How Can I Decorate My Wedding Cheaply?

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Even without the glitz and glamour, weddings are stunning events, and every bride deserves the fairytale wedding of her dreams. You can have a gorgeous wedding and still have money left over for the honeymoon if you use these low-cost decorating ideas. The right wedding decoration ideas can help a couple throw a classy, sophisticated celebration without breaking the bank. Looking for the Best Wedding Venue in Melbourne? Vines of the Yarra Valley is Melbourne's Iconic.

Wedding decorations can be purchased on a budget with some ingenuity and smart bargain hunting, giving guests the impression that they are attending a lavish affair. Here are some simple and inexpensive wedding decoration ideas.

Table of Contents

Affordable Wedding Decorations

how can i decorate my wedding cheaply

Flower Decoration

If you want to save money on your flower delivery, it's best to do it when the flowers are in season and buy from a local flower shop. If you're planning a more casual ceremony, growing your own flowers or using local wildflowers is a lovely option. As soon as you've chosen the flowers for the ceremony, consider these arrangements:

  • When making a hand-tied bouquet, use three to five stems rather than a tight bundle of flowers.
  • Find inexpensive vases or mason jars at dollar stores and paint them in your wedding colours. Spray paints with metallic finishes are a classy addition.
  • Flowers should be transferred from the altar to the foyer.
  • You can save money by repurposing the bouquets your bridesmaids carried down the aisle as centrepieces at each table.
  • Last but not least, scatter silk flower petals down the aisle and on the reception tables.

Lighting

As a quick, simple, and inexpensive way to add colour to your wedding's reception or ceremony, consider switching out the light bulbs in prominent lighting fixtures to ones that complement your wedding's palette. Some other low-cost lighting decoration options are:

  • To decorate the pillars and the floors around the tables, borrow some white twinkle or rope lights from your friends and family for Christmas.
  • It is recommended to turn off most of the lights and have the operator of any spotlights at your ceremony's location switch to a filter that will produce a gentle light.
  • The beautiful light cast by candelabras behind the minister is a common sight in churches.
  • Light up the dance floor in a flash with a disco ball or string lights for a wedding decoration.
  • Create a romantic ambience by placing battery-operated lights in window panes around the reception area.

Balloons

Although balloons are best left out of the ceremony, if done tastefully, they can be a great inexpensive decoration for the reception. Make a balloon arch for the entrance, use pillars as table centrepieces, or have a fun balloon drop as the evening winds down.

Fabric Covers 

Instead of using standard white tablecloths, consider adding swags of fabric behind the head table to create a soft, luxurious backdrop, or layering different coloured linens on tables to create eye-catching accents. Tulle and other cheap fabrics can be used to create a tent ceiling over the dance floor or a colourful carpet leading guests down the aisle and into the reception. You can put your decorating energy into other areas while fabric covers take care of the rest.

Bring Nature Indoors

Leave the decorating to nature. Use the stunning scenery as a backdrop for your event, such as colourful fall foliage or delicate spring flowers.

  • In the autumn, decorate your tables with pressed leaves. In the same vein, pinecones can be a lovely decorative element.
  • During the spring and summer months, you can use mason jars as centrepieces by placing a variety of wildflowers inside.
  • During the colder months, you can decorate the tops of doorways and arches with branches of birch trees and evergreens.

Budget-Friendly Table Decorations

Choose low-cost but attractive table decorations for the wedding. The venue's tablecloths should be your first stop. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on fancy new linens in your prefered colours, a simple runner made from a remnant of fabric will do the trick. Though simple flower centrepieces won't go out of style, maybe think about:

Candles 

Mirrors make lovely candleholders, and pillar candles, tea lights, and votives all look lovely when set atop them. Candles in the shape of a heart or a flower look especially lovely when they float in a clear glass bowl. To complete the look, string some beads around the candlesticks.

Food Centrepieces

  • Each table can have a fruit centrepiece, a rich artisan loaf of bread, and a bowl of candy or snack mix.
  • Serving cupcakes at a wedding? Arrange them on a large platter in the middle of the table.

