Crafting Wedding Decorations: A Guide To Making Your Own

Planning a wedding can be a costly affair, but there are ways to cut costs and add a personal touch with DIY decorations. From centrepieces to seating plans, there are endless possibilities for creative crafts that will wow your guests and save you money.

For those who are artistically inclined, paper flowers are a simple yet effective way to decorate tables or create a pretty backdrop. If you're looking for something more natural, a greenery table garland is a cheap and easy option – just collect your favourite foliage and twine it together with florist's wire. Add some romantic candlelight with floating candles and flowers in cylinders of varying heights.

For outdoor weddings, solar-powered Mason jar lights will brighten up the venue as day turns to night, while a simple sign can provide a homely touch and ensure guests don't get lost.

There are also plenty of ways to get creative with seating plans, from maps of the world to pictures from your love story. And don't forget the all-important cake table! Surround your cake with flowers, pom-poms, candles and signs for a picture-perfect display.

With a bit of imagination and a willingness to get crafty, you can easily add a unique and personalised touch to your wedding day.

DIY floral arrangements

Flowers are one of the biggest expenses when it comes to wedding decor, so creating your own floral arrangements can save you a lot of money. Here are some tips for DIY floral arrangements for your wedding:

Sourcing Flowers and Greenery

• Order wholesale flowers and enlist family and friends to help make bouquets and boutonnieres. Go for big blooms such as hydrangeas, peonies, or football mums, as you'll need fewer stems.
• For greenery, opt for leafy varieties.
• If you're crafty, you could make your own flowers out of coffee filters, paper, felt, pom-poms, or even crocheted roses.
• Buy flowers in bulk from a local florist or a gardening/plant store.
• If you're looking for a specific type of flower, talk to your local florist in advance to ensure availability and order them about two weeks before the wedding.
• If you're on a tight budget, consider using fake flowers. You can often find these on sale or with coupons at craft stores.
• For real flowers, Trader Joe's, Costco, and Sam's Club are popular options.
• You could also ask in local Facebook groups if anyone has bouquets they're about to throw out, especially after Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.
• If you're using fresh flowers, store them at below 60 degrees Fahrenheit before the wedding to keep them fresh.
• Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle to keep them fresh and provide more surface area for the flowers to drink.

Floral Arrangement Ideas

• For boutonnieres, use a flower with a hearty stem so it doesn't get crushed when hugging people. Secure with clear hair elastics and twine.
• For flower crowns, use lace, green floral wire, green floral tape, a vine, shears, wax flowers, and bobby pins.
• For centerpieces, you can use a mix of small and large flowers, or opt for an all-green bouquet to cut costs.
• For a simple, minimalist look, use bud vases with a few stems in each.
• Fill empty vases with your bridesmaids' bouquets as centerpieces.
• Use wildflowers or inexpensive greens to craft a lush bouquet.
• Create a cascading arrangement of flowers down the front of your wedding cake.
• For a colourful tablescape, choose bright blooms and use transparent tape to make a grid and keep the flowers from moving around in the vase.
• For a tall centerpiece, use one orchid stem in a large glass vase.
• Use extra flowers to make petal confetti for your flower girl to sprinkle, or for guests to toss at you after you say "I do".
• Spray paint succulents with gold or silver paint and use them as name cards or pops of colour in your tablescape.
• Use wreaths, pillar candles, and glass vases for a quick and easy centerpiece.
• If you're feeling adventurous, you can even make your own flowers out of wood!

Table decorations

Rustic/Countryside Wedding

• A simple way to add texture to plain tables is with a table runner. Choose a fabric that complements your wedding theme, such as hessian, or opt for a colourful material.
• For a rustic, relaxed look, create a table runner using greenery such as eucalyptus and ivy.
• Fill wooden crates with flowers, petals, fairy lights, or even bottles of beer.
• Wrap jam jars with hessian and lace or ribbon, and place candles or wildflowers inside.
• Stack vintage books and tie them with lace or ribbon.
• Fill wicker baskets with wildflowers or Oasis and arrange blooms.
• Decorate tree branches with fairy lights or spray paint them gold or silver.
• Use potted plants or succulents as centrepieces, decorating the pots to match your theme.
• Fill bell jars with lemons and cut flowers for a summer or destination wedding centrepiece.
• Create a fruit table runner with colourful citrus fruits.
• For a whimsical touch, fill terrariums or rustic log vases with succulents.
• Wrap fairy lights into a messy ball and place inside a small vase or jar.
• Display vintage teacups and saucers with cut spray roses or a stack of cakes.
• Fill mason jars with pampas grass or dried grasses.

