So when I got engaged, my parents came to me with a number I needed to shoot for. I had a budget. I wasn’t too worried. Well then we sat down again, after realizing weddings are expensive and my number for “my stuff” was significantly less than I was expecting. THINGS ADD UP.
My favorite color in the universe has always been lavender purple. Basically since I started started having crushes on boys I wanted a lavender purple wedding. Well, my parents graciously gave me the number of need to STAY UNDER, and I found my dress on Craigslist for a steal! It was the VERY EXACT dress I had looked on a bridal store for $2,500. So that was a huge blessing. But still, EXPENSIVE and a big chunk of my remaining funds would be in invitations, cake, you know. The important things you basically have to do.
As I added things up, my dream wedding was not going to happen. But as I talked to my fiancé at the time- he reminded me colors didn’t matter to him at all. He just wanted to marry me. And that’s when I knew I was okay without my perfect wedding. I found the perfect person FOR ME. And money or no money, THAT was my reason to celebrate.
So I changed directions. My Dad made a deal with me. Whatever was from the wedding I could KEEP or I could just not spend it…. And get cash!!! Ha, If only.
My wedding reception themed was changed to Farmhouse decor, and man, let me tell you it was the best choice for me at that time and with my budget! I went to Hobby Lobby on a mission- and this is where I fell in love with FILLING carts full at Hobby Lobby. It’s addicting, I swear!
I wanted greenery and I wanted decor I could use in my house until I had money to start buying my own. Seriously, it worked out SO well for me. I got milk cans, pitchers, and tons of L•O•V•E signs that I wanted in my future home! So while shopping if it wasn’t something I was going to use again, I didn’t buy it. I didn’t even have the “cards/ Presents” signs. The ONLY things I couldn’t use again were the cake knife & a light pink picture frame. That’s it.
I got beautiful picture frames. Lots of them. Made sure I could use them in my house and then all my decor just matched. When it came to flowers, I ended up with pink. Lavender was still my favorite color, but I couldn’t find bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen ties, NOTHING at an affordable price. I didn’t want my family spending $80 just for my sisters dresses. The lavender color was so specific that it was going to cost too much. So with pink I could end up with different shades and it looked good. It also was a very flattering color on my Mom. My mom would have worn a lavender dress if she HAD to, but hers would probably be $100 to find that perfect fit and the shade I wanted! It’s okay, right?! I married my favorite person in the whole world. And honestly I wish I had focused on that MUCH more.
So experiences like this give me that desire to write and take pictures. Decorations don’t have to be expensive. They might have to be an investment…. But… in my case it worked well.
Okay here are a few wedding decorations I still have today. And I will hold on to them forever. They remind me of my wedding. Of how important decorating my house was that I was completely confident with farmhouse decor at my reception so I could have it in my house!!
Where’s the rest? Well, I had every intention of keeping ALL of it. But as a young college kid I didn’t have room for all of it. Annnnd, I had a small hunch my Mom had her eye some of the decorations as well. So we split it, and she kept all the serving ware. Soon after I gave it all back, and kept what I couldn’t bare to part with. Why? Well, apparently I have pretty good style .
Lots of people were borrowing wedding stuff and I didn’t want to take down my decorations time after time and meet my mom to give her the decorations back. It’s only fair! She paid hard earned money and sacrificed a lot so her kids could have what they wanted. And with my determination I was going to decorate my house one way or another!
To this day, 2.5 years later, those wedding decorations and those same Rubbermaid’s (yes, we bought Rubbermaid’s with my wedding fund for storage) have been used countless times. Parties, high school dance dinners, weddings, receptions, you name it.
And you know what? As the oldest of EIGHT kids, my hope was the lanterns would last for at least my brother’s wedding someday… just to save a bit of cash for my parents. It blessed us countless times for sure. My mom just graduated last month, helped me set up my blog AND started a wedding & party rental business!!!!
I would like to say my decorations started it all…. Ha!! But I know my Mom Has always loved decorations. She is just patient. I would buy decorations as soon as I get as had earned enough to buy stuff at the store. Was it smart? Nope! Is it a waste money? Well, that’s debatable. To some it sounds frivolous, to others, well honestly, it’s up to them.
Thankfully my husband not only appreciates my “need” to create and decorate but he encourages me. And he sacrifices to do so. Be it eating out at a restaurant, forgoing fun events, or waiting to buy work boots for a month, he does it for me and it means the world.
The best thing is decorating and feeling SO FULL of life ….and then Blake home from work, walking through the door, as I watch his eyes literally SMILE as he looks around at my decorations. He really cares!!
So there you have it, my wedding decorations were my start to all this.
I hope you can find a bit of inspiration here! I’m all about have useful decor. I light to call it repurpose.
