Glitz Up Your Wedding with a Few Craft Projects

Just because you're on a budget, while planning your wedding, doesn't mean your wedding has to appear skimpy and cheap. There's lots of ways to add glitz and glamour with little expense, and the fabulous thing is, most of them take little time or knowledge. Take, for example, the wedding veil. If you start with a plastic or fabric-covered headband you're well on your way to having an extraordinary veil.

Measure how much fabric you'll need depending upon the length you want it to be. You'll want to start by measuring up from the veil length in the front, to down the back - or to the floor - depending upon your preferences.

Put the headband on and lay the veil fabric over it, positioning the veil to fall where needed in the front, covering the face. Allow to hang down the back or to the floor. You'll need help to mark the position of the veil on the headband. With a piece of colored chalk, or a disappearing ink marker, draw a line across the veil, where it meets the headband.

Remove the veil fabric and headband from your head. Lay it all out on a table and use fabric glue to attach narrow lace to the perimeter of the netting. Now use the fabric glue to attach the veil, where marked, onto the headband. Then use sequin, pearl beads, or other notions to cover the headband and veil area so the glue won't show. The fabric glue is quick and easy and can also be used to attach small faux jewels to the veil for more glitz. Total cost for the veil: under $20!

Invitations can be very expensive, but order the least expensive, then decorate them yourself. Tie white bows from satin ribbon and attach them to the cards, edge the cards with silver or gold tube paints, even add lace pieces or pearl beads. The invitations will look expensive but save you a bundle.

Roll a piece of thick, patterned or colored paper into a cone. Tape or hot glue to secure. Cut two vertical slits on the backside, and slide a piece of ribbon through. Tie around the ends of pews and fill with fresh or silk flowers. Instead of the cones and flowers, just tie huge bows from gold, silver, white or other wide ribbon. Attach the bows to the ends of the pews. Either look is spectacular and inexpensive.

Choose gold, silver, white or another color of scrapbook paper to make one more cone. Fill with flowers to carry down the aisle. Real flowers should be tied together, then placed in the cone, whereas silk flowers can be hot glued into place, inside the cone. Add strings of pearl beads, ribbon or other notions to the bouquet to make it even more glamorous. Tie one bow, from white satin ribbon, that will hang long.

Make any size tablecloth by simply buying satin or lace fabric then using fabric glue to add a decorative narrow lace border around the perimeter. Add detail by using gold or silver glitter paint to random places on the lace. Or, add faux jewels, sequin or other sparkly notions to the lace.

You can save a bundle on the cake by making it yourself, too. Your cake can be just as glamourous as a bakery cake after finding pillars, silver or gold edible beads, and other wedding cake decor items at a craft supply store. Make 2, 3 or 4 different sizes, each one smaller than the previous, then decorate and stack them yourself. You'll find edible lettering, roses and other cake notions that will really glitz up your cake.

You'll often see candles at weddings but yours don't have to be ordinary. Turn an odd plate upside down and spray paint it gold, silver, or leave it as-is. Place the candle on the plate and surround the bottom with silk flowers, leaves, pearl beads and other notions, using hot glue. Or, just pick up some inexpensive baby girl's headbands - the type which is elasticized and encircles the entire head - and place them around the bottom of the candles. They'll fit great, look great, and cost little at a dollar theme store. They can be made in minutes but will look costly.

Make a fabulous ice ring for the punch at your reception by starting with a gelatin mold or a couple of metal bowls. If you're using the bowls, fill the small one with something weighty, then fill the large one with silk flowers, strands of pearls or small wedding novelties. Cover with water and place in freezer. When it's frozen, remove the small bowl and the large bowl will be holding the ice ring. Using the gelatin mold, just fill it with novelties, add water, and place in freezer. The ice ring makes a beautiful statement with the punch and will hold together until well after the reception.

Take advantage of today's craft shops or craft sections at department stores. They generally have an area that contains many wedding craft supplies, making it easy to create your own theme and designs. You'll also find rhinestones and other faux jewels, glitter, pearl beads, sequin, glitter roping, satin ribbon, scrapbook paper and notions for making your own wedding decorations. You'll save money but your wedding will be glittery and glamourous!