Beach/Tropical Wedding

• Use tropical foliage like palm or monstera leaves, shells, jars of sand, and coconut halves as table decorations.
• Lightweight cotton or linen table runners topped with macrame or wicker placemats suit a beach or island theme.
• Fill glass bottles, mason jars, or tins with coloured sand or paint them in your wedding palette colours.

Classic/Traditional Wedding

• White florals, lush greenery, and neutral colour palettes are a classic choice.
• Use long, graceful candelabras, dark green vines, and simple jars filled with pampas grass.
• Gold accents will elevate a classic theme.
• Include monogrammed linens and a big white wedding cake.

Modern Wedding

• Modern table decor includes monochromic colour schemes, clean lines, acrylic and glass, votive candles, and simple fonts.
• A 'less is more' approach to aesthetics is key.

Seasonal Wedding

• Add seasonal touches to your table decorations, such as pastel colours and spring florals like ranunculus for spring, or gold accents and bold, bright colours for summer.
• For an autumn wedding, use leaves, gourds, squash, maple branches, and plaid linens.
• In winter, use faux snow, pinecones, walnuts, basil sprigs, tiny wreaths, and red berries as embellishments.

Budget-Friendly Ideas

• Prioritize key elements and choose a few stand-out pieces, such as large vases or bright table runners.
• Use candles, especially taper candles, to enhance your table decorations.
• Repurpose items you already own, such as books, wine bottles, or holiday decorations.
• Include simple DIY floral vase centrepieces.
• Fill bell jars with lemons and cut flowers.
• Create a table runner using greenery such as eucalyptus and ivy.
• Use fairy lights inside small glass vases.
• Display vintage teacups with cut spray roses.
• Fill mason jars with pampas grass.
• Use colourful fruits such as citrus fruits as centrepieces.

Other Ideas

• Use multi-level candles in vases and votives for a warm, timeless look.
• Use wooden crates instead of vases for a rustic feel.
• Intersperse bud vases filled with wildflowers and foliage with colourful taper candles.
• Use potted plant centrepieces for a sustainable option.
• Include elevated floral arrangements to create impact without blocking guests' views.
• Herbs make great low-cost centrepieces and can be matched to the season, e.g. mint and basil for spring/summer, rosemary and thyme for autumn/winter.
• Use disco balls, light-up letters, or fairy lights for a glamorous touch.
• Use colourful kilner jars filled with real or faux wildflowers.
• Fill painted autumn pumpkins with candles or use them as vases.
• Use painted wine bottles topped with taper candles.
• Include a cake stand with flowers or sweet treats.
• Use mini Christmas trees or Christmas baubles for a festive wedding.
• Use oversized balloons with DIY garland tails.
• Create a floral table runner using silver dollar eucalyptus, leather leaf fern, salal, baby's breath, and white roses.
• Use gold or brass lanterns, mini tea light luminaries, and wooden card holders.
• Display family heirlooms or vintage items such as china or books.
• Use colourful candleholders or colourful glassware.
• Create a centrepiece with a fruit bowl filled with peaches, oranges, and cherries.
• Use single-stem flowers in bud vases.
• Mix and match various sizes and styles of vases for a bohemian look.
• Use olive branches in tall acrylic vases.
• Include slabs of wood to display other DIY decorations.
• Use fairy lights inside terrariums or lanterns.
• Use colourful runners or napkins to add a pop of colour.
• Create a floral cloche with moss, greenery, and blooms.
• Use colourful taper candles on neutral linens.
• Use lamps on reception tables for a homely, chic look.
• Use colourful candles and glassware to make a vibrant statement.
• Use colourful runners or napkins to add a pop of colour.

