Creative Ways To Upcycle Leftover Wedding Invitations

There are many ways to use leftover wedding invitations creatively. Some people save them as mementos, frame them, or use them for scrapbooking. Others get crafty and cut them into tags for wedding party gifts, shred them for confetti, or use the ribbons and embellishments for gift wrapping. You can also send them to celebrities as a fun way to connect with your favourite stars. If you're feeling particularly romantic, you could even make a wedding invitation diary, adding pictures and text to commemorate your love story.

Create a collage or scrapbook

Creating a scrapbook or collage is a wonderful way to preserve your wedding memories. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Choose a Theme

Decide on a theme or colour scheme for your scrapbook. This could be based on your wedding colours, a favourite pattern or a combination of different textures. Having a unifying element will help bring the pages together and create a cohesive look.

Gather Your Supplies

You'll need a variety of papers, including high-quality cardstock and speciality papers in complementary colours and patterns. You can also use vellum paper for printing text. Additionally, invest in a good paper trimmer, corner and edge punches, and adhesives like glue and double-sided tape.

Select Memorabilia

Include mementos from your wedding day such as invitations, programs, place cards, menus, and any other special items. You can also add ceremony readings, reception speeches, and photos of the big day. Ask your family and friends to share their photos too, so you have a variety of perspectives and moments captured.

Design and Layout

Before you start gluing, plan the layout of your pages. Group your photos and memorabilia into sections, such as pre-ceremony, ceremony, and reception. This will help you visualise the flow of the scrapbook and ensure you utilise your pages effectively.

Dive In!

Now it's time to get creative! Adhere to your memorabilia and photos to the pages, playing with different arrangements and sizes. You can also use your wedding invitation as a background image or frame it as a separate page. Add decorative elements like ribbons, letters, and other embellishments to make it unique.

Creating a wedding scrapbook or collage is a labour of love. Take your time, enjoy the process, and don't be afraid to get creative. Your finished product will be a cherished keepsake for years to come!

Make Christmas decorations

There are several ways to use leftover wedding invitations to make Christmas decorations. Here are some ideas:

Christmas Ornaments

One idea is to cut the invitations into strips or ribbons and use them to create Christmas ornaments. You can glue or tie the strips of paper back-to-back onto loops of ribbon and hang them on your Christmas tree. This will create a unique and personalised decoration for the holidays.

Decoupage

Decoupage is another inexpensive way to use leftover wedding invitations. You can cut or tear the invitations into smaller pieces and use them to decorate a variety of surfaces, such as ornaments, keepsake boxes, coasters, tables, or lampshades. This technique allows you to personalise your Christmas decorations and incorporate your wedding memories into your holiday celebrations.

Shadow Boxes

Creating a shadow box is a creative way to display your leftover wedding invitations. You can cut or fold the invitations to fit into a shadow box along with other mementos from your wedding, such as pictures, fabric swatches, dried flowers, or ribbons. This creates a 3D piece of art that tells the story of your wedding and can be displayed during the holidays or all year round.

Christmas Cards

If your leftover wedding invitations have a festive design, you can cut them up and use the pieces to create unique Christmas cards. Add a personal message inside and send them to your loved ones during the holiday season. This is a great way to reduce waste and spread some holiday cheer.

Hanging Decorations

The quality and design of wedding invitations make them perfect for creating decorative hanging pieces for your home. You can cut and fold the invitations into various shapes and hang them from the ceiling or walls. Add some ribbon or string to create a stylish and elegant hanging decoration that will complement your Christmas decor.

Frame it

Framing your wedding invitations is a great way to preserve and display them as a cherished keepsake. Here are some detailed tips and ideas to help you frame your leftover wedding invitations:

Choose a Frame Style

First, consider the style of your wedding invitation. If your invitation has a classic design with delicate script, creamy paper, and light colours, opt for a traditional frame. Look for frames with warm, antiqued tones like champagne silver or antique gold, which complement the elegant design without overwhelming it. For invitations with cool tones and intricate details, a frame with a deep, rich colour like the Newport or Richmond frame could be ideal.

For modern invitations, you can be more creative and experiment with stronger frame options. Consider a black oiled-steel frame with small rivets for an industrial look, or choose a simple black or white frame for a sleek, polished finish.

If your invitation is colourful and eclectic, a clean-cut poster frame in black or white will balance the design and create a stylish piece of art for your home.

Float Mounting

The key to achieving a professional look when framing your wedding invitation is float mounting. This technique involves securing the invitation to a piece of foam core, lifting it slightly above the mat. Float mounting showcases the edges of the invitation and creates dynamic shadows, adding depth and interest to your display.

Enhance with Extras

You can also get creative and include other components of your stationery suite, such as envelopes, reception cards, or RSVP cards, in the frame. This adds a more personal touch and makes the display even more special.

Customisation

Consider customising your frame to make it even more unique. You can add a petal from your wedding bouquet to the frame for a special touch, or even include a photo or map from your wedding day.

Frame Multiple Invitations

If you have multiple leftover invitations, you can create a gallery wall by framing several invitations in a cohesive style. This could be a unique way to display your invitations and create a lasting memory of your special day.

Send to celebrities

If you have leftover wedding invitations, one fun idea is to send them to celebrities. This idea has been tried and tested by several people, who have reported receiving responses, including autographed photos, congratulatory notes, and even RSVP cards.

To get started, you can visit fanmail.biz to find celebrities' addresses. Then, simply address and send your invitations, including an RSVP card if you'd like. You can also include a self-addressed stamped envelope to make it easy for the celebrity to respond.

While there's no guarantee that you'll receive a response, it's definitely worth a try! You never know, you might just get a fun surprise in the mail from your favourite celebrity.

If you're feeling extra adventurous, you can even try sending your invitations to celebrities' business or personal email addresses. You could include a digital version of your invitation or a link to your wedding website. This approach may increase your chances of a response, as it's more direct and doesn't require the celebrity to send something through the mail.

Make a diary

If you have leftover wedding invitations, one creative way to use them is to make a diary or scrapbook. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Choose a Format

Select a format for your diary or scrapbook. You can opt for a traditional blank diary or notebook, or you could choose a binder or folder that allows for more flexibility in terms of adding and removing pages. Alternatively, you could create your own book by punching holes in the invitations and tying them together with ribbon or string.

Add a Personal Touch

Begin by adding your wedding invitation to the diary, along with a beautiful and romantic picture of you and your partner. You can also include other wedding stationery, such as RSVP cards, programs, or thank-you notes. If your invitations have a pretty design on the back, consider framing it as a border for your photo.

Document Your Journey

Whenever your wedding anniversary comes around, add more pictures and mementos to your diary. Include photos from your celebrations, as well as any interesting and romantic texts, love letters, or compliments you've exchanged throughout the year. You can also add fabric swatches, dried flowers, or other meaningful items.

Get Creative with Embellishments

Use any ribbons, bows, or embellishments from your leftover invitations to decorate your diary. You can also cut the invitations into tags, labels, or decorative strips to add a unique touch. If you're feeling extra creative, try decoupaging your invitations onto the diary's cover to give it a personalized look.

Share Your Memories

Your wedding invitation diary will become a cherished keepsake, full of memories and mementos of your journey together. It will be a joy to look back on, whether you're reminiscing by yourself or sharing your story with your children and grandchildren.

Frequently asked questions