The Second Time Around

Vintage Wedding Décor UpCycling

One may think that the art of converting what you have lying around into amazing décor for your vintage-themed wedding is something best left to the experts. Well, special wedding décor experts from all over the world have shared a few ways in which you can use up-cycling to transform your wedding into a vintage fantasy! Angie Saaiman, from My Pretty Vintage, in Cape Town, South Africa suggests raiding granny’s cupboard as a fun way to find lots of gems that are hidden way.

Learn how to upcycle your forgotten vintage treasures to create gorgeous wedding décor for your vintage wedding! Here are a few of their vintage up-cycling tips for your wedding decor:

1. From old bottles to vintage vases

 

(Above Left) Message in a Bottle Styled by: A Vintage Wedding | (Above Right) Vintage vases shot by Laura Jane Photography

 

• Transform jam jars, glass bottles or tins into Vases – “Instead of throwing away old jam jars, glass bottles or tins – give them a clean and use them to display bunches of flowers on your big day. It is easy and cheap and they can be decorated with any ribbon, lace or string you have lying around.” – A Vintage Wedding, in Essex, UK
• Give glass bottles and tins a new lick of paint – Give any old glass bottles “a new lease on life with a coat of paint in your wedding colours and use them for the flowers on your table. Tins could also be used in the same way.” – Blank Canvas, in Cape Town, South Africa

2. Reuse and Renew

 

(Above Left) Succulent Table Numbers | Styled by: Blank Canvas Event and Design | Shot by: Corli Sadie for A is my Letter Photography | (Above Right) Old Suitcase Seating Plan | Styled by: Aleit Wedding Co-ordination | Shot by: Sybrand Cillie Photography 

• Reuse crockery, crates, pots and plates – “Reuse vintage trophies, antique tea cups, baskets, wooden crates, mis-matched crockery, broken plates and terracotta pots” – Aleit Wedding Co-ordination, in Cape Town, SA
• Hunt around for “anything broken and unused such as a rusted wheel barrow in the back yard or an overused wooden ladder.” – Aleit Wedding Co-ordination, in Cape Town, SA
• Old wooden doors or benches – “Grandpa’s old workbench from the garage or even an old door can be used.” – Event & Design, in Cape Town, South Africa

• Whitewash wooden furniture – Go all out by “whitewashing old furniture to produce some gorgeous statement pieces.” – Events by Heidi & Kate, in New South Wales, Australia
• Wedding cake heirlooms – “Take things from your mom’s wedding cake detail.” – Aleit Wedding Co-ordination, in Cape Town, SA

 
Vintage books wrapped in doily’s and vintage silver tea pot shot by Lauren Kriedemann

• Convert Old Books into Table Décor  – “Stack old books wrapped in soft lace and drape pearls and ribbon to cascade down the table.” – My Pretty Vintage, in Cape Town, South Africa
• “Vintage tablecloths can also be cut up to make beautiful linen napkins.” – Blank Canvas, in Cape Town, South Africa

3. Mix Glassware, Silverware and Flowers

• “Silver tea pots are a fun way of displaying flowers as your centre table pieces.” – My Pretty Vintage, in Cape Town, South Africa
• “Raid your grandmother’s closet and use crystal glassware and silver as part of the look and feel, which could be used for the ceremony or the reception.” – Aleit Wedding Co-ordination, in Cape Town, SA
• Confetti flower petals are a great way of adding a fresh twist to a vintage themed wedding.

“Have fun and use your resources. Follow your gut, and be true to who you are.” – Johnny Hamman, from Aleit Wedding Co-ordination, in Cape Town, SA