A big challenge that I deal with when planning weddings is the amount of waste that is produced with all of must have paper products, hand made signs and fun crafty additions that accent and decorate the ceremony and reception space. In order to personalize a space, they are necessary but...then what? Some things can be given away as "favors" while other's can be hung around the house as sweet reminders of a wedding day...
...but what to do with 200 paper lanterns and light inserts? The purchase cost of these was somewhere around $1,000. Or an antique birdcage that was perfect for gift cards but has no place in your house? The cost on them will vary...but from what I've researched, somewhere around $40 is a good estimate.
When you add up all of the little things--the little at home projects that maybe took a couple of tries, the picture frames for each table number, the aisle bows, chair bows, custom dyed dress bows (sashes really, but I'm on a roll)-- a substantial amount of money can be spent in decor. And what to do with it all when the day is done??
Recycle!!
Pop onto sites like RecycledBride or even Etsy to pass the joy onto others and give yourself a wedding gift with the money you get back! These sites are easy to navigate and will help you find a new home for all of the bits and pieces you can't use again, all while helping other folks find what they need for the weddings their planning. It's good karma all around!!
