What to Do with Leftover Wedding Supplies

The planning for the big wedding day is over and now you can let out a sigh of relief. But you may have things leftover from the wedding that you know how no immediate need for. Although it will be a little more work, think "Green" and try to find other ways to use no longer needed wedding supplies. You'll prevent dumps from becoming more filled and will save money on other things if you can use materials that you already.

Dress material
I am not a seamstress so I diffidently didn't go this route after my wedding, but I am sure there many talented brides out there that made their wedding gowns or at least pieces of it - the train or veil perhaps? You can always take the train itself along with an extra material you didn't use and save it for the next phase of your life - mommyhood. Sheer trains in particular make beautiful coverings for the baby's bassinet. I still may consider that idea but someone else will have to make it for me! Curtains or table runners for the living room are another great option to use leftover materials or to transform your train into something more lasting rather than stuffed in a closet, never to be worn again.

Tulle
When I got married I wanted to provide a favor that would be pretty and would last awhile so I gave square glass holders with burgandy colored candles inside. I thought they would look a little bland on the table at the wedding so I wrapped them in ivory colored tulle and wrapped them with burgandy satin ribbon. Of course there was tons of tulle left after I finished wrapping all the favors, but I didn't fret. I enjoy making personalized gift baskets for birthdays, Christmas, and other occasions so I just saved the tulle for those occasions. A nice sized basket stuffed with the persons favorite goodies and topped off with fluffy tulle makes a present really appealing. As a bonus, if you have leftover favors you can always use them in the gift basket for an additional presents. I'd recommend giving it to someone who didn't attend your wedding though!

Ribbons and fake flowers
Inevitably you'll have leftover ribbon and possibly even fake flowers from decorations and favors. You can always use those items to accents to birthday presents. Another great use for them would be to add them to cards if you enjoy scrapping booking. Ribbon and fake flowers are add nice accents to birthday cards.

Scrap book
After your wedding of you will have a beautiful wedding album with all the events from the day, but why not make a scrap book of the event and make it more personal? You can add left over personalized napkins, leftover tulle, ribbon, fake flowers, invitations, table placecards, and any other special items from your day.

Your wedding planner
Many brides receive wedding planners for engagement gifts that get filled with names, numbers, and addresses of local wedding vendors, along with photographs of pretty wedding gowns and bridesmaids gowns and so much more. Why let all that go to waste? If you have a friend or family member who is about to get married, why not give it (or at least lend) it to them so they don't have to start from scratch. The book doesn't go to waste and you save a loved one some time.

Table place cards
You know this little folded pieces of paper that sit like a tent next to your favors indicating people's names and what table they will sit at? I had tons of them leftover after our big union. I find them quite useful as a way to identify food on a buffet table at a potluck dinner. You know how people are always saying, "What is that?" "Does that have meat in it?" Well this is great way to identify what's in your dish and use up those leftover place cards.

Be kind
Remember that sometimes we take for granted how fortunate we are but we have to realize that not everyone else is as well off as we are. If you know someone in your church, community, family or wherever that is about to get married but really doesn't have a lot of money, consider donating your decorations and any other materials that were leftover to that couple. The leftovers will allow them to create things the way they like them. Or you can donate your things to the church and they use them when they see fit. When my husband and I got married, we got married at the end of September when all the leaves on the trees are changing. Our church at the time had fake floral arrangements from a Harvest dinner that takes place during Thanksgiving. They held on to those arrangements and let others use them when they wanted to. We were fortunate to have them free of charge for our wedding. You could do the same with your wedding things. Donate them to the church and they may use them for other weddings, theatrical productions as props, or for other events.

Hang on to things for use later
If you really can't part with the beautiful things you used for your wedding, that's ok - those things can still be put to use. Bring them out as decorations for future bridal showers and then put them back in the basement until next time. Others will get the chance to marvel over your pretty decorations and you'll help the bridal party save money on shower decorations. Of course my favorite thing to do with my things is to bring them out for our wedding anniversary and decorate the house with them the way I do for Christmas or Valentine's Day. It's a nice way to celebrate that special day!

Blessings for your future and a wonderful life together!