The wedding bouquet is an important part of a bridal wedding look. Whether you went big with lots of different types of blooms or just had a single type of flower like hydrangeas or roses for your bouquet, it’s more than a little depressing to just watch them wilt on your dresser after your wedding day.

Luckily, there are many ways to preserve your flowers so you can enjoy looking at them every single day. Let’s take a look at the best ways to preserve them, both DIY and professional options.

Keep Your Wedding Flowers Looking Fresh

First things first: if you want to preserve all of the color in your flowers then you’ll need to put them in fresh water as soon as you can. Depending on when your florist made your bouquet, you have a relatively small window to preserve the flowers just as they are, so it’s important to act fast!

Remove anything on the bouquet that’s not a fresh flower, and place the stems in a vase. Be sure to change the water out every day before you start the preservation process.

Decide What Kind of Preservation You Would Like

Before you preserve your flowers, think about what kind of time and money you want to spend on your bouquet preservation. If you want your flowers to look almost exactly like they did when you were walking down the aisle, that is going to take more time and money—especially if you are hiring a professional to preserve your flowers. If you’re okay with just letting them dry out naturally, this is definitely going to be the cheaper and less time intensive option.

Here are the most common types of preservation:

• Pressing: Pressing flowers is an easy way to retain a bouquet’s color and create an interesting piece of art for your home. Take a few flowers from your bouquet and stick them between two pieces of parchment paper. When placing the flowers in the parchment paper, be sure to space them as far apart as you can so that the moisture from one flower doesn’t bleed into another flower and distort the color.

  Once you have your flowers arranged, place the parchment paper and flowers in the middle of a very heavy book (like a dictionary or a phone book, if you happen to still have one of those lying around). Add a couple of other heavy books on top to weigh it down. After two or three weeks, you should have completely dry flowers to display.

  The only downside to pressing flowers (in comparison to other types of preservation) is that you typically can’t press the entire bouquet together as it works best with just a few flowers at a time.

• Silica Gel: Remember those tiny little gel packets that are in just about every package that you open? Those gel packets are used to keep moisture out of packages, and it turns out they’re super useful for the preservation of flowers!

  If you didn’t happen to save a bunch of the silica gel packets that came in the box for your TV or computer, then you can buy some at your local hardware or craft store. Essentially, in order to preserve your flowers using silica gel, you’ll need to fill an airtight container with the gel and then, using a dry paintbrush, brush the gel onto the flower. (It may be helpful to grind the silica gel into a powder form.) In about a week your flowers should be completely dry, at which point they can be preserved using a fixative spray.

• Air Drying: This is by far the easiest option for preserving your flowers. All you need to do is to hang your bouquet upside down until it’s completely dried out. The most important thing to remember here is to be patient: drying your flowers out naturally could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month.

  The only downside to drying your flowers out naturally is that the color won’t be completely preserved. However, if that doesn’t matter to you, then this might be your best option.

How to Display Them

Your options to display your preserved bouquet are as limitless as your imagination. Many brides decide to display their flowers in a shadow box that hangs on the wall, but you could also get creative and place them in a paperweight or under a cloche (which looks very Beauty and the Beast).

However you decide to display them, make sure it’s in a spot that is visible—so you can look at them and remember your beautiful wedding day.

Have Them Preserved Professionally

If it’s important to you that your flowers look just as pristine as they did on your wedding day, then there are plenty of professionals out there who would be willing to preserve them for you. Ask your florist if this is a service she provides for her flowers, or get a few quotes from florists around town who might be willing to do the job for you.

There are also national companies, such as Keepsake Floral, that you can send your flowers to in the mail and who will work with you on a custom design.

Keep in mind that these services can be costly and most likely need to be planned in advance of your wedding so that your flowers can stay as fresh as possible.

Whether you want to save money or just inject a little homemade charm into your wedding, there are so many types of DIY paper decorations you can make for your ceremony and reception. Paper is so versatile and can be used for anything from transforming paper into garlands, lanterns, and other decor for the ceremony. Paper can be used for labels with pretty lettering for table assignments, dessert tray signs, or to party favors decor for guests.

As with any other DIY projects for your wedding, you want to make certain that you love the way they turn out, which means that you should allow for plenty of time to do some trial runs. The last thing you want to happen is to find yourself sprawled out on the floor with all your crafting supplies two days before the wedding in a panic. You also want to make sure that you’re purchasing good, sturdy paper that won’t tear too easily, such as cardstock or scrapbooking paper.