Outdoor decor

There are many ways to decorate an outdoor wedding venue. Here are some ideas for an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception:

Outdoor Ceremony Decor:

• Create a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony by hanging a floral swag and some tulle from an arbor. You could also decorate the aisle with flower petals or line it with tree stumps that can later be reused at the reception.
• For a beach wedding, consider using lanterns and white chairs for seating.
• If the weather is warm, provide paintbrushes for guests to dust off sandy toes.
• For a fun twist on the traditional ceremony program, print them out on paper fans to keep guests cool.
• Add some sparkle to the wedding aisle with a candle pathway.
• For a rustic look, use tree stumps for decor. These can also be used at the end of the aisle during the ceremony and then moved and reused at the reception.
• If you're looking for an inexpensive and sophisticated outdoor wedding accent, float flowers in cool water.
• Create a whimsical photo display by attaching photos of you and your partner to a row of twine wrapped around a nearby tree trunk.
• Use old window frames as the canvas for your seating chart or to display meaningful quotes.

Outdoor Reception Decor:

• Add a cozy and unexpected touch to your outdoor reception by placing rugs under seating areas.
• Tea lights and vintage glass bottles filled with pretty greenery will add a lovely touch to tables.
• Hang string lights or fairy lights to create a magical atmosphere once the sun goes down.
• For a unique and tasty twist on the traditional wedding cake, serve a "cake of cheese".
• Use whiskey barrels filled with quick-mix concrete and wood to create a dance floor. You can also hang string lights at the top for added ambiance.
• Provide guests with sparklers for a magical send-off for the happy couple.
• Set up a Polaroid guest book where guests can pose for pictures with fun props.
• Create a relaxing lounge area with comfortable seating, such as Adirondack chairs.
• Use a vintage truck bed decorated with greenery and galvanized buckets as a unique drink station.
• Provide parasols for guests to protect themselves from the sun or shelter themselves from light rain showers.
• Hang string lights above the dance floor or reception seating to make the space feel cozier.
• If your wedding is taking place near a pool, consider using it as a visual focal point. You can even have a dance floor built over it!

Seating plans

Planning a wedding seating arrangement can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and tips, it can become a fun and exciting part of the wedding planning process. Here are some detailed instructions and ideas to help you create a seating plan for your wedding:

Organise Your Guest List:

Start by creating a detailed guest list, grouping guests into categories such as family, friends from college or school, colleagues, wedding party members, and guests with special needs. This will make it easier to visualise how different groups can be arranged when creating your seating plan.

Choose Table Shapes and Sizes:

Decide on the shapes and sizes of the tables you will use. Common options include round, rectangular, oval, and square tables. Each type of table has its advantages—round tables offer more legroom, rectangular tables can fit more people, square tables accommodate larger centrepieces, and oval tables offer a sophisticated look while allowing guests to converse easily. Consider the number of guests you plan to invite and the space available at your venue to determine the number and type of tables needed.

Get the Venue Layout:

Contact your wedding venue to obtain a detailed floor plan, including dimensions, electric outlet locations, bathrooms, and other important features. This will help you visualise how the tables, dance floor, band or DJ area, buffet tables, and other elements will fit into the space.

Seat the Happy Couple:

Traditionally, the bride and groom sit together, with the groom on the bride's right. You can choose to have a "sweetheart table" for just the couple or include the wedding party and close friends or family. If you opt for a larger table, consider seating immediate family members, grandparents, and the officiant with the couple.

Seat the Wedding Party:

If the wedding party is made up of friends from different areas of the couple's lives, consider seating them with guests they are comfortable with. If they know each other well, they may enjoy sharing a table. Seat the wedding party near the dance floor, preferably at the third-best tables in the room.

Seat the Parents and Families:

The bride and groom's parents, along with grandparents and siblings not in the wedding party, are usually seated together at a table close to the couple. If there are divorced parents or complex family dynamics, consider creating separate "head tables" to avoid discomfort. Alternatively, seat them at opposite ends of a long rectangular table.

Group Guests Strategically:

When assigning guests to tables, consider their relationships, interests, and backgrounds. Seat guests with similar interests or backgrounds together to spark engaging conversations. Avoid seating guests together who have a history of not getting along. If you know a guest loves skiing, seat them with a friend who recently went on a ski trip. Reunite college friends at the same table.

Consider Special Circumstances:

When creating your seating plan, be mindful of guests with special circumstances, such as disabilities or mobility issues. Ensure that wheelchair users or guests who require extra space are seated near the edges of the room or closer to the dance floor for easier manoeuvrability. Seat older guests farther from the band or speakers to ensure their comfort.

Seat Younger Guests Near the Action:

Place younger guests and those more likely to be on the dance floor closer to the band or DJ. They will enjoy the lively atmosphere and have easier access to the dance floor.

