The Dazzling Blog
Decorating on a Budget
Hey Dazzlers! Who’s ready to get some tips on how to decorate on a budget? If you are, then this blog post is definitely for you. Shout out to several Dazzlers for wanting to learn more about this topic. I consider myself to be frugal and a nerd when it comes to money. We will discuss several ways on how you can cut back on your budget by researching and gathering certain decor items. The main topics we will discuss will be table decor, centerpieces, floral concepts, backdrops, photobooths, and more. Before we begin, I will ask you to do some homework, and answer questions along the way. This will get you to think about how you can save for your next event!
Answer these questions first:
What is your overall budget?
How much are you willing to spend on decor?
What can you do without at your event?
Would you prefer to do most tasks yourself, or will you need help?
If you are willing to create things yourself, will you have enough time to do a DIY project?
Once you have answered the above questions carefully, please move forward to read each topic below!
Table Decor
There are plenty of ways on how you can make a table look classy while on a budget. Tables will typically need table covers.When decorating a wedding you can stick with the classic, and pick up a heavy duty linen type cover, or a heavy duty plastic cover. Sometimes the venue of your choice will already provide this. If not, you can always go to your local party department stores. In the Fort Worth area, I make frequent trips to a store called Party Warehouse. Whether the tables are rectangular or round, you should have several cheap options. Good table covers can range between 3-5 dollars depending on the state.
If you want to go outside the box, you can also find table covering that goes with the event’s colors. Other than table covering, you may also want to look into table runners. Table runners can make an event look classier. It is cheaper to buy in bulk. If you are needing several table covers and table runners then a good site to make these purchases is tableclothsfactory.com.
Another table decor item that you can use on a budget is floral runners. If you want to be extra then this is a great way of making things look vibrant. Fake floral runners are inexpensive, and you can find this in your local craft store. Here’s an example below:
(Found on: Brides.com)
Centerpieces
This leads me into my next topic! Centerpieces deserve their own section. Centerpieces are what stands out the most on a table. Whether you want to have pictures, a floral item, or a candle, there’s several ways on how you can do this on a budget. My go to centerpiece is a candle. Candles are chic and easy to use. You can find the fake candles in a Dollar Store, Dollar General, or at Walmart. I’ve seen some people spruce it up and put a small candle on top of a vase full of water. You can find an example below:
(Found on: smarthadaparty.com)
You can add pearls, diamonds, confetti, and more in the water/vase that the candle is sitting on top of. You may want to ask your venue if they allow for open lit candles. If not, you can always use a decorated fake candle. I recently hosted my family reunion, and I was in charge of making most of the decor. I used fake candles, and I tied western themed bows around the candles. Here’s an example of something similar:
(Found on: Pinterest)
Another easy item you can use is wooden plate centerpieces. In the image above, they put the candle on top of the wooden plate. This is good for rustic or western themed events. If your event is floral based, I would insist that you purchase fake flowers instead of real ones. My saying for staying on budget is “the faker the better.” Trust me…your guests are not going to diss you because you have fake flowers on the table. If they do, then what are they really there for?...I digress. So back to the topic, you can always make a cute floral centerpiece instead of using candles. Get creative and look at different YouTube videos on how to do so.
Another inexpensive centerpiece option would be frames. Having frames with heartfelt photos is a great idea on how to bring guests together. I’ve seen some wedding put family or couple photos on the table as their main centerpiece. You can always decorate the frames, and put your own spin on it. Some tables may require numbers, or names, and you can go to your local craft store to pick those items up. The simpler the better. Here is an example of what I am referring to:
(Found on: Oaklynnlane.com)
Backdrops and Photo Booths
Doing your own photoshoot backdrop is actually not hard. It’s also an affordable option for taking pictures at an event. I have my own backdrop for events. I paid $20 off of Amazon for my backdrop stand. I paid around $8-10 for my backdrop image. I also used fake flowers to decorate my backdrop. If you’re wanting to create your own photobooth, then you can do so if you have a tablet (preferably Apple IPAD). You can download photo booth apps to the tablet so pictures can be taken automatically. You will also need a Tablet stand. These items can be found on Amazon as well at a reasonable price.
I also suggest using YouTube to find different ways on how you can set this up yourself. It doesn’t take much to make a memorable moment at an event, and having a photobooth is one way on how you can do this!
Welcome Decor
Typically events will have a welcome table or welcome sign. For our family reunion, we made our own welcome poster that stands on its own. You can do this with cardboard material. The sign had a QR for guests to scan and other information to follow. The welcome table had a centerpiece, sign-in book, and a few treats for guests to take from. It doesn’t take much to do welcome decor. Think outside the box and stick with a theme. We had a sunflower theme, and the colors were blue and yellow. The welcome table was gold, and the welcome sign had sunflowers on it. You can find this decor on the Dazzling Wedding Officiant’s Instagram page!
Summary
In summary, decorating can be fun and it’s important to have a budget! This was a short and sweet blog post with some gems to keep you informed. We are near the end of this year, and we have two blog posts left. I can’t wait to end off our blog streak strong. Until next time, Dazzlers!
Love,
MaKayla
The Dazzling Wedding Officiant
