From the Professionals: How Do You Upcycle Your Wedding?

There are SO many options available to you when considering your wedding decor - from making, to hiring, to buying...to upcycling!  Yes, you heard that right, upcycling!

Your wedding day is THE biggest opportunity to stamp your personality all over it, and if you have a love of re-purposing, doing up and creating, then upcycling for your wedding day is just the thing, and Kelly of All Things Pretty Weddings, one of our resident Whitewed approved venue stylists, has all the inspiration you need to get your creative juices flowing...and even if you love what you see but can't imagine doing the work, then Kelly's venue decor treasure trove will tick your boxes instead!

Says Kelly:

Everyone’s talking about upcyling at the moment, but how do you upcycle your wedding?

Whether you are looking to create a green eco-friendly wedding or simply like the positive impact on your budget through recycling, the trend of creating a homemade wedding through upcycling is growing. This is about taking something used and converting it into decoration or detail for your wedding day, not purchasing everything brand shiny and new, after all upcycling is, by definition, the act of taking something once-loved and giving it a new, more beautiful life. Another benefit of upcycling items for your wedding is that by using pieces you have created and personalised, it really makes the venue more special and personal to you on your big day.

Upcycling is perfect if you are looking to create a vintage, shabby chic or rustic countryside wedding style. You really can have fun researching and finding things you can upcycle into wedding day treasures. Start off by looking around your home, your Granny's living room, browse eBay, or why not venture to your local charity shop. From turning old wine bottles into table numbers or centrepieces (yes, you can enjoy emptying them yourself), using vintage fabrics to create some romantic bunting or dream catchers, to creating a vintage luggage card table. There really are so many upcycled bits and bobs you can put together for your wedding décor.

Take this old disused cable reel for example - a bit (ok a lot) of sanding and a tin of wood stain, adorned with candles, and of course lots of foliage - doesn't it just make the cutest sweetheart table? Plus it was saved from ending up in the skip, so by giving it a new purpose it has been less impactive on the environment too.

Photo credit: Stephanie Dreams Weddings

Vintage doors!! OK, so not everyone has a pair of old vintage doors floating around, but these make amazing backdrops, whether they are used as a backdrop for your ceremony, behind your top table or use them as part of your cake display!

Make sure you don't forget about the cake table! There's nothing worse than investing in a beautiful cake and then plonking it on a table and sticking it in the corner of your venue. Make it a feature and show it off as it deserves - trust me, your cake designer will thank you for this too! That ugly dresser that you're not quite sure what to do with? Turn it into a beautiful cake table, adorned with flowers and candles - don't forget to utilise the drawers when styling it up!

Photo credit: Stephanie Dreams Photography

If lugging a pair of doors or a dresser to your venue is a bit much then there are still plenty of other ways you can upcycle your day. That old picture frame that's lying around unused? Remove the back, shabby it up, add some flowers that tie in with your day and hang it at your venue for a makeshift selfie area.

Have an old bike that's gathering dust in the garage? Clean it down, add a coat of spray paint and invest in a pretty basket. A perfect way to welcome your guests once you've added some florals and a hand painted welcome sign.

Another easy piece to use is an old wooden ladder. Why not give it a lick of paint and use it to display your table plan, incorporate it into your welcome display, use it as part of your cake display, create a memory area for those guests that are no longer with you, or to display cute photos of you showing your guests your journey as a couple. Alternatively, use it as a guest book - attach string and pegs along with a Polaroid camera and have your guests take a selfie and hang their photo. The options with a ladder really are endless!

Photo credit: Rachel Jane Photography

If you don't have the time, confidence or creative flair for turning old pieces into much loved decor, then that's where a stylist is worth speaking to as they will be able to step in and offer you a helping hand. Behind every good stylist will be a treasure trove of goodies that have already been given that new lease of life - plus if we don't already have it, we love an excuse to go on the hunt for you and create something bespoke for your day, like rescuing and old rusting wheelbarrow and creating a vintage drinks cooler, perfect for a hot summer wedding!

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Thanks so much Kelly, your top tips and ideas have been so inspirational, and I love how upcycling 'pieces' will not only give them a new lease of life, but add some fabulous personality to your wedding day too - just perfect! 

For more about All Things Pretty Weddings, we urge you to check out their directory page to view their decor hire and venue styling services!  Thanks for all the advice Kelly, it's absolutely invaluable!

Happy planning!

From Team Whitewed