Favours 

  • Favors can be added to each place setting to add a splash of colour that complements the rest of the tablescape.
  • Wedding favours can also be floral centrepieces in terra cotta pots or tin pails.
  • Alternately, place groups of votive candles bearing individual labels in the middle of each table.
  • Put the homemade treats on a pedestal in the middle of the table with tags, and fill the jars or boxes with the goodies.

Budget-Friendly Outdoor Wedding Decorations

Decorating an outdoor wedding venue doesn't have to break the bank. Let nature take centre stage, and dress it up with some wedding accents. For instance:

  • Have your ceremony next to a tree instead of renting a bridal arch.
  • Instead of spending a lot of money on wedding aisle decorations, just tie big bows on the ends of the seating at the ceremony.
  • Centrepieces that won't blow away can be made by placing landscape pebbles on a decorative plate with a candle.
  • Paper lanterns strung along fishing lines can provide inexpensive, effective lighting for an entire area.

Low-Cost Wedding Decoration Ideas

A smart couple can use any number of available low-cost wedding decoration ideas to throw a stunning party on a shoestring budget. You can have a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception while sticking to a strict budget with a little ingenuity and imagination.

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Location

By holding the ceremony and reception in a stunning location, you can avoid spending a fortune on embellishments. Since the scenery is already so lovely, extra decoration probably isn't necessary.

Nonetheless, renting a vineyard is not going to be doable for those who are organising a wedding on a tight budget. The traditional wedding venue is a hotel, but a gallery, park, or bed and breakfast could make for unique and memorable alternatives. Alternatively, you could embrace the rustic! It's possible you could save tens of thousands of dollars if you could just escape the city. Venue costs in rural areas and smaller towns tend to be significantly lower than in major cities.

Flowers add a touch of elegance to any celebration, and they aren't necessarily a financial burden. Alternatively, you can save even more money by forgoing the use of any live plants whatsoever and instead using cut branches decorated with lights or baby's breath in their place.

Lighting

Vintage lanterns, lamps, and candles illuminate the evening ceremony. Unusual embellishment for an outside ceremony.

Sparkling lights and the warm glow of candles can add a romantic touch to a sunset or midnight wedding and reception. Don't discount the potential of daytime lighting if your venue is indoors or in the shade.

Table Ideas

Tensions can rise at the wedding reception tables. Budgetary concerns can also arise from having to stick to a specific theme or from having to pay for expensive rental space. In place of designated dining areas, many modern couples prefer to scatter tables and chairs around the room. This entertaining and low-cost suggestion could come in handy whether you need seating for 150 people or just want to spruce up a few buffet tables.

It's a Sign

Only if it were this simple to track down the groom! Wedding signs not only serve practical purposes (directing guests to the ceremony or reception), but they also make for great keepsakes.

Reusing Décor from a Previous Ceremony

Decorating elements, such as chairs and backdrops, that can be used again later in the day save money, time and be stress-free.

It's perfectly acceptable to repurpose the chairs used in the ceremony for the reception. The stunning backdrop you used for the ceremony could double as a photo opportunity at the sweetheart table. Especially if funds are limited, there's no reason to buy two of something.

Centerpiece Creativity: Think Out of the Box

Nothing is off-limits in choosing table centrepieces. We recommend picking a colour scheme for the welcome tables in advance and sticking to it. Browse your belongings for relics that could be repurposed to help you get creative.

Greenery and Flowers

Instead of spending a fortune on flowers for a wedding, consider using greenery such as potted ferns, eucalyptus garlands, olive branch wreaths, and giant tropical leaves to decorate the venue.

Ferns make a great option because they can be used as wedding decorations that are both low-cost and elegant. They look great with dark woods, creams, and whites, and they do a wonderful job of bringing nature inside. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative to flowers, consider ferns for your wedding decor. Plants look great on chair backs, down the centre of tables, and even in the middle of the floor. Check out our exclusive list of Wedding Flower Shops here.

