You might want to take a seat before you read on, because what I’m about to say might really shock you. Seated? Okay, good. Weddings are stressful. What? That didn’t surprise you? Okay, I was just kidding, you got me. We’ve all been privy to the strange phenomena where our sweet-as-pie friend slowly loses her mind as her wedding date approaches. It happens to the best of ‘em. When my friend was planning her wedding, she was absolutely determined that wouldn’t be her. And I’m happy to report that her day came, she said “I do” and she was cool as a cucumber through all of it!
So how’d she stay calm? She channeled her nerves into DIY craft projects and she enlisted the help of all of her BFFs to help. I think the time we spent in a circle working on art projects for the wedding and reception actually worked like a therapy session for her. Not only that, but her wedding had a quirky uniqueness about it that suited her to a tee and it didn’t break the bank. If you want to try your hand at some wedding crafts that will help save your mind and your budget, here are some ideas to get you started.
Egg Carton Flower Centerpieces
These whimsical looking flowers actually require very little manpower to make.
What You’ll Need:
- Paper egg cartons
- Acrylic paint in various colors
- Florist tape (easy to find in a grocery store flower section)
- Pipe Cleaners
- Assortment of buttons
The first step is to cut out each eggcup from the carton. Shape the edges into various flower-like designs. Next, paint them with the acrylic paint and let them dry. I thought that jewel-tones worked the best to give the final product some flair, but choose whatever colors will go with your wedding theme. When the flower cups have dried, poke two holes in the middle and string the pipe cleaner through one side. String it through the bottom-side of one of the buttons, and then pull the pipe cleaner all of the way through. You might want to twirl together a few for longer stems. Next, start at the bottom of the flower cup and slowly wind the florist tape around the stem of the flower. Et voila! Magical, whimsical fake flowers that brighten up any centerpiece.
Wrapped Bottles
My friend also wanted unusual containers to put the flowers in. Since we happened to be drinking plenty of wine while we were crafting, we went with, what else, wine bottles.
What you’ll need:
- Wine bottles (bottoms up!)
- Colored raffia (or really, any twine or fabric or yarn can work for this, choose whatever suits you)
- Glue
We’d already made the egg carton flowers, so we chose colored raffia that contrasted with the flowers to really make both of them pop. Start at the bottom of the bottle and simply wind your raffia or twine up. Wind it fairly tight so that the bottle doesn’t show through. Every couple turns of the thread, add some adhesive and pause to let it dry. It takes a bit of practice, but it’s a great project to work on while having a chat or watching TV.
Mason Jar Souvenir Glasses
My friend’s wedding was an outdoor affair in the summer, and she was nervous that bugs might be a problem. Especially with the sweet cocktails and punches she was planning no serving. Luckily, someone stumbled upon this simple project online that takes a lidded mason jar and turns it into a perfectly protected drinking glass that guests can take home as a souvenir.
What you’ll need:
- Mason jars with lids
- Contact paper (We chose a very colorful floral design, but again, choose something that works with your particular wedding theme.)
- Hole punch
- Scissors
- Fabric adhesive
- Striped paper straws
Using the metal lid of the mason jar, cut around the contact paper so that you have a round piece that’s the same size as the lid. Next punch a hole in the contact paper and also in the metal lid at the same spot. Attach the contact paper to the lid, and then screw the metal ring on to keep it in place. Make certain you have extra straws at the reception, but otherwise the glasses are simple to rinse and reuse throughout the evening.
Sewn Paper Table Decorations/Party Favor
My friend wanted to have candy at the reception, but she wanted to do something a bit different than the traditional bowl of candied almonds or mints. We came up with the idea of making little pouches full of candy that we could scatter about on the tables to double as decorations, but also a sweet treat for guests.
What You’ll Need:
- Heavy Stock Paper (think oil paper, contact paper, butcher paper, etc, something that’s fairly thick, but that is also colorful and pretty)
- Thick-gauge sewing or upholstery needle
- DMC floss
- Scissors
- Cardboard
First, decide on the basic shapes you want and then cut out patterns from cardboard. We went with basic shapes like hearts, stars, flowers, and lightening bolts. Fold your paper so that you have the right-sides up and then use your pattern to cut out two shapes. Thread your needle and then start sewing around the edge, loosely. You’ll want to begin with going from the inside out on only one piece of paper so that you can hide the extra thread inside. When you’ve sewn three-quarters of the way around, stuff the inside with the candies of choice and then finish up the edges. You can also do this project using a sewing machine.
Hopefully these ideas give you a jumping-off point for finding crafts that’ll really showcase your inner-artist. Most importantly, don’t lose sight of the fact that weddings are meant to be fun.
Rob Toledo is currently planning his own wedding in the Pacific Northwest. For an even more unique touch, he recommends considering sapphire rings or custom matching wedding bands to add an even more unique touch to your marriage.
Images Courtesy: stock photos
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