Cheap Wedding Decor

by Giorgina Devereaux

Regardless of your budget, you can have a beautiful and memorable wedding. 

All it requires is a bit of creativity and taking the time to bargain hunt for the best prices. 
 

Whether your family is helping with some of the wedding expenses or you are on your own, it is essential to create a budget for cheap wedding decor. 

Having a budget will allow you to properly allocate a certain amount of money for the ceremony, reception, attire, shoes, makeup, hair, nails, flowers, entertainment, photography, videography, stationery, transportation, honeymoon, and for miscellaneous expenses. 

Once you have established a budget, consider creating a spreadsheet where you can track all of the money coming in and out. 

Explore all of the costs upfront to ensure that you do not go over budget for your cheap wedding decor. 

For instance, a photographer may allot a certain amount of time to your wedding and it could cost dearly if it goes into overtime.  These are some things to consider when planning a wedding to help you keep costs down.

Planning a wedding is stressful enough and with these simple tips, you will go a long way in making the most significant day of your life special and classy without the expensive price tag.

Cheap Wedding Decor

For the Church

Aisle

Aisle Runner:  If you cannot afford to have an aisle runner custom made, consider purchasing an inexpensive one made from vinyl. 

It is available in 75 feet or 125 feet.  You may wish to sprinkle rose petals on the aisle runner for added color, romance, and fragrance. 

One idea is to color coordinate the bride’s bouquet or wedding color theme with the color of the rose petals to give it a unified look.  This will make a breathtaking statement as you make your grand entrance into the church and walk down the aisle. 

Balloons

If the church where your ceremony will be held features a high ceiling and is lacking in decor, you may wish to consider displaying a balloon arrangement to help fill the space and add beauty to your cheap wedding decor.  There are different balloon arrangements and colors to choose from.  It will make a unique touch to your cheap wedding decor.
 

Altar Decorations

Candles:  Since the altar will be the focal point of your ceremony, consider using candles.  Candles provide a gentle glow of light while creating a romantic atmosphere. 

You can place the unity candle along with two taper candles on top of a three in one candle stand.  
There is an assortment of unity candle stands to choose from and once the candles are in place and lit, the result is quite stunning. 

Flickering LED Lights:  These lights are fabulous for illuminating a floral centerpiece.  They are available in red, blue, green, and white tealight size LED lights. 

You may also take a piece of tulle and scrunch it around the unity candle that is on the candle stand.  Conceal several tealight size LED lights under the tulle and the glowing effect is extraordinary.  Flickering LED lights are an inexpensive component of cheap wedding decor and there is no risk of fire since they are battery operated. 

Flowers:  You may decorate the altar using flowers that are either fresh or made from silk material.  To adorn the back of the altar, consider placing two clear glass vases containing white Lilac flowers.  On each side of the altar, you may display floral arrangements consisting of daisies, tulips, carnations, orchids, and lilies. 

Other lovely flowers to consider for cheap wedding decor are red roses, yellow roses, or blue tipped roses arranged amidst eucalyptus and cape greens.  These floral arrangements can be set on top of a pedestal.  You can also display a beautiful assortment of these flowers in the middle of the altar as a centerpiece or surround the unity candle for a dramatic effect.

For the general area of the church, which includes the entry way and areas surrounding the pews and altar, consider including floral arrangements.  You can also place a lovely floral wreath arrangement on a door to beautify it and make it more welcoming. 

Other floral arrangements for cheap wedding decor include pomander balls.  Pomander balls make a fabulous and attractive accent for any entry way, arch, or chandelier.  You can have pomander balls made from an assortment of fresh flowers or you can use silk flowers. 

They look beautiful hanging as a group and if you use fresh flowers, the fragrance is refreshing.

It’s this type of simplicity that goes a long way in adding incredible beauty to the altar. 

Pews
 

Pew Decorations:  Tulle is a beautiful, creative, and economical element of cheap wedding decor to decorate the pews at the church.  The pews play an important role in the church since it is where family and friends witness the exchange of vows. 

By decorating each one, you will make an impact on the overall look of the church. 

You can decorate the pews using:

• Floral Bouquets

• Bows

• Tulle

Pew bows can be placed at each pew for added elegance.  It also makes the setting more romantic while giving you the opportunity to put your own personal touches. 

Tulle is a beautiful, lightweight fabric that is woven into a mesh pattern and starched in order to make it stiff.  The great thing about tulle is that it is flexible, which enables you to shape it in the manner you want. 
 

Decorating with tulle is a diverse, flexible, unique way to draw attention to any room.  It is manufactured from fibers such as, silk, nylon, rayon, and sometimes, cotton.  Tulle comes in a vast array of colors, which will help you coordinate with your desired cheap wedding decor theme. 

You can wrap pieces of tulle around a small floral arrangement on each pew, which gives a continuous flow of color from the pews to the altar.  Another fabulous idea for decorating the pews is to incorporate Christmas lights within the tulle.  It will add romance and sparkle to your ceremony. 

To make a pew bow using only tulle, it is recommended that you use 5-6 yards that is 12 inches wide. 