Here are our seven favorite paper DIY projects to try out in preparation for your big day:

Save-the-Dates

You want to have save-the-dates, but you don’t want to pay for the high cost of printing? Try creating your own. By using some cardstock, creative lettering, and a cute photo of the two of you, you can make something that’s just as adorable as the cards you can find online. Best of all, you won’t have the same old save-the-dates that everyone else has—you’ll have something totally unique.

Paper Garlands

Paper garlands are popular right now. You can make these pretty, delicate strings of paper as fancy or as rustic-looking as you’d like. Use them in front of the cake table, attached to the guest table, as a backdrop to your selfie station, and anywhere that needs a little bit of extra decorative flair. You can create them in shapes of flowers or as a way to display the letters of your last name. Just remember to be as original and creative as you can!

Paper Poufs

Paper poufs, or tissue pom-poms, are really simple to make. They are an attractive way to spruce up the entrance of a reception area or pretty homemade accents to hang up in trees at an outdoor wedding. They can also be used as the focal part of your alter. Best of all, it’s inexpensive to make a whole bunch of these pom-poms. All you need are sheets of tissue paper, scissors, and a bag of pipe cleaners. They can be made fairly quickly if one or two friends help you.

Labels for the Reception

Labels are great for your reception to have located near items like beverages in large dispensers, special desserts at the cake table, and appetizers that are set out before the buffet is open. Labels are a great way to add a bit of extra style to something that would otherwise look ordinary; the options to personalize them are endless.

Table Assignment Numbers

If you decide to use table numbers to seat your guests at the reception, don’t use just any old table numbers that you can buy at a craft store—use this as an opportunity to show off your DIY skills! Create consistency throughout your wedding by using the same type font as your wedding invitations or sticking with the same color scheme. Display your table numbers in photo frames or do something fun like attaching them to a bottle of wine for the table.

Paper Lanterns

Is there anything more romantic than a paper lantern? Lanterns add a sense of romance as well as a fun party ambiance at your wedding reception. When choosing paper lanterns, stick with classic bridal white or go crazy with color to brighten up your reception for the after-party. You can use these lanterns again for a future outdoor event with proper storage and care.

Confetti Cones

Every couple wants a proper send-off at the end of the reception, but sparklers can be expensive and potentially dangerous with paper decor. Bubbles can make the floor sticky and create a big cleanup later. Instead, craft some confetti cones out of paper and fill them with dried flowers, rice, and confetti. At the send-off for the newlyweds, you can spring them on the lucky couple.

When it comes to DIY paper decorations for your wedding ceremony and reception, these are some of the best choices to try DIY. Most paper decorations can be easily made in a couple hours or less with the help of friends or family.

Are you looking for easy DIY decoration ideas for your spring wedding? Making your own decorations is both fun and economical. It’s also a great way to bring friends and family together to make decorations before your big day. If you’ve always loved crafting with your mother, setting aside a little time for the two of you to work on wedding decorations may be the perfect way to reminisce together. You can plan a similar day with your mother-in-law or invite your bridesmaids to an early decorating party. In the end, you’ll love saving money and seeing the fruits of your labor once they are all put together.

To help get you get started with DIY decoration making, here are several ideas that are perfect for a spring wedding.

Wedding Card Box

Most brides and grooms have some sort of wedding card collection box they set out at the reception table. These boxes are often purchased ready-made from stores that sell other craft items, but it’s actually quite easy to make your own. They can be as simple or complicated as you want to them to be, ranging from an ornately wrapped cardboard box, to a stained or painted hardwood box. With either option, you’ll have a beautiful addition for your gift table.

Calligraphy Wooden Wedding Signs

Calligraphy is popular, especially when combined with beautiful hardwood signs and fresh flowers. Wooden signs can be used to provide directions, to welcome your guests, or to display photos of you and your soon-to-be spouse. The uses for wooden signs are almost endless. Whatever purpose you ultimately dream up for your signs, adding calligraphy is easy with stencils or cutouts. There are easy step-by-step calligraphy kits available at most craft stores.

