Money Saving Ideas For Wedding Decorations

Lighting - One of the most beautiful decorations for an outdoor wedding is also one of the cheapest. Nothing defines a reception or evening wedding than the lighting. Clear mini-lights wrapped around trees, hanging from branches, covering bushes, meandering through gardens and outlining pathways are simply gorgeous! The site becomes a magical fairyland of twinkling lights and dancing shadows. Even a less-than-desirable location will take on an entirely new face in the evening hours. Tiny twinkling lights set a beautiful backdrop, and flaws in the grounds are hidden under the coat of darkness.

If you can, plan ahead for buying your decorative lighting. Your best bet is to buy lights after Christmas. At discount department stores such as Target.com, wait for the Christmas clearance for great buys - like 50% off of regular price! There are a lot of new options to choose from in lighting, too - not just clear & multicolored. If you're lucky, you might be able to find a monochromatic set that coordinates with your wedding colors! Bulbs come in a variety of fun shapes, too.

The bottom line? Plan ahead to avoid having to go to specialty party & decorating stores during the summer and having to pay an arm & a leg for 20 sets of miniature lights.

Seating - If you plan to have your wedding ceremony and reception at the same location, but in different areas, you can use the same seating - no need to rent double the amount of chairs. Ask a few people beforehand if they would be in charge of moving the chairs from one spot to the next. When the ceremony is over, people will notice the chairs being moved, and may be happy to take their own chair or more.

If you'd prefer to have the chairs all set up beforehand, there may be some creative seating options, depending on your theme. Having a country wedding? Provide haybales to sit on. In the woods? Large logs or boulders could work. Of course, this can be a comfort and cleanliness issue. Don't make your guests sit for an hour with hay poking them, or mossy mud dirtying their attire. Remember comfort and class.

Bargain Buys - Search holiday clearance specials, thrift stores, flea markets, and auctions for great decorating ideas and deals.

Department stores such as Target.com and Fields.com have a huge selection of beautiful holiday decorations that could be used for centerpieces or in bouquets or place settings. After the holidays have passed, items are placed on clearance at great savings. Imagine the possibilities! Candleholders in beautiful colors, materials, and textures for tables, greenery to enhance bouquets and arrangements - the list goes on. Today's holiday decorations come in a variety of beautiful colors: pale greens, reds, blues, silver, gold, and more. Don't just think Christmas decorations, either. Having red as one of your wedding colors? Search after Valentine's Day. Having an autumn wedding? Look for decorations after Thanksgiving the year before. Thinking ahead is key to finding great decoration deals.

Search thrift stores, garage sales, and auctions for usable pieces. Clear vases are almost a dime a dozen - perfect for full arrangements, or a single bud. Inexpensive wine and champagne glasses could make an interesting menagerie of glass and light. Old mason jars could be filled and decorated as a perfect complement to a country wedding. Search for glassware, fabrics, silver trays, lights, and other unusual items that can be put together in a fabulous display.

Go Natural - If you are planning an outdoor wedding, chances are you are an outdoorsy type person, and maybe have some room to roam. Go for a walk in your backyard, back forty, or maybe there's national forest land close by. Borrow some great (and cheap) ideas from nature. Gather branches for modern, minimalist vase arrangements, pine boughs and cones for a Christmas wedding in the summer, rocks for artistic table arrangements - the list goes on! Let nature inspire you!

Rent vs Buy - Don't forget to compare prices with your local party and wedding rental store. Many items are cheaper to rent than buy, depending on what you are looking for.