If you prefer to intertwine ribbon with tulle, it is recommended that you use tulle that is 6-9 inches wide and approximately 5-6 yards long to enable you to make a nice full bow with lots of loops.
 

For the Reception

Entry into the Reception Area

Wedding Guest Book with Pen:  A wedding guest book set on top of a small round table is a nice way for cheap wedding decor to welcome family and guests into the reception area. 

Here’s an example of how to decorate a welcome table that includes a wedding guest book:

• For a luxurious look, cover the table with a white linen tablecloth and then add a white silk tablecloth on top and scrunch it. 

• Consider placing photos of the bride and groom, along with pictures of family and friends on the table. 

• Insert flickering LED lights inside crystal votive candle holders and space them accordingly around the photos and behind the photos. 

• Place the wedding guest book in front of the photos and votives for all to sign. 

This creates an intimate area for family and friends to appreciate. 

Wedding Signature Mat:  A signature mat is another way to capture guests’ personal messages and wishes. 

It gives you the opportunity to display a cherished photo of you and your spouse-to-be for all to admire. 

For added elegance, place it on an easel.

Wedding Signature Platter:  An alternative to a signature mat frame is to have a wedding signature platter that family and guests can sign.  It makes for a beautiful display at home that can be enjoyed for years to come. 

Balloon Arch Sculpture:  A balloon arch sculpture is a fantastic way to greet family and guests in style.  An arch essentially is an arrangement of, for instance, a single row of helium latex balloons to form an attractive archway.  It will definitely make a lovely statement.  For added variety to your cheap wedding decor, you can have an assortment of colors arranged.

Reception Area

Balloons:  There are creative ways to decorate your wedding reception area using balloons.  In addition to an arch sculpture, you can arrange balloons in the following ways:

• Heart Arch – this is an arrangement of balloons in the shape of a heart. 

• Leaping Arch – this consists of long rows of balloons that overlap one another.

• Spiral Arch – this is a full twisted arch that is comprised of balloons filled with helium.

• Star Arch – this is an arch that features a series of balloons sculpted into the shape of a star. 

These elaborate arrangements will look fabulous at the reception.  Consider alternating colors for added variety.  An arch is versatile in that it can be used to decorate the area above the wedding party table, over the cake table, or to accent an area that you’d like to be the focal point of your wedding.

Ceiling Decor:  Another way to add an unusual, but delicate decorative accent is to drape a ceiling with tulle and lights in your reception area. 

This makes for a spectacular display while making the room feel very elegant.  You can use regular white Christmas lights or icicle lights for a special glow.  This will definitely wow your guests.

Cake Table:  Decorating a cake table with tulle is a lovely way to add beauty and color to the table using cheap wedding decor.  You can drape a piece of white nylon tulle over a white tablecloth and then add pink nylon tulle (or the color of your choice) around the circumference of the tabletop. 

With the nylon tulle, it is recommended that you use 1 ½ times the circumference of the tabletop in order to create a scalloped edge all around. 

To gather the tulle in sections, you can wrap white cloth covered wire around the tulle every 12”. 

Lastly, add bouquets of flowers and attach long ribbons to them and place them around the table spaced accordingly. 

As an extra decorative accent, you can scatter rose petals on the table around the cake.  The cake table will look even more beautiful once the wedding cake is displayed, along with an elegant cake serving set.    
 

Above the Cake Table:  Another romantic way to accent your cake table with cheap wedding decor is to add tulle above the table by making a canopy of tulle.  Around the top of the canopy, you can add a wreath of beautiful greenery along with fresh flowers.  The entrance of the canopy can be defined with a decorative ribbon tied around the left and right side.  This looks quite lovely and further enhances the beauty of the wedding cake.
 

Gift Table:  Depending on how many guests you plan on having, you may wish to consider a medium sized rectangular gift table. 

A gift table looks lovely with a white tablecloth and table skirt. 

To add beauty and elegance, drape a brocade topcloth in a pastel color over the white tablecloth. 

You may place tulle around the gift table and insert Christmas lights within the tulle for added shimmer. 

If you are concerned about where to keep monetary gifts, consider displaying a money holder on top of the gift table.  This is a convenient way to keep these gifts together and it also looks quite stylish.    

Wedding Party Table:  The wedding party table is the focal point of the reception and merits lovely cheap wedding decor. 

Here is an example of how to decorate a wedding party table:
 

• Consider using a white linen tablecloth with a white table skirt.

• Place tulle at the top of the front of the table and arrange it in a manner so that it dangles in a scallop pattern.

• Behind the top of each scallop, attach a long strip of tulle and allow it to hang almost to the floor.

• Place Christmas lights inside of the tulle.

• Place a series of three balloons to adorn the top of each scallop.

• In between each scallop, place a floral bouquet with dangling ribbon on top of the table.

This will look absolutely stunning.
 

Don’t forget to include a beautiful set of flutes to toast to the beginning of your new life together.