Wedding Budget-Friendly Rentals

Rentals are the best option for a low-cost wedding. You can save a tonne of money by renting tables, chairs, and decorations instead of buying them. You won't have to go out and hunt for everything, which will save you both money and time. What's more, you won't have to stress about getting to the ceremony because of transportation issues.

Buy Secondhand

Big wedding items are best rented instead of borrowed, but there may be exceptions. Rather than buying these things brand new, you can save a significant amount of money by shopping at a thrift store.

It's amazing what you can find at garage sales, thrift shops, and flea markets in your area. Keep in mind that it's important to keep an eye out for both large sofas and smaller accent pieces. There is no limit to what can be accomplished with some imagination.

Select a Picturesque Site

A garden overlooking a picturesque landscape or a church with stunning stained-glass windows would make ideal wedding ceremony locations that don't cost a fortune. If the location itself is stunning, then minimal, low-cost embellishments should do the trick. Instead of wasting money on unnecessary decorations, focus on the key focal points, like the altar and reception tables. Focus on high-traffic areas instead of unused nooks, as that is where your guests' attention will be drawn.

Use What's Available

Inquire about the availability of wedding decorations at the venues you are considering. Some venues, like churches and community centres, may let you borrow their decorations from storage for little to no cost.

Find out from your caterer or the reception site if linens and dishes will be provided. Spend less on rent or a purchase and more on other areas of your life by making use of what they have to offer.

DIY

DIY-ing some of your wedding decorations is a surefire way to bring down those astronomical tabs. You're paying a premium for labour when you buy something outright. If you do the work on your own, you can avoid spending that money.

While it's understandable to want to save time and money by purchasing ready-made items, it is recommended giving DIY projects a try first. Do it yourself doesn't have to be difficult, and you can make a tonne of beautiful wedding decorations on a budget. Just one example is filling balloons with air from a can instead of paying to have them filled. Of course, you're free to go crazy with paints and glitter if that's more your style.

Vintage Vibes

Like with a rustic wedding, choosing a vintage theme will reduce the cost of decorations. The point of vintage is to appear worn and old. Therefore, it is not necessary to have flawless decorations for your wedding. Charity shops and car boot sales are great places to find inexpensive vintage wedding decorations.

Rustic

A wedding's theme is one of the first considerations when organising the big day. A rustic style is a low-cost alternative if money is tight. The term "rustic" describes an elegantly worn appearance. This means that you can get away with a more rustic, homemade look and that perfection isn't required. In many cases, the rougher the edge, the better. When executed properly, this look is far from shabby or cheap. Please read on for some exciting suggestions to add to your rustic theme.

Simplicity

Even the most basic doesn't have to be dull if you put some creativity into it. Avoid complexity at all costs. This will not only make it easier to decorate for your wedding, but it will also reduce costs.

Give your attention to a handful of simple, inexpensive decorations that you can use all over the site of your wedding. The results will be more successful if you work within your means rather than trying to create something that is beyond your means.

Need help planning your wedding? Check out our list of Wedding Event Planners here.

FAQs About Wedding Decoration

Whether it is a simple décor or an extravagant affair, wedding decoration is a must to set the tone for the occasion. They accentuate the venue and the ceremony. Also, good wedding decorations enhance the beauty of the wedding pictures.

Wedding Designer: Someone who helps with the aesthetics & overall design of the wedding. While wedding planners and coordinators focus on the logistics of a wedding day in varying ways, wedding designers focus on the aesthetic of a wedding day.

Decorations are important because they set the ambience of the party. They accentuate the venue and the ceremony and give them the look fit for the occasion. These are matters of a person's choice, and therefore a person can decide the type and the quality of the wedding decoration.

A wedding decorator is a person in charge of making everything pretty on your wedding day. Their work typically starts a few months before the wedding when they begin working closely with you to develop your design vision, plan how to implement that vision, and create mock-ups of potential designs.

Delicate white florals, plenty of lush greenery, light linens, and minimal decor: These tried and true wedding details will never go out of style. And if you're a couple that prefers timelessness over trends, we suggest planning your ceremony and reception in a classic wedding style.