Bride and Groom Picture Table Numbers

Not everyone has assigned seating at their weddings, but it’s essential to number your tables if you do. Instead of merely using cards with printed numbers, try incorporating photos of the bride and groom as a personalized alternative. Ask your parents for pictures of both of you as one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and so on. The photos you collect can then be used to correspond to the numbers on each table so that your guests can literally see you “grow up” together as the table numbers increase.

Fabric Flower Garlands

Love hanging decorations? Regardless of whether your wedding is indoors or outdoors, fabric flower garlands are a nice touch. Making fabric flower garlands is easy and you’ll love how they look once they are strung together. You can also customize this decoration to fit your wedding by selecting fabric colors that match your theme and color combinations. You can also reuse them again for other events in the future.

Flower Crowns

Flower crowns are a DIY decoration that are both beautiful and stylish. Whether you choose to use faux flowers or freshly cut flowers is up to you. Just wrap a little floral tape around a bundle of flowers and you’re good to go! These flower crowns make amazing additions to wedding centerpieces, or they can be hung on chairs and doors as a decorative accent. As an added perk, your guests will have a blast wearing them throughout the reception and taking selfies.

There are lots of great DIY ideas out there for decorations for your spring wedding. Whether you are into crafting, art, stamping, or some other design hobby, here are some great ideas that are sure to help you create memorable wedding decorations and save money at the same time.

Are you looking for an absolutely stunning background for your wedding? Whether you need a decorative piece for your ceremony or a photo booth backdrop for your reception, an LED curtain may be the perfect solution. These backdrops are both simple to make and inexpensive, yet they still make a stylish statement.

Additionally, it’s easy to personalize this project to suit your particular event. To help you determine if an LED curtain backdrop is right for your wedding, here’s a brief breakdown of what you’ll need and how it can be put together.

What You’ll Need

There are a number of great LED curtain backdrop plans available online for free. You’ll want to pick a design that fits your specific needs. When doing this, keep the purpose of your backdrop in mind. This will help you determine the ideal height and width, as well as sturdiness requirements. While your final purchase list will vary depending on your specific design plans, here’s a basic breakdown of the items you’ll need for this project:

• PVC piping or wood cut to size
• Connectors
• Curtains
• String lights
• Safety pins

Picking Your Lights and Curtains

One of the major benefits of an LED curtain backdrop for your wedding is that you have the ability to customize it to match your event. The easiest way to do this is by selecting colored curtains and lights to match your wedding theme. While white on white is beautiful and will certainly work, this type of backdrop allows for personalization. Keep in mind that sheer curtains work best for this type of project, and LED lights with white wire may work best.

Building Your Frame

The most complicated part of building your LED curtain backdrop will be constructing the frame. This part of the project will vary great depending on the design plans you pick. Generally, you can expect your build-time to be short, especially if you opt for materials like PVC piping.

While PVC is lightweight, easy to build, simple to take apart, and a breeze to store, keep in mind that it isn’t as sturdy as wood. Make sure you weigh the pros and cons of each building material before starting.

Storing Your Backdrop Appropriately

In all likelihood, you’ll be constructing your LED curtain backdrop long before your wedding will take place. Because keeping a structure like this out in your living room for an extended period of time isn’t an option, it’s important to plan for storage ahead of time. If space is limited, it may be best to pick plans for a backdrop that can be built and taken down easily. This way you can reconstruct it once your big day arrives. Just make sure you keep the fabric covered and away from dust and pet hair. At the very least, protect the curtains and lights by placing them in plastic trash bags.

An LED curtain backdrop is perfect for your wedding photos of guests and friends, and it can allow other people (besides the wedding photographer) to take great photos to remember your wedding celebration. The best part is that the LED curtain can be reused for a photo booth project, or you can bring it out for dinner parties or a birthday celebration. This great lighting idea will look great for a number of occasions after you have used it for your wedding day.

It is only natural to want to add some beautiful decor when planning a winter wedding the goal is often to make a space that is warm and cozy in the middle of a cold time, while also delighting your friends and family with a well-designed and attractive space. One easy-to-make and useful decoration are wax-dipped pine cones, which make people think of evergreens but also of trees covered in a thick blanket of snow.

These snow-capped beauties can be made into a wedding favor by labeling them as fire-starters; putting 3 or 4 of them into a fireplace with larger logs will help the fire get going just like other kindling. While it is strange to ask your guests to light their favors on fire, you’ll find that guests often appreciate a wedding favor with a simple, practical purpose after they brighten up your space for the duration of the wedding. The addition of a wick and wax makes them burn longer, giving your guests a better chance at a roaring fire on a future cold winter night.

