Your wedding is almost certainly going to be costly, probably one of the largest expenditures that you have made to date. While you might get some much-appreciated financial help from your parents and favours or gifts from your friends, there is no denying that it is still a major cost to have a wedding. After [...]

Your wedding is almost certainly going to be costly, probably one of the largest expenditures that you have made to date. While you might get some much-appreciated financial help from your parents and favours or gifts from your friends, there is no denying that it is still a major cost to have a wedding. After spending months planning and paying for your beautiful wedding, many couples (especially brides) feel sad to leave behind the remnants of this memorable celebration.

So, don’t.

Take your furnishings and décor with you to use in your new home as a married couple. These will always remind you of your special day and will prove to be financially worthwhile.

Of course, this means plenty of careful planning ahead of time. As the bride-to-be, you will need to decide on what kinds of décor elements will work well in both your wedding and your home, and how these can be incorporated to suit both situations. If done with prudence, imagination and reasonableness, this can be a great way to save money and ensure that your memorable keepsakes look gorgeous around the home.

Here are some ideas:

• Glass jars – use different sized glass jars to hold colourful lollies, rose petals, or flower arrangements on every table at the reception. When at home, these can be used for pasta, washing powder, coffee or tea.
• Blackboard – write your table seating plan, a welcome note or the menu on chalkboards at the wedding in your best hand-writing. Use these boards at home for shopping lists, a rustic welcome sign in your entrance hall, rules for the children’s room or a to-do list in the study.
• Large milk jugs – antique shops often have a wide array of milk jugs (glass, ceramic, aluminium, etc…). These can be used very effectively in both your wedding décor and your home. For your wedding, fill these jugs with iced water, mint and lemon or use them as vases for the centrepieces on each table. Afterwards, display them on the kitchen as vintage crockery, or make use of them as handy containers or vases in the kitchen, bathroom and garden.
• Vintage China – depending on whether or not your wedding theme allows it, use antique or second-hand china crockery as the place settings for your guests. These can then be displayed or used in your new home.
• Fabric – there is plenty of room for the use of different kinds of fabric at your wedding (including table runners, backdrops for photographs, throw cushions, bridesmaids’ dresses, and so on). Keep this fabric for cushions, table cloths or curtains at home.
• Pots and pans – for fun wedding décor, use common kitchen utensils around the venue. Imagine frying pans, soup pots and gravy boats as interesting centrepieces, or gorgeous wine glasses stacked into a pyramid. Empty wine bottles make great candle holders. These are all then able to be used in the home later on.
• Flowers – instead of having arrangements of fresh flowers on each table, use flower pots that can be put in your home and garden in future instead. Alternatively, dry your wedding flowers for potpourri or press them to make an old-fashioned picture.

Photo Credit: Real Simple Photography