Flower arrangements for a wedding can pricey pretty quickly. While I am a huge fan of real flower arrangements for weddings, paper flowers are a cheaper, equally as pretty alternative for brides on a budget. Paper flowers add a shabby chic touch to reception tables or guests’ drink glasses. Be your own florists – but don’t just arrange your flowers, make them!

paper magnolias

It may be slightly time consuming and usually a little more difficult than Martha leads on, but these DIY paper flowers are a gorgeous detail. Since you make the flowers yourself, you can easily customize these flowers to your wedding color palette. Also, these flowers have no shelf life so feel free to make them far in advance so it’s one less detail you need to worry about near your big day.

paper swizzle sticks

And don’t forget to save a bouquet! Put it on display in your home for a constant reminder of your amazing wedding day.

Your wedding is the only time other people will happily allow you to put your love on display at a nauseating level so take advantage. Most couples do this with a slideshow of pictures of themselves or a collage on display at the reception. Take this idea and put on a modern twist with this idea inspired by Taylor Swift’s video Mine. Does that girl do anything that’s not adorable?
These hanging photos are an easy do-it-yourself project that would look great among the falling leaves in an outdoor fall reception. This display of love is so romantic and whimsical. And I do love any wedding decorations that hang from trees.
Having an indoor wedding? This idea can easily be taken indoors. Or use these hanging photos as part of an engagement shoot – I love it.

Making burlap look refined and wedding appropriate is shabby chic in its height of perfection. These painted burlap pennants can be purchased on funkyshique’s Etsy shop, featuring boldly glittered hearts. They are relaxed yet polished and effortlessly romantic. If this isn’t quite what you’re looking for, turn this into a quick and inexpensive do-it-yourself design. Just cut burlap fabric into triangles and spray paint the hearts with a stencil – skip the glitter for a simpler clean-up. This way you can make it any color you like, and for my shabby chic wedding this week I’d have to pick bright pink and pale blue.

rustic and romantic

On a total side note – check out the wooden chandeliers in this wedding. While the entire wedding may be a bit too refined to be shabby chic, these white, wooden chandeliers could definitely find a comfortable home at this week’s wedding. Plus, aren’t they adorable?

An afternoon garden reception allows you to put extra focus on the sweetest wedding detail, the desserts. Instead of the single traditional, elegant wedding cake why not do a modern, laidback twist? Instead of including many cakes by making cupcakes, actually just make multiple cakes. And don’t stop there, do pies and cookies and cobblers too. I just love the idea of having a ton of delicious treats to pick from and it somehow feels fitting for a tea-sipping afternoon reception.

i'll take one of each, thanks for offering

And whether you’re planning this outdoor reception or a ladies only wedding shower these yellow and lavender macarons are too cute to resist. Such tiny little bites of goodness (click the image for the recipes too - another DIY option).

macarons look chic even standing alone