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Budget-Friendly Luxe

Nov 7 / The IWED Blog

Creating High-End Looks for Less

There’s nothing that could make quite as big of a dent in your wallet as a wedding. But why spend all your savings on the nuptials when there are so many DIY ways to make it beautiful? Here’s how to maximize output on a minimal budget. 


We can’t stress enough how important the choice of venue is. Whether you’re going for super luxe or super laid back, finding the right venue is half the battle. A historic or listed building, for instance, will have so many of the decorations you would otherwise have to buy already embedded: Antique furniture, rugs, treated windows, and the like. Alternatively, an outdoor venue will have all the lush elements of nature, which are free and in abundance! Either way you potentialize saving your money as well as your time!

Once you’ve secured the venue, you’ll properly be able to visualize what is and isn’t needed. Keeping it simple is a good, guiding principle. Not only because it’s the best way to be budget-conscious, but because it’s a tried and true way to make your wedding look luxurious. Cake toppers, neon signs, and general clutter give cute and kitsch. They don’t exactly give elegant. High-impact florals and vintage heirlooms do. Think flowering tree branches and etched glassware. Or candle-only tablescapes with candles of varying shapes and heights. Perhaps you’re opting for something more quaint and cheerful, though. In this case, bud vases and lace table runners are the way to go. We also love a dried flower look. Pampas grass would work so well with a bohemian aesthetic while cotton stems are more garden chic and elegant. They’re also reusable! Why not recycle them for another occasion, use some in your own home decor as a memento, or send your guests off with them as a farewell favor? 

If you have the time and the energy, shopping second hand whether it be through facebook marketplace and craigslist or brick-and-mortar shops opens up a whole new world of possibilities. This really only makes sense for intimate weddings, though, because you have less to work with. Varnishing lightwood tables or using the baking soda trick on newer vases for a 100 plus wedding might be a bit stressful. 

If so, focus on greenery and drapery. Hanging Spanish moss from the rafters, for instance, is grand yet affordable. Pair that with sheer curtains and it’ll give majorly ethereal. Greenery such as eucalyptus and cedar in lieu of floral centerpieces is also gorgeous and cost-effective. You may even find that you have what you need in your own backyard. 

Another way to punch up a look for cheap is by adding pops of color or statement details. Yellow billy buttons in a bud vase, for instance, gold charger plates, or metallic mauve linens. These are all understated yet striking additions that will go a long way. As long as you put the bumpers up on your vision and focus on the essentials, you are well on your way toward a budget-friendly wedding for the ages.