Forget the Flowers: Six Budget-Friendly Wedding Decor Ideas

Planning a wedding can be a real strain on your bank account, but it doesn't have to take a second mortgage to have a beautiful wedding. Flowers, while beautiful, can be extremely costly for the bride on a budget. On average, people spend over a thousand dollars on these time-sensitive decorations. Add to this the stress of finding the right florist and hoping everything gets delivered on time and in good condition. Save yourself the anxiety and fool your guests into thinking you spent thousands of dollars on decorations with these six budget-friendly ideas.

Candles

Candles provide romantic lighting for a low cost. But candles alone can be boring, so spruce them up with wine glasses! Fill the glasses with beads, silk petals or flowers, shells, ornaments, or whatever matches your theme. Flip the glasses upside down and place a candles on top, or take it a step further and wrap a ribbon around the candle, dipping the bottom half in glitter.

Aisle Decor

Walking down the aisle is a bride's crowning moment, and no bride wants to walk down a bare aisle. Personalize your walkway with framed photos of the bride and groom, starting from infancy and gradually aging as you approach the altar. Another fun and easy way to personalize the aisle is with spray chalk. Buy or print out stencils and spray your names, messages or quotes on the ground as a runner. Spray chalk is washable, so this idea works for both indoor and outdoor weddings. You can also buy a runner and customize it the same way.

Upcycling

Recycling is the easiest and most creative way to save on decor. Save old beer or wine bottles for custom centerpieces. Fill the bottles a quarter of the way full with sand or beads. Gently roll a photo of the bride and groom and slip it inside the bottle. Add a little more sand or beads, then wrap the bottle's neck in ribbon or twine for a charming “message in a bottle” effect.

Balloons

Balloons are an inexpensive but elegant way to style up a wedding. A professional balloon decorator from somewhere like Life O' The Party can help you decide how to incorporate balloons into your wedding décor. You can also involve your guests with a clever take on wish lanterns. Upon arrival hand each guest a balloon and marker and have them write a well-wish. When you're pronounced married, release the balloons.

Weddings can be stressful enough without breaking the bank. Find your inner artist, hit up your local thrift store or search the classifieds and save your money for the honeymoon with these budget-friendly ideas!