I love brainstorming wedding details. They can really make a wedding go from average to over the top. But they don’t have to do the same for your budget. At our wedding, Richie and I had a few items that I normally use around my home to decorate. Since the fit into the look and feel of my wedding day, I had no problem incorporating them into my plan. I used the crocheted table runner made by my grandmother as an table runner on both the ceremony table and on our sweetheart table. It was a small wedding detail, but it was sweet and sentimental. With the added bonus of triggering beautiful memories of my grandmother during the big day.

Photo by Idalia Photography

I also pinned the pendant my mother wore on her wedding day and my other grandmother’s wedding band to the handle of my bouquet.

Photo by Idalia Photography

Another borrowed, but free detail I used on my wedding day was a part of my centerpieces. If you want to read about how I DIY’d my wedding centerpieces, I blogged it here. I borrowed hurricane lanterns from my mother and sister. Both of whom collect them, by the way, now I do too!). If you are considering DIY’ing some of your wedding details, you will want to check out this post on the secrets to successfully DIY’ing for your wedding day!

Photo by Idalia Photography

Three Wedding Details You Can Incorporate for Free!

Here are my three favorite wedding details that you can incorporate into your big day for free! Yes! No joke! They will cost you nothing but a little brainstorming, planning, and time.

1. Using Your Heirloom China for Your Sweetheart Table Settings

I had a bride who loved her grandmother’s china. There was no way to use it for every guest, so she chose to use it as the table settings on her sweetheart table. She and her husband ate their wedding dinner on the beautiful heirloom china that had been in the family for years. How sweet was that? And it cost them nothing except a little time and planning. At the end of the night, I was there to ensure that the china was properly cleaned, and packaged up to be returned safely to her home. How sweet would it be to include settings for the parent’s of the bride and groom as well. Such a sweet and thoughtful way to honor a family member.

2. Using Found Items For Your Centerpieces

I know I mentioned the hurricane lanterns I used as part of my centerpiece display. But one of my all-time favorite wedding centerpieces used the family’s sailing trophies to hold flower arrangements! These were created by Christine from Lily in the Valley Florist. She’s a genius. But the true genius in this nautical inspired wedding was the use of the family trophy collection to hold centerpieces.

Photo by Ashley Mac Photographs

3. “Shop” at Home for a Few of Your Favorite Things

I find that the best way to personalize your wedding day is with decor and details that are personal! Sounds simple right!? But you would be surprised how many couples I talk to have never considered using things they already own to personalize their day. One of my favorite couples, Danielle and Carl, did this with their baseball and softball equipment. They included their gloves and balls as part of their welcome table and guest book display. And it really caught people’s attention! It was a sweet way of honoring one of their shared interests and it immediately made the day seem more about them, and less generic.

If you enjoyed reading these ideas, let me know! I would love to hear form you! How do you plan on personalizing your big day? And if the thought of bringing family heirlooms to you wedding makes you nervous, contact me. BWE wants to be there to help make your day unique and beautiful. Taking care of your wedding details that are also family treasures is just one of the many ways we can help!