Small budget? We got you. Just because you’re not dropping five figures – heck even four – doesn’t mean it can’t look like you did.
We’re bursting with a ton of fabulous inexpensive décor ideas for a reception destined to go down in the history books (or at least your guests memories) as one of the most gorgeous wedding receptions ever.
Our Natural Surroundings
Thankfully, the world we live in is an alluring, enchanting, place.
Natural beauty extends far beyond the fancy material things (like Benetti yachts) to sunsets and landscapes. It’s found in color combinations, textures, and lighting. It’s in old barns with high ceilings and cracks in the weathered wood that lets the sunshine in.
It’s in wildflowers and the details of the dress your bridesmaids are wearing, that play delightfully into the overall theme.
It’s there in the champagne bubbles bouncing toward the surface of a narrow flute, and “I wish I’d thought of that, she’s so clever!”
If you’re stumped at where to begin, follow the people who have been creating beautiful things for centuries: turn to nature for inspiration.
Be mindful and open to what’s available in your region, and always make sure you have permission to harvest or collect, if necessary.
Desert and Southwest
Don’t think anything worthwhile – or anything at all for that matter – grows in the desert? You may be surprised.
Tumbleweed
The humble tumbleweed – bane of every long-haul trucker and road tripper’s existence.
Now, we’re not suggesting you have tumbleweeds blowing through your reception – though that would be memorable alright – but we are suggesting you incorporate them.
How?
One way is to suspend them from the ceiling. Spray paint them with gold flecks or your wedding colors, and wrap a strand of lights around them. Arrange them in creative groupings according to size.
No matter how you use them, they make a bold, simple (yet elegant) statement.
Sage
According to Celtic lore, sage which grows in wild abundance in high desert and other terrain, represents wisdom and immortality – who wouldn’t want some of that on their big day?
It’s a trending color (hello sage green!) with violet and silvery undertones. Plus, it smells absolutely divine.
Create sage centerpieces, or weave into garlands. Mix with other dried grasses and twigs. If you’re really ambitious, propagate into little pots and jars that are used as decoration for the reception, and give to your guests as parting gifts.
Enchanted Forest
If your reception is outdoors in a forest, you don’t have to do much décor wise – nature’s done most of the heavy lifting.
If it’s indoors, why not bring the outside in?
Tree Branches
Cut branches from a tree, and drape fairy lights through them. Adorn them with ribbons and twine. Spray paint them white, or add a sparkly sheen.
Hang little polaroid pics of you and your love from the branches.
Suspend a thick branch vertically, and attach silk, burlap, or mix together different elements so they hang like a curtain.
There’s no shortage of ways to decorate with branches. Their unique twists and turns lends a warm magical romantic air to the space.
Ivy
Growing in abundance, ivy vines are a cinch to turn into wreaths, or wind around beams and banisters to play up architectural features of the reception area.
Use ivy to bolster a flower arrangement, or weave through tree branches.
Sun & Sand
The ocean is a magical place, and if you can’t get married on the beach, there’s no reason you can’t invite parts of the beach to wherever you’re celebrating.
Sand
Sand inside recycled jars with little tea lights is sweet and simple. You can mix it up, take a few of the jars of sand, add a little water. Then set a single bloom on top.
Or, use sand as a base, and create little scenescapes inside jars using shells.
Driftwood
Wood that has been smoothed over time – endured wind, rain and tides – adds a one-of-a-kind unique beauty.
Driftwood is perfect as a centerpiece with little air plants nestled in the cracks, or adorned with little glittery pieces of sea glass or crystals.
Collect small smooth pieces to use as place settings: take a wood burner tool to write your guests names if you have one – or stick with a metallic Sharpie – we won’t judge.
Palm Fronds, Pampas and Other Grasses
Mixing tall pampas grass with their feather-like plumes with palm fronds (dried or green) and perhaps some wildflowers or other greenery makes for quite the centerpiece or feature wall.
Play around with what grows naturally and abundantly in your area, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Just be sure to get it down before your big day!
Free & Inexpensive Items
Recycled jars and wine bottles are free and easy to decorate with. Tea lights, strands of café and fairy lights, hay bales and painter’s drop cloth or burlap are inexpensive and transformative as well.
Visit vintage stores for inspo; a one stop shop for all things chippy paint, old lace gowns and silver candleholders.
Conclusion:
Incorporate what you’re naturally drawn to, and give yourself permission to think outside the box.
You’ve got a whole world of things and ideas to play around with, and we have no doubt that the DIY décor you end up using will be memorable to the utmost, Pinterest-worthy degree.
