ll have a fun story to tell every time someone asks you where you got the frame.
- Centerpiece Giveaway Games: Bride and groom trivia is a fun way to give away the centerpieces. Create a few lists of ten questions about the bride and groom. Under the centerpiece place the answers. Whoever correctly answers the most questions gets to take home the centerpiece. This creative alternative is a great way to create conversation and entertainment for guests.
Whether you’re on a tight budget or just looking for a creative way to recycle your wedding centerpiece, these are all great ideas. You can incorporate them into your theme; i.e. Vegas wedding raffle or keep it simple. For supplies and decorations, buying in bulk will also help you save money and you’ll be able to put together more items for guests to take home. Have fun and be creative with your centerpieces and you’ll have guests talking about your wedding for years to come. Especially if they won a stunning centerpiece or decoration they can proudly display in their home!