Conclusion

Weddings are beautiful occasions even without the extra trimmings. You can have a beautiful wedding without going into debt, and still have money for a honeymoon. A couple can host a stylish, elegant wedding with the help of the right decoration ideas. Listed below are some low-cost yet effective methods of embellishment. In general, balloons should not be used during the ceremony itself, but they can serve as a fun and inexpensive decoration for the afterparty.

Rather than using plain white tablecloths, you could create a plush, luxurious backdrop by draping fabric behind the head table, or use contrasting coloured linens to draw the eye to specific areas of the table. Cost-effective decorations can be found for any outdoor wedding. Leave nature to take centre stage, then adorn it with wedding touches. Price-wise, venues in smaller cities and towns are often much more reasonable than those in larger metropolitan areas. A hotel is the typical location for a wedding reception, but a bed and breakfast could be an interesting alternative.

Reusable decorative items reduce waste, extend their useful life, and alleviate stress. There's no need to buy new chairs for the reception if you already have some from another event. Use greenery and ferns to save money on flower arrangements. Big items for the wedding should be rented rather than borrowed, with some possible exceptions. Thrift stores are an excellent way to save money on everyday purchases.

Some of the wedding expenses can be avoided by doing some of the decorations yourself. Finding affordable vintage wedding decorations can be done by shopping at thrift stores and garage sales. If you're on a tight budget, a rustic look is a great option. That's why it's acceptable to go for a more homemade, homemade look and not worry about looking perfect.

Content Summary

  • Here are some simple and inexpensive wedding decoration ideas.
  • Consider replacing the light bulbs in prominent lighting fixtures with ones that complement your wedding's palette.
  • Although balloons are best left out of the ceremony, if done tastefully, they can be a great inexpensive decoration for the reception.
  • Make a balloon arch for the entrance, use pillars as table centrepieces, or have a fun balloon drop as the evening winds down.
  • In the autumn, decorate your tables with pressed leaves.
  • Choose low-cost but attractive table decorations for the wedding.
  • Decorating an outdoor wedding venue doesn't have to break the bank.
  • Let nature take centre stage, and dress it up with some wedding accents.
  • Instead of spending a lot of money on wedding aisle decorations, just tie big bows on the ends of the seating at the ceremony.
  • A smart couple can use any number of available low-cost wedding decoration ideas to throw a stunning party on a shoestring budget.
  • You can have a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception while sticking to a strict budget with a little ingenuity and imagination.
  • By holding the ceremony and reception in a stunning location, you can avoid spending a fortune on embellishments.
  • The traditional wedding venue is a hotel, but a gallery, park, or bed and breakfast could make for unique and memorable alternatives.
  • Tensions can rise at the wedding reception tables.
  • In place of designated dining areas, many modern couples prefer to scatter tables and chairs around the room.
  • It's perfectly acceptable to repurpose the chairs used in the ceremony for the reception.
  • The stunning backdrop you used for the ceremony could double as a photo opportunity at the sweetheart table.
  • We recommend picking a colour scheme for the welcome tables in advance and sticking to it.
  • If you're looking for a less expensive alternative to flowers, consider ferns for your wedding décor.
  • Rather than buying these things brand new, you can save a significant amount of money by shopping at a thrift store.
  • It's amazing what you can find at garage sales, thrift shops, and flea markets in your area.
  • Inquire about the availability of wedding decorations at the venues you are considering.
  • Spend less on rent or a purchase and more on other areas of your life by making use of what they have to offer.
  • DIY-ing some of your wedding decorations is a surefire way to bring down those astronomical tabs.
  • While it's understandable to want to save time and money by purchasing ready-made items, it is recommended giving DIY projects a try first.
  • Do it yourself doesn't have to be difficult, and you can make a tonne of beautiful wedding decorations on a budget.
  • Like with a rustic wedding, choosing a vintage theme will reduce the cost of decorations.
  • Charity shops and car boot sales are great places to find inexpensive vintage wedding decorations.

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