Combine Wedding Decor & Favors
Decorate With Items That are Both Useful and Beautiful Mementos
Decorating for your dream wedding can be an artistic and exciting experience. After the wedding though, what becomes of all the flowers and tulle? There are many ways to decorate using beautiful resources that serve a purpose after the celebration, and give your guests a memento to take home.
Flowers and Greenery
Flowers set the stage for any wedding celebration. All the vivid colors and scents complement the blushing bride on her most important day. The average wedding incorporates at least a $2,000 budget in floral accents alone. Cut flowers can live anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks, but ultimately they either end up dried or discarded.
For an alternative to flowers with a shelf life, consider that there are few things more beautiful than a rose bush in bloom. Invest in potted varieties to line your aisle. The color choices are just as varied and the natural scent is more potent in plants still growing. For an extra special touch, tag each plant with the name of special guests attending your wedding both as a tribute to their importance to you, and to serve as their wedding favor at the end of the ceremony. The cost of a well designed pew arrangement will cost about the same as a blooming bush, and purchasing flowers from a local greenhouse will save you the hassle of working with a floral designer.
For lush greenery, incorporate potted ivy and ferns. Adorn the altar with thick, healthy greenery for a natural and beautiful backdrop for taking your vows. When your guests leave with their new potted plant, they will have a lasting memory of your wedding day.
Decorative and Useful Items
Instead of renting glassware for your reception, purchase cases of simply designed stemware and have them etched with your wedding date. The cost per glass shouldn't exceed the glass rental expense combined with what you'd spend on wedding favors, and at the end the guests can take their glass home for continued use. If you would rather not use your wedding date, consider a number of love related on Inspirational Wedding Quotes that may mesh better with your guests personal tastes.
Rather than spend money for place card holders to designate seating, invest in a small simple picture frame. Frame each place card, and include a note letting the guest know the frame is to take home. Follow up by sending a thank you card and a candid shot from the reception, suitable for framing.
Centerpieces with a Purpose
A fortune can be spent on center pieces and their only purpose is to provide extra ambience. When it's all said and done, the bride and groom are left with 100 perishable arrangements or jars of exotic fruit. Instead use locally made baskets in a variety of designs and colors. Add small clusters of candles in a uniform scent, and fill in with candies in your wedding colors. The candies will provide extra edibles during the party, and the baskets and candles can be given as favors.
Printing companies discount according to quantity so order extra unprinted versions of your wedding invitations and create small stationary packets to give as gifts for guests to take home. The unprinted versions will work for note cards, thank you cards and birthday cards for special occasions yet to come.
There are plenty of ways to get multiple uses out of items and maintain class and elegance on your big day. Guests will appreciate a lasting memento and you will appreciate not being left with piles of expensive flowers to discard. For more unique wedding concepts check out Wedding Gowns in Color and Memorable Bridegroom Gifts.
