While we’re on the topic of reusing things, you’re probably wondering what the heck you’re going to do with all the decor pieces you’re buying for your wedding…Well, with a little forethought, you can put some of the pieces to use in your home afterwards. I repurposed a few things from ours, and I just love love looking at pieces of my wedding daily.
Here’s how I’ve reused some pieces from our wedding…
1. Our wine and letter box is now our memory keepsake box. On our wedding day, we wrote each other cards to open on our first anniversary. Now, we write each other cards to open each year and keep them in our box. I also add ticket stubs, programs, and other fun little things in there along the way. I can’t wait to go back through and see everything. Oh, and the box was made for my grandmother’s mother by her great grandfather, so it’s extra special to me! The runner also just so happened to match my kitchen table, so I had that out for a bit too.
2. On our favor table, a coworker found this framed marriage prayer at a thrift shop and bought it for me since it was in my wedding colors. So I painted the frame white and have it hanging in our kitchen. I also STILL have a ton of the “P” stickers from the praline bags, so I went through a fancy wrapping stage there for a while. It’s probably been long enough that I can whip them out again. Or please let me know if you need them! I have yet to find a bride with a P last name in those colors.
3. Mercury glass was all the rage in 2012, so I was on the hunt to incorporate any and all mercury glass into the decor. I got three assorted vases to put throughout the reception and now have them all grouped together. My then-fiance and I went shopping for these at TJ Maxx when we first moved to Charleston. When we were walking back to the car, this woman walked up to us to compliment us on how pretty the vases were and asked me if they were real glass. I said I think so? And she proceeded to bite the glass to check it’s realness. It might have been the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me post-TJ Maxxing and my husband and I still chuckle about it seven and half years later. We have these displayed on our dresser and the sun shines through them so beautifully!
4. I wanted something fun for our guest book, so I ordered a tree print. I love the significance of trees, and what the roots signify. So we have this as the staple of our family tree wall. It’s surrounded by wedding day pictures of both of our parents, all four sets of grandparents, and other pictures of our families.
5. I used a birdcage to collect our cards and now have it on display in our living room. For whatever reason I decided to add vintage books in it and I love the shabby chicness of it!
6. Since we had five different wedding cakes, I found these sweet little ceramic birds to go on all of them. I have these in groups of two throughout our home. They’re just so sweet and make me so happy! Here’s another one of my mercury glass vases. The key is to have staggering heights if you’re going to group together and do so in odd numbers.
7. One of my brides, Kristi, last October had magnolia flowers and leaves as her theme. She lined the two head tables with them and then had them throughout the room. She texted me over Christmas that she wrapped her tree with them. What a special way to celebrate their first Christmas together!
Another way to reuse your wedding decor, is to sell it! If you’re local to Charleston, there are a couple of Facebook groups – Lowcountry Recycled Bride and Charleston Wedding Dreams. Both of them are private groups you have to be added to, but you can pretty much be sure that someone in there is looking to buy whatever it may be left over from your wedding. It’s also a great place to start your hunt if you do want to buy decor. Most of it has only been used once and is in excellent condition for half price. THEN you can turn around and sell it again!
Your florist should also have things you can rent too if that’s more your style.
You can also donate to your local Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill or thrift store.
I hope that helps you be more strategic in your shopping and you can find little ways to incorporate pieces from your big day into your new home!
xo,
Abby
A Pineapple Affair 