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A while back, I decided to start collecting cans and jars to use as vases and candle holders during the ceremony and reception. Not only will these miscellaneous and mismatched vessels lend a rustic and “country” ambiance to our wedding, they’ll also save us money.
Some of the jars I’ve collected so far are antiques, like these blue-glass mason and assorted canning jars:
Some of the jars are big, possibly for centerpieces, and others are teensy, for votives:
Most of the jars are modern canning jars from around the house and in the pantry:
I’ve been asking grandparents and other family member to look for pretty old jars in their basements, pantries, and toolsheds. There are a few family-owned places we can search where we think we can hit paydirt as far as finding spiffy old items to use.
We also live conveniently close to a weekly farmers and antique market, where I picked up a good number of (overpriced but) awesome additions to my collection, including a sweet antique coffee can and a wooden Dupont explosives crate. Though I haven’t had much luck in the jar department, Goodwill, Value Village, the Salvation Army are almost always sure bets for a variety of antiques.
And of course I am an Internet addict so HAD to look on eBay. It’s a freakin’ treasure-trove for this kind of stuff. Unfortunately, most of the items I’m interested in are really heavy and the shipping cost negates any sort of real savings I might make on an auction. Maybe my local Craigslist can help. Hmm…
I’m still in search of miscellaneous jars and cans for decoration. Help me, Hive, where else might I be able to find them without shelling out big bucks?
i grew up in a 100+ year old house in indiana, and we had an underground storm cellar in the back yard. the thing was filled with tons of those antique mason jars. they were all really dirty, and we were afraid to go near or do much with them. i am kicking myself now - we have long since moved out and far away from that old farmhouse. it would be really cool to have taken the jars, though.
I would definitely check to see if you have a local freecycle group. (freecycle.org). I put up a wanted post for people’s unused yarn once and got a few replies. Best of all — no shipping because it’s local AND it’s free to start with.
Do you have anyone around you that makes homemade jam? They probably have a huge stock of mason jars in different sizes and shapes that they re-use every year. If they are family, you could probably get them for free. Or you could post a Craigslist ad asking if anyone would be willing to loan them to you, possibly for a small rental fee. Offer to replace any jars that get broken or damaged (you can get them at the grocery store).
I think Craiglist would be a great resource. I bet you could get them for free.
Flea markets, rummage sales, and yard sales are all great! check your paper on saturday and sundays to find where they’ll be! get there early to get the best stuff. Also, Salvation Army thrift stores and church thrift stores are great. You can buy ball jars in bulk online for really good prices too….Love your ideas!
Craig’s List is awesome, but I also have some random glass jars you could probably have. Let me count them up and let you know.
Plus garage sale season is in full swing.
you can also buy mason jars at walmart and cost plus. 
i think you’d have to buy them in a palette of 12 at walmart though.
@Angel: Thanks! Let me know and I’d be happy to come pick them up!
@Mrs. Eggplant: Ooh, flats of them for sale? Let me check that out.
I’m doing something similar and while I’ve had good luck at thrift shops, I second the freecycle suggestion. I picked up 30 free jars last week! Hardware stores also sell flats of mason jars for relatively cheap (probably similar to Walmart).
i’m doing the same thing for my wedding. but i couldn’t get any mason jars or any antique ones. i mainly collected pasta and fruit jars. i’m using it for my vases and i covered it up with pink n brown tulle. i have images but it’s not loading correctly on the wedding bee site. if u want to see what i did i can email it to you. those are cool jars.
Hi Miss CP!
I live on Capitol Hill and have some jars I was saving for my wedding but have decided not to transport them to NY. You’re more than welcome to them!
I’m not sure if all of them will be the style you’re looking for (mostly they’re pickle jars and salsa con queso jars [cringe] with the labels still on, even though I was planning on removing them), but I can at least send you some pictures, if you like and you’re feeling desperate. Just let me know!
I’m so in love with your wedding. Ur making me rethink everything.
I would also second the Wal-mart suggestion. My FH and I were looking all over this past weekend and we found pint size mason jars, 12 for $6.88, at Wal-Mart.
My local supermarket sells a case of those mason jars. Let me know if you want me to pick them up for you.
Okay, so I have 27 jars of different brands and sizes (sorry, no blue). They’re ready to go; just email me.
We are having family and friends save up mason jars for our wedding too - we are having it on a farm that makes organic goat cheese. We live in Hawaii, and everyone shops at Costco b/c every thing is so expensive. We found some spaghetti sauce at Costco that comes in real Mason jars, so we’ve asked everyone here to save them and give them to us. I LOVE the blue ones and they’d fit with our color scheme (scarlet and pale blue) but I am afraid to order any from ebay b/c I think they’d break on the way to Maui. 
Try using crazedlist.org to create a subscription that will automatically update in your google reader every time anyone in the Seattle area creates a listing with the keywords you enter. It works like a dream for finding specific stuff like this!
When you enter in all of the information, instead of hitting search, click on “Get RSS Feeds”. Right click on “save link as” and save the file with the ending “.opml”. Then go into your google reader and go to setting to import the feed into your reader. I hope that all made sense. Good luck!
[...] last photo on the right. We’re going to be doing something a little different to make use of our mason jars and cans. I’m making wire hangers for the mason jars, which will hold flowers that will line the aisles [...]
[...] Posted in: life’s eventful I’m so excited! Last month, Miss Cherry Pie of Weddingbee fame talked about gathering up mason jars for centerpieces and candle holders. I told her I had a few around the [...]
[...] how cool is that? And if one thing pairs well with mason jar vases to complement a rustic vibe, it’s tin can [...]
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Miss Cherry Pie, Seattle/Polebridge, Montana Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing Communications Specialist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Nurse Practitioner Engagement Date: August 26, 2006 Wedding Date: September 2008 Blogging Since: April 1, 2008 Venue: A tiny town just outside of Glacier National Park About Me: I think of life as a journey and I love the places it's taking me! I went to school to study Magazine Journalism, ended up with a second major in Japanese language, and now work at a company that makes software for libraries. I love writing, computers, photography, and the great outdoors. I spend most of my time playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band or geeking out online with Mr. Cherry Pie. I'm happiest when I'm on the road, especially traveling abroad, or just nesting quietly at home with my sweetie, who is a fabulous cook and bakes a delicious rendition of a certain cherry-filled dessert!
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