Easy Ways to Upcycle on Your Wedding Day

I’m so excited to share this post on ways to upcycle on your wedding day in collaboration with Liza Ellis.

Easy ways to upcycle on your wedding day

For a truly beautiful and unique wedding that’s in keeping with your sustainable vision, consider getting creative with upcycling. There are so many basic items that you can transform into something new, special, and functional, each of which will give your wedding plenty of character and help make it a day to remember.

If you’re currently in the midst of wedding planning, now is the perfect time to get thinking about upcycling opportunities. Whilst there are no limits to what you can create, here we share three upcycling ideas you may want to get started with.

Your decor

Planning your decor takes up a huge chunk of your wedding preparation time. From your flower arrangements to your table settings and centerpieces, there’s lots to consider. However, you don’t necessarily have to purchase every decor item that’s on your list.

Consider upcycling old mason jars or glass bottles for your table decor – you could use them as vases to hold your flowers or to display your table number signs. Similarly, any salvaged materials like wooden panels or crates can be excellent for anything that needs a large, sturdy structure, like a photo wall or display table.

If you’re stuck, it’s a good idea to look over the trinkets you have lying around at home and start thinking about what they could become with a little time and attention.

Your outfit

It’s a popular trend for a bride to wear the dress that her mother or grandmother once got married in. Not only is this a sentimental way to honor your loved ones, it means you won’t have to worry about buying a brand-new outfit for your big day.

Upcycle your look by taking parts of your relative’s dress and incorporating it into your own – with their permission, of course. You may want to turn a long dress into a short ensemble fit for your rehearsal dinner or reception, or simply opt to wear your loved one’s veil, hairpiece or jewelry as ‘something borrowed’ for your special day.

Similarly, rather than buying a new pair of shoes, you could take some that you already own and upholster them with fabric or embellish them with jewelry you no longer wear.

Your entertainment

Wedding entertainment seems to be getting ever more bold and outlandish – after all, every nearlywed wants to wow their guests with something they’ve never seen before.

For something truly unique, consider setting up an upcycling craft session for your guests, and have them make small gifts out of secondhand or recycled materials. For example, you could have a DIY jewelry station or card station. Or, you could set aside some of your wedding flowers for your guests to turn into bouquets as their wedding favors, rather than having them go to waste.

You might want to encourage your guests to take this as an opportunity to make you a sustainable wedding gift, rather than purchasing lots of items in the shops. This way, they can take part in a fun activity, avoid a long, stressful shopping trip, and celebrate your marriage in an eco-friendly way.

Personalized items for your special day

By choosing to upcycle, you can create stunning personalized items for your big day. Just remember to keep your end goal in mind – if it’s to have a sustainable celebration, you’ll want to ensure your chosen venue, transport, and suppliers are also true to your vision.

Author bio: Anna Elliott

Anna is an expert at taking thrifted and recycled items and transforming them into stunning pieces of art. She runs a small business in which she repurposes sentimental items – brides and grooms-to-be make up a large portion of her clientele.