Wedding Party Table Chairs:  To add a final touch of class to your venue, consider adding seat covers and satin sashes to your wedding party table chairs.  This is a beautiful way to transform a chair from simple to elegant.  Chair covers and sashes are available in an assortment of colors and sizes.  You may color coordinate the sashes to match your theme. 

The bride and groom may even personalize the sashes on their chairs to say, for instance, Mr. Smith (on one sash) and Mrs. Smith (on the other sash).  Your back would rest against the sash and when you get up from the chair, guests can see the beautiful accent on the sashes. 
 

You may have the lettering embroidered with a thread that matches the color border and you can also select a block or italic script font. 

This really adds a personal touch to your wedding reception and cheap wedding decor. 

Wedding Reception Guest Tables and Chairs: 

In addition to decorating your wedding party table and chairs, the wedding reception guest tables and chairs deserve the same care and utmost attention to detail. 

You may decorate guest tables and chairs using the following decorative materials/accessories:

Guest Tables:

• Linen tablecloth

• Organza or brocade fabric for the table overlay or you may use tulle to line the edge of the tablecloth

• Place card holders (such as a wedding cake, silver bell, topiary, or wine goblet)

• Charger plates (for example, gold or silver)

• Personalized beverage napkins

• Personalized luncheon napkins or plain linen napkins

• Table centerpiece (such as a candle centerpiece, a floral centerpiece, or wedding bells decorative accessory in gold or silver)

• Wedding confetti for the table (personalized confetti or bride and groom shaped confetti)

You may decorate the guest tables by placing a linen tablecloth over the table followed by an organza or brocade fabric overlay. 

If you prefer tulle, you may use it to line the edge of each tablecloth. 

Another idea for cheap wedding decor is to loosely drape the tulle over the center of each table and then scrunch it to add some height. 

Your table centerpiece can be decorated by placing tulle under a crystal candle holder or if you have a mini floral arrangement inside a basket, you can wrap tulle around the middle of the basket. 

Place card holders add a dose of beauty to the overall décor of the table, along with charger plates.  The table centerpiece helps tie the rest of the elements of the table together.  There are a variety of centerpieces to choose with cheap wedding decor, which ranges from floral centerpieces to those that feature candles.  For that extra special touch, sprinkle wedding confetti on each table.

Guest Chairs:

• Chair covers

• Organza, satin sashes, or tulle chair wrap 

Chair covers are typically white in color.  You may use an organza chair wrap, satin sash, or tulle for each chair. 

Organza consists of a sheer fabric that provides a look and feel similar to silk.  It is essentially a lightweight silk fabric comprised of a plain weave that is created using nylon, polyester, and silk, or a blend of any of the three.  The loose weave of the filaments enable the production of organza to produce sections of cloth that are translucent in nature.

Simply choose which one of these materials you prefer and wrap it around the chairbacks and tie in a bow.  You may also attach flowers or decorative elements to the bow, such as silk flowers and foliage or pearls, which makes a lovely and delicate accent.

Other Cheap Wedding Decor Ideas

Party Favors:  Tulle is the perfect material for wrapping wedding party favors. 

Simply wrap the favor in a 6” or 9” tulle circle in the color of your choice and tie a decorative ribbon around the top. 

It’s an inexpensive way to dress up your party favors while adding a touch of elegance. 

Party favors are available in the following:

• “A Slice of Love” miniature pizza cutter

• Calla lily mini pails

• Capture my Heart photo coaster

• English garden watering favor

• Fleur de lis or lovebirds chrome bottle stopper

• “Happily Ever After” carriage candle

• Love and Heart bottle opener

• “Our Love Grows” flower seed packet

• Personalized tea bags

• Personalized CD labels (add a label to a CD containing your favorite track list as a gift to guests)

• Shimmer bags containing white Jordan almonds

• Personalized wedding bookmarks with chocolate hearts

• “The Perfect Blend” personalized coffee packets

•  “Two Peas in a Pod” candle in an ivy print box

• “We Clicked” mouse pads

• “Whisked Away” heart whisk favor

Toasting Flutes:  Toasting flutes are an exquisite way to toast to your happiness.  There are various styles to choose from and you may opt to have it personalized.

Wedding Accessory Set:  You may wish to purchase a four piece wedding accessory set that consists of a guest book with pen, flower girl basket, ring bearer pillow, garter and tossing garter.  It is made of white satin with beaded details.
 

This is a convenient way to have what you need in one set. 

Wedding Cake Toppers:  There is a variety of wedding cake toppers to choose from.  You can choose from the traditional wedding cake topper that consists of the bride and groom or opt for a personalized one that is made from acrylic and shaped like a heart or square.  The acrylic wedding cake topper can later be used as a paperweight for your office.   

Wedding Cake Knife and Server Set:  A wedding cake knife and server set is a wonderful keepsake that will bring joy as you remember the set that sliced your first piece of cake. 

You may have personalized engraving with your names and date of the wedding. 

Wedding Camera:  A wedding camera allows guests to partake in capturing precious moments of your special day on camera.  It’s a must have for a wedding since it is physically impossible for the photographer to take pictures of everything and you certainly don’t want to miss out on an important moment.