Flowers are the traditional way to embellish your ceremony and reception area, but they can add up to be quite expensive. Between the bouquet, reception centerpieces, and ceremony embellishment, your floral bill can skyrocket before you know it. Luckily, there are many other ways to add decorative touches to your wedding that will leave you with a fuller pocket book, without compromising style. Instead of flowers, consider incorporating these fun alternatives into your wedding to add unique, affordable beauty to your big day.

Feathers: Using these as decoration will add a whimsical, bohemian vibe to your wedding. They’re gorgeous on their own as centerpieces, tucked into a bouquet in addition to flowers, or even in the bride’s hair. This website sells countless types of feathers in bulk, with the majority amounting to less than 50 cents per feather. You can also find feather bouquets available on Etsy for extremely reasonable prices.

Candles: Classically romantic, candles will create a beautiful, warm ambiance when included in your ceremony and reception space. They’re very inexpensive, especially when bought in large batches, and the design possibilities are nearly endless. Include them in votives along the sides of your aisle, float them in mason jars, or add height to your reception tables with traditional taper candles. Browse through this article for some great inspiration.

Fruits and Vegetables: Adorning your ceremony or reception with various types of produce will create an organic, natural feel, making it wonderful for outdoor or rustic weddings. Since fruits and vegetables come in all the colors of the rainbow, you’re bound to find some that fit in with your vision. Or, if you’re looking for your wedding to truly be in touch with nature, use seasonal produce, and plan your wedding colors accordingly.

Cotton: Including natural, fluffy balls of cotton into your wedding decor adds a fun, playfulness. They’re appropriate for weddings of all shapes and sizes, but fit in especially well with country style weddings, neutral toned weddings, or winter weddings because of their white, snowball like appearance. We love the variety of ways that this couple used cotton in their woodsy, organic weding.

Candy: Since candy comes in an array of colors and styles, you’re guaranteed to find some that will fit in flawlessly with your particular vision. Including a pretty candy bar at your reception is a great way to decorate the space, and provide your guests with delicious wedding favors. Display different varieties in glass containers, provide your guests with plastic bags, and let them help themselves! Also consider making a lollipop centerpiece, or using sweets that fit in with the season your wedding is in. For instance, candy canes or peppermints in the winter, or jordan almonds in the spring, will make your wedding extra festive.

By including these decorative elements where you would normally use flowers, you’ll not only save yourself some money, but also add unique value to your big day that your guests are bound to fondly remember.

Photo by Cluney Photo