How To Plan Wedding Decor On A Budget Without Sacrificing Quality

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by PSECU, a Pennsylvania-based credit union.

Planning a wedding on a budget isn’t as easy as it seems. Simple things can start to add up quickly, especially decor for tables, entrances and even around the aisle. Here seven simple ways to plan wedding decor that looks classy and elegant without blowing up a budget.

1. Pick a Beautiful Location

One of the simplest ways to spend less on wedding decor is to pick a stunning location to begin with. Outdoor venues with a beautiful overlook or a garden with plenty of flowers and greenery are great spaces to hold a wedding or reception without needing to buy extra decor. Non-traditional couples can even opt to get married in an art gallery or bed and breakfast to find a classic charm that doesn’t need any extras.

2. Don’t Feel Afraid to Rent

Buying every single piece of decor from the flowers to the centerpieces can add up and quickly cause couples to go over budget. Instead, renting china, drinkware and even decorations from friends can save money in the long-run. Before purchasing brand new china or table linens, check with different wedding venues to see what’s included in the package price. Then, ask recently married friends if they have any decor they could loan or rent for a lower price.

3. Use In-Season Flowers

Some brides dream about using their favorite flower on their wedding day, from roses to lilies. However, depending on when a wedding takes place, those flowers may not be in season. Choosing to decorate with in-season flowers can significantly reduce the cost of decor. Check with a wedding planner or a florist to find out which flowers are in season during your wedding date and make them the focal point to avoid rising costs.

Another option is to use paper flowers or silk flowers, which look exactly like the real thing. They’re more cost-effective, and you can use them again if one of your friends gets married or another event pops up.

4. DIY Everything You Can

Thankfully, the internet makes it easy to DIY almost anything for a wedding, even if the bride isn’t particularly crafty. Use YouTube and Pinterest for DIY ideas and put together everything from elegant centerpieces to rustic chalkboard signs. This is a great time to recruit friends and family members that are crafty or have some free time on their hands to help with wedding decor.

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A Lancashire Mill Wedding With A Harry Potter Theme – Marry Me Ink Got Married!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! As I start 2019 as Mrs Whittaker, how better to start of Marry Me Ink’s year than to share Rob & I’s rustic Holmes Mill wedding from October of last year – The perfect time of year for a Harry Potter themed wedding! Our great friends Jaye and Matt of Tux & Tales Photography had the photos and video trailer all ready for us before Christmas and I’ve been dying to share them with you!

We chose to get married at Holmes Mill as it was a lovely new venue when we visited and they had so much still to add to it which, when it came to the wedding day, was perfect for everyone – There was a hotel and bistro on site as well as an amazing food hall (not to mention the ice cream shop) and there are still more exciting things to be added yet (a cinema and spa to name a few)!

Knowing all the northern suppliers pretty well through Marry Me Ink, it was a no-brainer who to have involved in our special day. The supplier friends we had involved with our special day included Paragon Floral Design and Andy Murphy DJ to name a few.

There was plenty of DIY attributes to our wedding decoration which, at the time, I got tired of doing – but in the end I think they looked great. To fit with our Harry Potter theme, I made the winged keys for the place names and Rob melted and moulded the chocolate frogs (when he wasn’t eating them!) The final week up to the wedding I had my mum and sisters helping me put together over 80 chocolate frog boxes – We must have tried every kind of adhesive (Gorilla Glue worked best!) and we finally finished them all the night before, complete with Harry Potter themed temporary tattoos from Doris Loves.


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Gothic Winter Solstice Wedding Inspiration

Are we all ready for the winter break that is Christmas and New Year? With the dark winter here for a while longer, I thought I’d share with you this rich and full of texture inspiration shoot from Legend Bridal, Electric Blue Photography and Scarlett Envy Events. I had the chance this week to speak with Charlotte of Legend Bridal and this is what she said about the beauty of the day..

With the winter solstice fast approaching we wanted to create a styled shoot that celebrates the darkest and longest night of the year, welcomes in the light and celebrates new beginnings.

The idea was born after conversations with Kate at Dead Things by Kate when it became obvious that we shared an appreciation of earth-based/pagan traditions. We decided on a deliciously dark Winter Solstice inspired Hand-fasting with a specially designed gothic gown and incorporating Kate’s gorgeous taxidermy.

We pulled together a crazy talented bunch of suppliers to make the idea come to life and OH MY WORD!.. We can’t stop looking at the images! The flowers are to die for! There are no words for that bouquet. The floral staff is such an awesome idea, and we LOVE the pentagram wreath – so much beauty and meaning. 

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A Nautical Essex Wedding – Harriet & DJ

Today on Marry Me Ink, I get to share with you Harriet and DJ’s wedding that took place at Ye Olde Plough House in Essex – perfect for their nautical themed wedding from Corina Photography.

I met Harriet outside my friends’ salon 10 years ago in south London – I had popped out for a cigarette and Harriet happened to be strolling past the shop and bravely started a conversation with me about my t-shirt, and followed by asking for my number. At the time she was only 17 and I was 28 so we decided to go our separate ways after a while, until we got in contact again and got back together nearly 4 years ago.

We both chose a nautical theme because DJ comes from a surfing background.  We had the whole wedding day at Ye Olde Plough House as we fell in love with the barn conversion and cottages the moment we saw it.  Continue reading