Materials:

• A collection of pine cones. While you can usually buy these at a craft store, it makes more sense to find a pine tree with cones dropping and get some for free.

• A roll of candle wick, available at craft stores. While the candle wick isn’t essential to make the pine cones look good, it is helpful for the dipping process and makes it easier to use the pine cones as fire-starters after your event is over.

• A bag of soy wax flakes, unscented and uncolored. These are usually located in the candle-making section of a craft store.
• A medium size saucepan, preferably your least-favorite saucepan for cooking. While the soy flakes are usually food-grade, any accidental sticking of wax afterwards shouldn’t be on your best cooking pot.

Step 1 – Pre-Bake the Cones

To make certain that no bugs are alive on the pine cones, bake them in an oven at 200 degrees. This will also remove moisture, which can affect how the wax stays on the pine cones.

Step 2 – Liquefy the Wax

Melt soy wax according to specifications on the box. Line a nearby area with enough wax paper for all of your pine cones to sit without touching.

Step 3 – Wrap Wick Around Cones

When pine cones have cooled sufficiently, wrap a length of candle wick around the spines of the pine cones. You should be able to hold the end of the wick without it falling out of the pine cone, so snuggle that wick right into the interior of the pine cone.

Step 4 – Take Cones for a Dip

With each pine cone, gently dip into the melted wax and place to dry on the waxed paper. By the time all cones have been dipped, you should notice that the first cones have gone from wet-looking to more solid; at this point, re-dip the cones.

Step 5 – Repeat Dips Till Snowy

Work up to at least 4 coats; some cones will look better when coated even more times. The white soy flakes will make a cone that looks like a snow-covered pine tree.

Step 6 – Cool till Dry

After final layer, allow cones to dry completely for a few hours. The wax may remain soft and malleable, depending on the temperature at which they are stored, so try to keep them in the coolest, driest place possible to reduce how much wax flakes off over time. For best results, create pine cone decor within 2-3 weeks before the wedding, since earlier than that and a lot of transit may cause many crumbles of wax and pine cone pieces.

Step 7 – Label and Message

An optional extra touch that we liked was to add a little note in case guests don’t know they can take the wax-dipped pine cones home and use them as fire-starters. A simple note that says “Wax Pine Cone Fire Starter – Thank you for Warming our Hearts!” will make your guests smile and also make it clear what they can do with the favor. We used a simple bit of twine to connect the note to the wick itself.

There are also ways to add scent and color to these pine cones, but for a simple, wintry look that dresses up any winter-wedding venue, go for the simple “snow-capped” style. For extra credit, find some pretty jars and pour the leftover wax into candles. Add the wick as the wax begins to harden so that it will stand up on its own. If you choose a cute enough jar or container for your candles, these can also be decorations, or small gifts for people who are helping out with your wedding!

Photo booths are a fun set up at any wedding that guests love. Everyone wants the chance to create their own pictures in memory of your big day. So how do you go about setting up a photo opportunity at your fall wedding? Here’s a hint, what’s fall’s biggest accessory? Leaves! I’ve got a photo backdrop idea that’s rustic, beautifully fall, and everything you want. Just imagine how great you and your partner will look in front of this too; this project is a win-win. I promise this background will provide the perfect setting to every shot and it’s so easy. You just get yourself some leaves, gather your other materials, and get started. … read more

A map is a great piece of extra info to include in your wedding invites for any friends and family coming in from out of town. If you’re already planning on DIYing your invites, you’ll be happy to know it doesn’t take an expert map maker to DIY a map insert as well! While this map wouldn’t be impressive to a pro with professional grade software, I think it looks pretty good and will be useful to your guests. … read more

Though I had an idea for the DIY photo booth backdrop a long time ago, it took awhile for me and my fiance to get around to constructing it. We decided we wanted a backdrop with a sheer white curtain and bright string lights. … read more

A wedding day isn’t complete without loved ones ready to share in your joy. For some lucky folks that includes a furry family member. Some even walk their dogs down the aisle! … read more

Honestly, so many people would love to have fancy flower arrangements at their events, but don’t have the cash. They also don’t dream of doing these arrangements themselves, as they’re harder than they look. Take for instance hanging flower balls. … read more