One of the major questions you could end up asking yourself after planning a wedding is: "What am I going to do with all of this stuff?" