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DIY Wedding Decorations

GigaBrain scanned 119 comments to find you 79 relevant comments from 10 relevant discussions.
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DIY details from my quirky/rustic reception
r/weddingplanning • 1
DIY decorations, but who to set it up?
r/Weddingsunder10k • 2
DIY Brides
r/SanFranciscoWeddings • 3
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DIY Wedding Decorations

Planning and Timing

Starting early is key when planning DIY wedding decorations. Many brides begin crafting their decorations up to a year in advance, allowing ample time for trial and error without the pressure of a looming deadline [5:3]. This approach also provides flexibility for changes as new ideas emerge. For seasonal themes, such as autumn or Halloween, it's beneficial to start collecting materials well ahead of time to ensure availability [5:8].

Types of Decorations

DIY decorations can range from simple to elaborate. Common projects include welcome signs, table signage, seating charts, centerpieces, and floral arrangements [3]. Bud vases with fresh flowers are a popular choice due to their cost-effectiveness and simplicity [4:1][4:4]. Other creative ideas include paper flowers made from recycled materials [4:3] and using thrifted items like pitcher vases and candle holders [1].

Setup and Coordination

The setup of DIY decorations requires careful planning. Some couples rely on friends and family to help set up, while others hire a day-of coordinator to manage the logistics [2:1][2:2]. Coordinators can be invaluable, especially when time is tight and multiple vendors need coordination [3:5]. It's important to communicate clearly with whoever is helping to ensure everything is executed according to your vision [2:7].

Transportation and Storage

Transporting and storing decorations can be challenging. Renting a cargo van or coordinating with the venue for early drop-off can alleviate some logistical issues [3:4]. Storing items at home requires space, particularly for larger decorations, so it's crucial to plan accordingly [5:11]. Keeping decorations organized by table or area can streamline the setup process on the wedding day [3:2].

Cost-Saving Tips

DIY decorations can significantly reduce wedding costs. Thrifting items, utilizing free materials from friends, and opting for faux florals are effective ways to save money [4:1][4:5]. Additionally, platforms like Facebook Marketplace offer opportunities to find affordable decor items [4:7]. Designing and printing stationery through services like Canva and CVS can also be budget-friendly [4:6].

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Source Threads

POST SUMMARY • [1]

Summarize

DIY details from my quirky/rustic reception

Posted by thethrowaway_bride · in r/weddingplanning · 5 months ago
5 upvotes on reddit
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ORIGINAL POST
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We wanted a rustic/homey/quirky look for our wedding and it was much cheaper to make a lot of decor supplies. Here’s what we did:

  1. Table numbers are seed packets (to go with a light garden theme)
  2. Ceramic-look candle holders were all made by hand out of clay by me and friends, sprayed with matte mod podge to finish. This was by far the thing that took the longest - but saved me a fortune because I saw no good deals on this type of candleholder
  3. Pitcher vases were all thrifted by me
  4. Table runners were sewn by my MIL on her machine - they are gingham fabric with muslin underneath to make them less see through

the rest were rentals from the catering company. Aside from the fact that some of the fake candles are slightly crooked (argh!!) I was thrilled with how it came out!

i.redd.it
5 replies
DebtMediocre6456 · 5 months ago

I love this! Where did you get the candles? Are they real or battery powered?

1 upvotes on reddit
thethrowaway_bride · OP · 5 months ago

thank you! they are battery powered from amazon, cause our venue would not allow real ones

1 upvotes on reddit
Actual-Lake · 5 months ago

So bright and summery! 💜

1 upvotes on reddit
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louisiana_lagniappe · 5 months ago

Super cute! Love this! 

1 upvotes on reddit
Mother-Ad-6801 · 5 months ago

Ahhh this looks so perfectly executed! I love it so much!

2 upvotes on reddit
See 5 replies
r/Weddingsunder10k • [2]

Summarize

DIY decorations, but who to set it up?

Posted by curiositycuredpussy · in r/Weddingsunder10k · 7 years ago

Hi everyone! We’re planning a December wedding and are currently struggling with the decorating aspect of the day. We’re either going to be at the ceremony in a separate location or doing pictures in the window that was given to us by our restaurant to set up. Has anyone had luck hiring friends or planning how to decorate the venue without hiring a decorator or a day of coordinator? Any and all advice would be highly appreciated.

13 upvotes on reddit
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love_unicorns · 7 years ago

We hired a day of coordinator for this reason and it was the best decision we made by far. We originally weren't planning on getting someone but our coordinator was a saving grace for set up and keeping things moving through out the day.

12 upvotes on reddit
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bigdog2525 · 7 years ago

we hired one too. this reassures me that it was a good decision!

1 upvotes on reddit
storm_dancer21 · 7 years ago

My FMIL and FMIL's best friends have offered to set up. Luckily they have amazing eyes for decoration, so I know it's in good hands.

2 upvotes on reddit
curiositycuredpussy · OP · 7 years ago

I have this bride guilt and always hate asking for help ��

2 upvotes on reddit
Jlal89 · 7 years ago

When people start to offer over the next couple of months make sure to take them up on it and tell them when they will be needed.

Different people have different skills as well!

3 upvotes on reddit
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spugzcat · 7 years ago

My sister in law has offered to do mine. I’m going to box everything up by table and area at so it’s as simple as possible. I may even do test runs and take reference pictures. I’m not a good delegator!

6 upvotes on reddit
libearian · 7 years ago

My best friend had my boyfriend at the time and another friend set up a few decorations, but didn’t really plan for the end of the night take down, and it led to her parents cleaning up the space and then getting in a serious fight that led to an estrangement to this day with her and her husband because her parents felt abandoned because she didn’t answer her phone when they called her about who was suppose to clean up. And my boyfriend was driving them to their after party and her phone was in the best man’s jacket.

It was a mess and if you can plan for two separate teams of people, probably someone sober/not a partier to help at the end of the night, it would probably work out better if you go with friends instead of a professional.

17 upvotes on reddit
[deleted] · 7 years ago

Sometimes the venue or caterer will do it for you as part of their services.

We had access to the venue the day before, and my bridesmaids and myself did all the decorations.

5 upvotes on reddit
curiositycuredpussy · OP · 7 years ago

I was definitely thinking we could have our venue set up for us at an extra cost! Ty!

1 upvotes on reddit
See 9 replies
r/SanFranciscoWeddings • [3]

Summarize

DIY Brides

Posted by kumach0w · in r/SanFranciscoWeddings · 3 months ago

Hi everyone! Looking for some advice from brides who did a lot of their decorations themselves. I’m looking to do the following (and possibly other small items I’m not thinking of right now)

  • welcome linen sign
  • welcome table/gift table signage
  • large seating chart
  • sweethearts table backdrop
  • sweethearts table decor
  • centerpiece decor
  • bar signage menu

Does the day of or month of coordinator help with this set up? How was your experience with working with transporting all of the decorations? Anything I should consider or reconsider (aka just hire a decoration company)? Thanks in advance! Would also love to know cool thinks you’ve DIY’d as well!

4 upvotes on reddit
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westlakesoup · 3 months ago

i diyed my stationary and the table decor. here is my centerpiece. we reused whiskey glasses, double sided menu/timeline, then a 3D print of a link to photos for Guestpix. a friend of mine let me borrow her wood pueces that she bought for her wedding

https://preview.redd.it/h1l4608rnl8f1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=8c5b77a24050df1e334c4ff30d4ae33243b7eba0

2 upvotes on reddit
westlakesoup · 3 months ago

sweetheart table with faux flowers, candles that my friend gave me and a sign from Marshall's. as for transportation, i separated the decor by table and labeled it. i didn't have a coordinator but my bridal party helped put it together, i guess i should have had one now that i think about it

https://preview.redd.it/zhskw44aol8f1.jpeg?width=2667&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5493797e0ae1bfa0ff96f74b5f4feb7609c30ba

2 upvotes on reddit
bobeena1513 · 3 months ago

I diy'ed my large seating chart, and most of my signage and table decor! My day of coordinator (Dumi Gordon - she's excellent) set it all up according to instructions I gave her beforehand (and she made some day of decisions as well as needed). We rented a cargo van from Turo to transport everything - we gave our coordinator the keys the morning of and she unloaded everything and reloaded at the end of the night. It went really well!

1 upvotes on reddit
oso_events · 3 months ago

It really depends on the coordinator and the venue. We can usually handle welcome signs, bar menus, gift tables, and centerpieces—but setup time is often tight (usually 2 hours or less), and the scale really matters. A sign on an easel is quick, but if something needs assembly—like if your linen sign requires a stand, or if you have a lot of other time intensive set-ups, it becomes harder to accommodate within the time restriction because we’re also trying to coordinate all of the other vendors at the same time.

As for transporting everything, most couples have someone drop items off, or we do a handoff at the rehearsal. Just something to keep in mind—about 70% of the time, the loved ones dropping off the decor run late, which throws off the whole schedule. 😭😭

1 upvotes on reddit
A
AutoModerator · 3 months ago

Thank you for contributing to this community! If you're asking a question, please search existing posts, as the same questions get asked repeatedly (ESPECIALLY if you are asking for venue recommendations!). Also, please include specific information like location (not just "Bay Area"), budget (not just "affordable"), number of guests, etc. when asking for advice. You can go back and edit your post to include this information. Posts that are too vague will be deleted.

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1 upvotes on reddit
bobateaxx · 3 months ago

Hi! I just had my wedding, and I DIYed a lot of things. I made a mirror welcome sign, a large seating chart in a gold frame, bar signage, dessert signage, guest book signage, and placecards. My coordinator set up all my decor. I was able to drop all my decor off at my venue a couple of days before the wedding. However, my coordinator offered to meet me and take it all from me. We decided it was easier to just store it at the venue. I also bought compotes, bud vases, and large urns for my florist to use for the florals. I am selling a lot of my decor on Facebook Marketplace if you're interested! Something you may also need are easels for your signage and seating chart.

1 upvotes on reddit
Stock_Ninja9456 · 3 months ago

Can you link to your items for sale please!

1 upvotes on reddit
bobateaxx · 3 months ago

I'll Dm you!

1 upvotes on reddit
See 8 replies
r/Weddingsunder10k • [4]

Summarize

($12K) Can someone who knows what they are doing help me start figuring out how to DIY my florals and decorations?

Posted by AcrobaticOpinion · in r/Weddingsunder10k · 4 months ago

Hi folks! I'm getting married at the beginning of October. We've decided to DIY our decor, in part because we have a lot of free materials from friends who have gotten married and very kindly offered to donate to our endeavour, and in part because we aren't particularly fussy about how things look. Our wedding is probably going to be in the ballpark of 35-40 people, indoor venue, 5-6 tables plus a sweetheart table.

Here's the thing. I have no idea what the heck I'm doing. Like, I've seen a lot of cool ideas for DIY decor but I have no idea where to actually begin. I think? I have a colour palette (burgundy, burnt orange, navy blue, & white) but I also don't have much of an eye for this kind of thing so I am not sure I can tell what 'looks good' together for centrepieces - how much of this colour vs. that colour etc. And are there standard decor things I'm not even thinking of? Is these a list somewhere? How do I know things will fit my space?

Does anyone have advice on how to get started/a step-by-step for how to DIY your decor? Any advice is appreciated as I'm kind of clueless in this area. Thanks y'all!

9 upvotes on reddit
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AndersonsPooper · 4 months ago

What kind of materials did your friends donate to you? Is your venue providing anything?

We’re doing all fake florals and simple centerpieces (votives, hurricane vases with floating candles, bud vases and a live plant centerpiece with fairy lights). A friend of a friend cut cedar wood rounds for us and my fiancé built the arch himself. We have florals for the aisle and arch which will be reused in the reception space. Our venue has a lot of live plants already which help fill up the space.

3 upvotes on reddit
AcrobaticOpinion · OP · 4 months ago

Good question! Venue is providing tables, silverware, and basic white linens. Friends are giving some faux greenery, vases, table numbers, some fake fairy lights, vases for flowers, and a big hoop we can put flowers on for a photo op or arch behind us during the ceremony.

1 upvotes on reddit
jenisperfect · 4 months ago

I did paper flowers for mine. I used recycled paper and dyed it the color that I wanted it took forever, but I got all my friends and family together to do it and ended up being pretty fun. You can look up free patterns online or if you have a cricut machine that makes everything easier

4 upvotes on reddit
Curlylocksley · 4 months ago

Bud vases. You can do real flowers and almost anyone has the skill to put them together. It is drastically cheaper than larger arrangements. The vases themselves can sometimes be bought in bulk from dollar tree or somewhere similar. If you want to add votive candles and greenery on the tables you can. Italian Ruscus usually goes far for your money. You can often get by spending only $5-10 per table depending on your flower choice.

11 upvotes on reddit
ScaredKoala832 · 3 months ago

A lot on Facebook marketplace too!

1 upvotes on reddit
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NumerousAd79 · 4 months ago

I printed my welcome sign at CVS for like $8 and used rubber cement to stick it to a foam board. All in probably like $15 spent. They have coupons all the time. I designed it on canva. We bought flowers from Trader Joe’s and put them in water buckets overnight. Then we arranged them the day before and left them in a cold room. They looked good on our tables. We did mason jars and candles. I had a small wedding (30 people) and it all went great.

Editing after I saw someone mentioned it… my floral stuff was designed by ChatGPT. I asked it to make me an arrangement as an image, then give me all of the estimates for what to buy based on the image. It overestimated by about one bunch of florals per type, so I had like three extra bunches total. If you haven’t used it before, you have to prompt it. I said “tell me how many flowers to buy to make 16 mason jars like the one in the image.” Then I said “tell me how much I can expect to spend buying these flowers at Trader Joe’s in x region.” It was really very accurate for what I asked.

4 upvotes on reddit
epoustouflants · 4 months ago

We are getting married at a family property which is naturally beautiful (which helps lol) but every single decoration will be DIY, put in place by me and family. We’re on track for our 15k budget, with only the tiniest portion of that being for decor.

-if you want fresh florals, bud vases are trendy and a LOT less expensive because only need 1-2 stems each. You can find bud vases galore on Facebook marketplace, but I have been slowly thrifting mine.

-Different fresh flowers cost different amounts, and most come in lots of different colors. I am lucky enough to have a family friend who is a florist and is helping me get mine wholesale. A good florist will work with you to find your colors and aesthetic within your budget.

-Or, you can get flowers from Trader Joe’s or another grocery store! You’ll just want to call a couple weeks beforehand to give them a heads up and make sure they have what you want in stock. And keep them refrigerated as long as possible.

-if you want silk flowers, Joann’s is going out of business soon and has stuff on sale. And people are always selling them on Facebook marketplace. You can put water in the vases with silks to make them look more real.

-we are using silk flowers for misc. decoration and bridal party & family bouquets/boutonnieres/corsages, and fresh for my bouquet, fiancé’s boutonniere, and tables.

-when styling a centerpiece, follow the rule of threes. You want one tall item, one short item, and one in-between item. Mine will be a floating candle (different sizes), a bud vase, and a table number on a wood round. My brother’s wedding had a decorative votive candle, table number, and greenery on the same wood rounds.

-sweetheart tables look great with a garland, a couple candles, and maybe a sign hanging down in front.

-you can also buy cheap, gauzy scarves as table runners

-you don’t need things like chair covers, upgraded linens, a photo backdrop etc, unless you want them. When in doubt, ask yourself: do I remember this from the last wedding I went to? If the answer is no, your guests won’t remember, either.

-Canva is a great tool for making signs and stationary. There are a ton of templates you can work off of. The only signs you really need are a seating chart, “where to go” signs, a single bar menu if you have a special drink, and a welcome sign.

One of my friends literally only had table runners, a candle or two, and a table number with photos of the couple at that age. They bought flowers for the bridal & bridesmaid bouquets from Trader Joe’s the day before, and put them in vases for the head table. My sister lent them a big mirror that she wrote on for a welcome sign, and then they had a seating chart and a his & hers cocktail sign. And that was it! No other decorations. I was surprised, but it was a lovely wedding.

Hope that helps for a jumping off point! I’m not on here super often but feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions. I’m very crafty and am the sixth person in my family to have a DIY wedding!

5 upvotes on reddit
See 7 replies
r/DIYweddings • [5]

Summarize

How long before the wedding did you start to make DIY decorations?

Posted by thebabushkat · in r/DIYweddings · 3 years ago

I'm getting married in October 2023 and I'm wondering how long before the wedding I should make everything? I plan on doing most of it diy, and the wedding will be spooky/Halloween/autumn themed.

I'm eager to get started on decorations but didn't know if it's too soon or if making decorations will take longer than I'm thinking.

Thanks!

13 upvotes on reddit
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Wisdom_Dear · 3 years ago

It's never too soon! Just be aware that there may be things down the line that you want to change (new ideas start to form the more comfortable you get with crafting 😁) I started about a year before, it gives time for trial and error without the panic and at the 4 month mark I still had loads to do.

Remember if you're doing your own pace names, seating plans, favours etc that these are last minute once you have your finalised guest list, so you want to have plenty of time to work on them.

What kind of decorations are you hoping to DIY?

6 upvotes on reddit
thebabushkat · OP · 3 years ago

Ahh okay, thank you! I want to DIY invites, place cards, and favors, as well as ideally wedding arch and general decorations. Thinking about doing diy flowers as well

1 upvotes on reddit
Wisdom_Dear · 3 years ago

Settle on your colours and theme then start with planning the invites, I found them the most time consuming and it's the one thing you need diy'ed well in advance.

2 upvotes on reddit
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luckyveggie · 3 years ago

If you're planning fresh florals I wouldn't DIY them. They take way longer than you think and there's a ton of prep work for DAYS before the event.

I did and it was one of the biggest delays that day. Letting florals rehydrate/open up after shipping is like a 4-day process before the wedding day itself - meaning time and space needed. Then there's arranging and installing.

2 upvotes on reddit
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ValeriaSilverstein · 3 years ago

I've gathered the raw materials as I came across them ( frames for signs, box for cards, ribbon for programs, pieces of fake garlands etc) and then have worked on assembly in spurts as I feel inspired.

I've also kept an eye on fb marketplace. I was able to get a bunch of ikea lanterns off there. I didn't save a lot financially but it saved me shipping and assembly time.

8 upvotes on reddit
courtjester27 · 3 years ago

Oct 2023 as well, I started crocheting our chuppah two weeks ago because it might take me a whole year. I also started messing with Canva designs for our STDs.

I’m bookmarking and brainstorming for table numbers, escort cards, favors and centerpieces, but those are on the back burner for now.

As others said, there’s two autumns between now and your wedding, so what seasonal things you grab now vs later will depend entirely on how certain you are in your vision and how much space you have to hold the stuff. As someone who is habitually late, I’m personally trying to get everything done as soon as I can, so I’ll have plenty of time later for everything I inevitably forget.

6 upvotes on reddit
thebabushkat · OP · 3 years ago

Ahh okay! Good luck with the planning!

That's a good point - thank you!

1 upvotes on reddit
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shellybearcat · 3 years ago

Start ASAP especially since the longer you wait the less available Halloween/autumn supplies will be but some things to keep in mind:

  1. Anything that’s based on number of guests (name cards, decor for each table, etc) you’ll have to just guess for now because it’ll be a long time before you know exactly how many people and tables you’ll have
  2. You’ll need to store it all
  3. Make sure you are really sold on what you want, you don’t want to make everything and then change your mind
28 upvotes on reddit
thebabushkat · OP · 3 years ago

We plan on it being fairly small, around 30 to 50 guests.

We both like dark and spooky things and are really wanting a lot of black and dark blue, skulls and pumpkins

3 upvotes on reddit
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ValeriaSilverstein · 3 years ago

Good luck and have fun!

2 upvotes on reddit
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itinerantdustbunny · 3 years ago

Do you have space to store everything?

6 upvotes on reddit
thebabushkat · OP · 3 years ago

I have space for smaller items, but larger items are probably not as likely for storage. Can probably store in my little art room

1 upvotes on reddit
See 12 replies
r/Chicagoweddings • [6]

Summarize

I can buy myself flowers?

Posted by Effective_Emu7357 · in r/Chicagoweddings · 4 months ago

I would love to hear about your DIY decorations. I was thinking of getting fake arch flowers rather than a pricey installation. For ceremony and reception decor, I was planning to do lots of candles and loose greenery cut flowers in bud vases. For those of you who have done DIY things, like candles, who set it all up for you? Does anyone have an experience hiring a florist JUST to do loose greenery and bud vases (I would probably thrift the actual vases myself). My venue is really beautiful and doesn't need a lot of decor, so I'm trying to strike a balance between being thrify and not doing a ton of work myself the day of.

3 upvotes on reddit
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PlentyInstruction552 · 4 months ago

I got married last Sept in the city, here was my experience

Ask your venue if they would be open to do it even for a small fee. My venue was down to set up the simple decor for a fee of like 250ish (I can’t remember). I did super simple two drapes for the ceremony and then a bunch of bud vases (flowers from Trader Joe’s/ Whole Foods) and tea candles and candle sticks (battery ones, bought in bulk from Amazon).

If your venue can’t do it then you’re relying on a friend / family or a day off coordinator. My recommendation is that you know who can do the set up before you make a decisions, you don’t want to be doing that.

Other options I thought of but didn’t go with

  1. For a sec there I thought about doing little potted plants. My venue was very gardenie so thought that was a nice in between. I could buy a week in advance, low prep on my end, easy to set up (just set on tables). But my now husband didn’t love it lol I had a very opinionated groom

  2. Almost did rental flowers, only reason I didn’t is because I had a very particular color palette in mind and I just couldn’t get theirs to match the vision (I was a little crazy lol). I thought something borrowed blooms had the best ones and I think they send you a sample before so you can check them out (don’t quote me on that). They also have such a wide variety of wedding decor. Really so impressed by them.

Overall, you got this ! I loved doing my own decor and planning for it. I felt so proud to be so hands on and it was so nice to have this memory of I did this personal project myself. If you have more questions and want to chat back and forth feel free to DM me

1 upvotes on reddit
NothingDisastrousNow · 4 months ago

Message me because I will have all of the above after this weekend including flowers for an arch that I made and they look awesome (imho). 120 bud vases, maybe 100ish candles, and over 20 vintage candelabras 😄. This took a while to source so if that would help, we can work something out!

1 upvotes on reddit
Dry_Cycle_4652 · 4 months ago

I’m going to dm you as well!

2 upvotes on reddit
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MissKatmandu · 4 months ago

We had a very small restaurant dinner for the reception. The venue did our decor set up--we dropped off everything the night before, shared our thoughts for what it would look like, and they did the rest. And they nailed it.

If they hadn't, we probably could have had help from a relative not in the wedding party who was handy, and wouldn't be offended for being asked if they could help.

1 upvotes on reddit
the1katya · 4 months ago

For bud vases we got ours at dollar tree. I got flameless candles from Amazon and thrifted votive candleholders from the Green Wedding Alliance thrift sale. Our flowers are Lego and we are using a local florist Primrose for our bridal party and family corsage flowers. Our venue coordinator/planner is setting up everything.

2 upvotes on reddit
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r/Weddingsunder10k • [7]

Summarize

What are the most thriftable, DIY decorations?

Posted by anintellectuwoof · in r/Weddingsunder10k · 3 years ago

My partner and I are long-term planning for a small "wedding" (~40 people), probably at least two years away. I'm both a pretty crafty and very thrifty person. We're looking at renting a large AirBnB or Peerspace type of space that will allow for having a ceremony and party, and decorating ourselves for the most part. Are there any kind of decorations that lean really well to being long term collections/DIY projects? Things I can look out for while shopping that will keep well and will spread the cost out a bit?

For reference for our style, we aren't doing much traditional stuff and the type of things my partner and I are interested are pretty geeky: video games (especially Nintendo), fantasy, anime, etc, which we'll incorporate in subtle ways (cake toppers, instrumental motifs in the playlist, a Smash Brothers tournament indoors, etc). We also both met playing music together and will definitely incorporate that (e.g., I have a plan to make little "tambourines" to pass out as party favors as something to ring in lieu of throwing rice).

I know one of the major decorating costs is flowers-- which, honestly, I'm not really into, besides maybe a bouquet + corsage for us (no wedding party) Seems like a large expense for something I'm not that interested in (and also heavily allergic to). Have people done replacements for flowers that worked well, especially in terms of centerpieces? Thankfully we can host in areas with a lot of natural flora and beauty.

Thanks in advance!

7 upvotes on reddit
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StynaSilverwing · 3 years ago

Geeky centerpiece ideas: lego flowers, dice towers, sets of dice, miniature figurines, decks of cards, board games.

2 upvotes on reddit
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TBBPgh · 3 years ago

Thrift and flip a dresser to use for your reception and later in your home. https://i.pinimg.com/564x/28/9c/2c/289c2cae97828a945cd593bfdce211d8.jpg

2 upvotes on reddit
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KTKT11 · 3 years ago

You are right that flowers can add up, and if you're not a big floral person, this is probably not a good use of your budget! Some couples even just go to their local grocery store and find a bouquet there. I'm also a fan of sola wood flowers, which while not necessarily super inexpensive, they are something you can keep as a memento/home decor item, or resell if you want to.

Definitely checkout Facebook for local wedding groups or the Marketplace. A lot of couples buy wedding decor and then want to unload it and get anything they can to at least recoup some of the cost. So you can end up saving a lot by joining local wedding groups.

For "geeky" weddings, I'm a fan of keeping decor simple and fun. Could you pick a theme for each table and do a little vignette for each? Like a different Nintendo game for each table? You can put little themed items in fish bowls/mason jars, or you could keep it simple and just design table numbers around each table's theme. There's no requirement to use flowers, especially at tables. To be honest, most guests won't remember decor unless it's something unique/personal to you. They just want good food and drink provided for them. So don't ever stress over the little things!

A note about your venue: I would be hesitant to book an AirBNB. Most don't allow parties or events, and even if they are OK with it, they could cancel you on a week before and then you are basically out of luck. There are stories of that happening. Peerspace is probably a better option as they are more aimed towards events. Just be careful of being in any kind of non-traditional venue (a backyard, someone's home, etc), because often those can end up even more expensive because they aren't equipped with proper bathrooms for 40, power/outlets for vendors/entertainment, dance floor, catering/kitchen space, a rain plan if outdoors, etc. So just make sure to research and ask a lot of questions before committing!

7 upvotes on reddit
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anintellectuwoof · OP · 3 years ago

Ah thank you for your super thorough response!! This is all really helpful.

I’ve seen the wood flowers and considered those! Hadn’t thought about Facebook groups, that’s super helpful, thanks. Also I love the idea of a different game at each table!!!! Thanks so much for the idea.

Also thanks for the heads up on the Air BnB thing! I hadn’t thought about the cancelling— definitely wasn’t planning on hiding it, there’s some spaces here that are dual AirBnB/peer space spaces meant for parties, but you bring up a good point about the plugs and everything too.

2 upvotes on reddit
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MOBMAY1 · 3 years ago

How about piles of books and candles as centrepieces?

5 upvotes on reddit
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anintellectuwoof · OP · 3 years ago

That's a great idea thanks!! I actually pinned something like that off pinterest

2 upvotes on reddit
ThrowawayBride429531 · 3 years ago

Being far enough out, you can definitely hit season change clearances at craft stores if you wanted to do things with fake florals instead or even just seasonal decor. I went this weekend and nearly all the spring decor was 60% off— and it wasn’t just overly “spring” things! It even included plant stands, lanterns, and vases that could easily be used at any time. I got all of my flowers on clearance last year between summer and fall at 60-80% off.

This is true for other things that are usually seasonal in nature— outdoor “cafe bulb” string lights are popular in the summer, and go on clearance after. Wait until after Christmas to get smaller strands of string lights.

Things I see very often as thriftable items are candlesticks, candle holders, and bud vases. If you’re thinking of doing tealights or small candles, swing by the kitchen aisle and look for smaller drinking glasses like whiskey or lowball tumblers.

There’s a lot of diy decor that can be purchased and done well in advance, especially when you’ve got a long time to collect it. It’s just a matter of coming up with a solid plan for your decor so you know what to be on the look out for and so you don’t end up with a lot of random bits that you don’t end up needing. And of course having a place to store it all in the meantime is essential.

9 upvotes on reddit
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anintellectuwoof · OP · 3 years ago

Oh good point on the craft stores! Will definitely check that out. Thanks for all the other advice too, that's super helpful!

2 upvotes on reddit
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r/weddingplanning • [8]

Summarize

DIY wedding, who/when puts up the wedding decorations and sets everything up?

Posted by lszubert · in r/weddingplanning · 1 year ago

Hello! for those of you who had/having a DIY wedding how did you ochestrate setting up the wedding venue on the wedding day its self? As the bride I imagine I'm too busy getting ready to be setting up decorations etc in the morning. Any one have any useful tips, as I imagine the venue is rented per day so its not possible to do it the day before and leave the decorations.

7 upvotes on reddit
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vanillax2018 · 1 year ago

Everyone will tell you you need a full on day coordinator who charges a ton, and that's simply not true. I hired a lady to put up the decorations, and that's all she did. She arrived at 3 and left at 4, charged me $200.

14 upvotes on reddit
Losternotimposter01 · 1 year ago

How did you find this person?

1 upvotes on reddit
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vanillax2018 · 1 year ago

The venue recommended her

1 upvotes on reddit
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brownchestnut · 1 year ago

Hire a coordinator. They have a setup/takedown crew that you can pay extra to hire. This is a lot of work and I wouldn't want to use guests for this kind of labor, even if they're family and close friends.

43 upvotes on reddit
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Bumble_love_story · 1 year ago

You pay someone to do it. Usually a day of coordinator (sometimes they need one other person too)

19 upvotes on reddit
hiddentickun · 1 year ago

You hire someone to do that

24 upvotes on reddit
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velvet8smiles · 1 year ago

We hired a day of coordinator to take care of set up and take down of decor. They do other tasks as well as work with other vendors as they are coming in to set up things, make sure the timeline is running smoothly, make sure VIP people are around for key moments (e.g. parents during first dance), and be our right hand if we need help like an emergency or a dress bussle.

7 upvotes on reddit
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r/weddingplanning • [9]

Summarize

Who sets up decorations if going the DIY route?

Posted by mosvaluableplayer · in r/weddingplanning · 2 years ago

Merry Christmas! Wondering who generally sets up decorations day-of? We have a house/small ‘mansion’ as a wedding venue and a couple of hours allocated pre-ceremony to set up. I’m DIY’ing all decor with my mom and MIL’s help, and since we don’tn have a designated planner or decorator I’m wondering if it’s best to hire an event decor-savvy assistant or something to help set up the decorations day-of? The venue owner said often the caterer usually sets up centerpieces for dinner so mainly asking about ceremony, cocktail hour and any misc (entryway).

I definitely plan to make any decorative pieces as straightforward as possible and to have simple diagrams to indicate placement.

Thanks!

6 upvotes on reddit
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hobbyist-historian · 2 years ago

I did it myself! Got a hand from my nieces, but hadn't been banking on that. I know that goes against the grain for most people, but I knew I was going to have less time to be antsy if I spent my morning in comfy clothes carrying around my coffee and setting up centerpieces. Caveat - we were staying and getting ready on site and my husband and I didn't care about seeing each other before the ceremony until we were actually getting dressed, so if that's not your situation it may not be a great fit for you.

I loved it though! It helped keep me excited and relaxed, so my pre ceremony jitters were minimal. Plus I had handmade centerpieces and really wanted to be sure they were laid out perfectly.

14 upvotes on reddit
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lmg080293 · 2 years ago

I’m so glad to see someone else say this because it’s exactly how I feel. Everyone thinks I’m nuts and should just relax on the morning of, but I know myself. I won’t be able to. It’ll be fun for me to walk around and decorate for a couple of hours, and it’ll help distract me from the jitters. We’re also in the same venue boat though, which helps.

3 upvotes on reddit
YSterling22 · 2 years ago

I am going to ask a few good family friends who have offered to help to be my decorating committee.

3 upvotes on reddit
justneedauser_name · 2 years ago

We had our ceremony spot for 3 hours including set up/clean up. We didn’t want to worry about doing it all plus getting ready and I felt bad delegating tasks to family/friends so we looked for a day of coordinator. She was fairly inexperienced and therefore inexpensive but we really only needed her for set up/tear down so it wasn’t a huge deal.

I gave photos of what we were looking for, diagrams, plenty of instruction, etc. It worked out well for us.

2 upvotes on reddit
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RaddishEater666 · 2 years ago

You can always hire helpers from thumbtack or something

8 upvotes on reddit
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StargazerGirl21 · 2 years ago

Unless you have a florist or month of coordinator who is setting up , then you have to find guests to do it for you and hope they know what your vision is.

3 upvotes on reddit
See 6 replies
r/DIYweddings • [10]

Summarize

Me trying to make party favors

Posted by avacadoh42 · in r/DIYweddings · 5 years ago
post image
973 upvotes on reddit
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Tackybabe · 5 years ago

I was a wedding decorator and planner for many years, and I have found that too many brides fall into the DIY trap and end up spending too much and taking on too much work. The DIY is great if you’re already handy and have lots of time and/or help. Starting a project when you have so much else to worry about and do is often not easy or even possible.

18 upvotes on reddit
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moonpeebles · 5 years ago

With your experience, are there any DIYs that you would say can generally be worth it for the average couple on a tight budget?

For us, it's definitely going to be the flowers. We have a group of friends to help (one of whom did her own flowers already) and I can't bear the thought of spending $2,000+ on a florist.

8 upvotes on reddit
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TheFunbag · 5 years ago

This.

A wedding is the worst possible time to decide to learn to do a new, time consuming project. And a great way to learn to hate that new, time consuming project.

2 upvotes on reddit
inbettywhitewetrust · 1 year ago

I went from "I'm going to sew my wedding dress!" to "Oh thank god I just have to figure out flowers and decorations for my 35 person wedding." I admire so many brides for taking DIY on, but whew my ambition fizzled out overnight with all the moving parts.

1 upvotes on reddit
[deleted] · 5 years ago

Me and my wedding veil - burnt a hole in it when I was doing the applique....have never been so mad at myself

15 upvotes on reddit
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NotJustAnyFig · 5 years ago

Me: "you do not need to buy a cricut... you do not need to buy a cricut.

But a glowforge though..."

39 upvotes on reddit
Boomslangalang · 5 years ago

Isn’t a major issue with the glow forge that everything it cuts gets burned? That seems quite limiting.

2 upvotes on reddit
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NotJustAnyFig · 5 years ago

Hmm I'd have to look into it.

I used to work with an industrial size laser cutter and we cut things like full cow hide/acrylic/wood/construction paper.. we even laser etched on bread once for a girl who brought her longboard in.

I eventually laser etched a lion graphic into my longboard.

For us it was all about tinkering with the settings distance×intensity on the big machine so I wonder if you could do the same for an at home system like glowforge.

1 upvotes on reddit
wombatmcgee · 5 years ago

I have a Cricut. I still want a Glowforge. So does my fiance. We'll get one someday, I'm sure.

6 upvotes on reddit
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NotJustAnyFig · 5 years ago

My fiance yelled at me because I already have a flashforge 3d printer because I'm a 3d modeler...

But now I need a 3d Laser cutter... so bad... i miss playing with them.

7 upvotes on reddit
rlweddit · 5 years ago

I saw a clearance cricut at Walmart the other day and now it's calling my name...

2 upvotes on reddit
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NotJustAnyFig · 5 years ago

Lol whatever you do.. don't look at the glowforges

1 upvotes on reddit
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AI Answer

🤖

DIY wedding decorations

Key Considerations for DIY Wedding Decorations

  1. Theme and Color Scheme: Define your wedding theme and color palette first. This will guide your decoration choices and ensure a cohesive look throughout the venue.

  2. Budget: Set a budget for decorations. DIY can save money, but costs can add up with materials and tools. Prioritize key areas like centerpieces, backdrops, and signage.

  3. Materials: Choose materials that are easy to work with and readily available. Common options include:

    • Paper: For banners, flowers, and table runners.
    • Fabric: For tablecloths, draping, and chair covers.
    • Glass: For vases, candle holders, and centerpieces.
    • Wood: For rustic signs, table numbers, and decor.
  4. Time and Help: Assess how much time you have before the wedding and enlist friends or family to help with projects. Some DIY projects can be time-consuming.

  5. Versatility: Create decorations that can serve multiple purposes. For example, a floral arrangement can be used for both the ceremony and reception.

Popular DIY Decoration Ideas:

  • Centerpieces: Use mason jars filled with flowers, candles, or fairy lights.
  • Banners and Signage: Create personalized signs with your names or wedding date using wood or cardstock.
  • Table Decor: Use lace or burlap runners, and add small potted plants or candles for a charming touch.
  • Photo Booth: Set up a DIY photo booth with a fun backdrop made from fabric or paper and props for guests to enjoy.
  • Lighting: String lights or fairy lights can create a magical atmosphere, especially in the evening.

Recommendation: Start with a few key projects that resonate with your style and gradually build from there. Pinterest and wedding blogs can provide inspiration and tutorials to guide your DIY efforts. This approach allows you to personalize your wedding while keeping the process enjoyable and manageable.

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