Create a Kids' Table:

If you have several children attending the wedding, consider setting up a separate kids' table with engaging activities, crafts, or games to keep them entertained. Place this table close to their parents' tables so they can keep an eye on their little ones.

Skip the Singles Table:

Avoid creating a "singles table" as it may embarrass or make your guests uncomfortable. Instead, use your discretion and try to seat guests with common interests or backgrounds together.

Create a Seating Chart:

Use online tools or poster boards to create a seating chart. Online tools like WeddingWire, Wedding Mapper, and Canva offer drag-and-drop features that make it easy to arrange and rearrange seating. Poster boards allow for a more tactile approach, where you can use Post-it notes or dry-erase markers to assign seats.

Assign Tables Instead of Specific Seats:

If you're not comfortable with the idea of assigning specific seats, you can opt to assign tables only. This gives your guests some direction while still allowing them to choose their seats.

Convey Table Assignments Clearly:

When creating escort cards or seating charts, list guests' names alphabetically rather than by table to make it easier for guests to find their seats. You can also use table numbers or a combination of alphabetical and numerical listings to guide guests to their tables.

Prepare for Last-Minute Changes:

Expect the unexpected, such as last-minute guest cancellations or surprise plus-ones. Review your seating plan the night before the wedding and bring extra escort cards and a nice pen to make any necessary adjustments.

Creating a seating plan for your wedding can be a challenging task, but with careful planning, flexibility, and consideration for your guests' needs and dynamics, you can design a seating arrangement that ensures a harmonious and enjoyable celebration for everyone.

Favours

Wedding favours are a great way to thank your guests for attending and celebrating with you. They can be a fun DIY project, and there are endless options to choose from. Here are some ideas for wedding favours that you can make yourself:

Something Sweet

• Cake pops: Bake and decorate cake pops in colours that match your wedding theme.
• Personalised chocolate bars: Get creative and add names, colours, or mix in some tasty extras.
• Cookies: Set up a 'choose your own cookies' station with a variety of flavours and toppings.
• Baked goods: Prepare some homemade treats such as cupcakes, pies, or cookies, and package them attractively with cute boxes or cellophane bags.
• Jam: Make a big batch of your favourite flavour of jam and fill small glass jars for your guests.
• Honey: Put together small jars of honey, cover them with burlap, and attach personalised tags.
• Hot chocolate kits: Assemble the ingredients for hot chocolate, including marshmallows and cookies, in a jar or bottle.

Drinks

• Mini bottles of liquor: Brew your own beer, or bottle a custom drink like limoncello, and add personalised tags.
• Wine: Instead of a welcome drink, offer your guests a small bottle of wine with a custom label or a wine stopper stamp made from cork.
• Tea: Fill small tubes with loose-leaf tea or give tiny bags with single tea sachets.
• Coffee: Provide little jars of your favourite coffee beans.

Crafts

• Candles: Make mini personalised candles with soy wax, essential oils, and decorative elements like dried flowers.
• Soap: Create handmade soap bars with a variety of scents and colours to match your wedding theme.
• Lip balm: Prepare natural lip balms with beeswax, colouring, and essential oils.
• Bath bombs: Get creative and make bath bombs with glitter, colours, and your favourite scents.
• Coasters: Design and decorate coasters using cardboard, soft plastics, or laminate card.
• Keychains: Cut out keychain-sized shapes from cardboard and decorate them for each guest.

Other Creative Ideas

• Seeds: Package seeds of flowers from your bridal bouquet or plants that represent your marriage.
• Confetti cones: Make your own confetti from dried flowers, leaves, or ribbon, and put them in handmade cones.
• Birdseed hearts: Mix birdseed with honey and egg white, cut out heart shapes, and add a hanging string.
• Succulents: Plant succulent clippings in mini terracotta pots.
• Snow globes: Create adorable miniature snow globes with a wedding scene or a fun design.
• Pinwheels: Instead of rice or rose petals, make colourful pinwheels for your guests to spin as you exit.
• Colouring books: Put together small colouring books with wedding-themed pictures or pages printed from the internet.
• Hangover kits: Assemble kits with headache medicine, mouthwash, eye masks, and water for your guests to recover from the celebration.
• Personalised notes: Write heartfelt thank-you notes to your guests, adding a fresh apple or a small gift.

These DIY wedding favour ideas will not only save you money but also add a personal touch to your special day.

Frequently asked questions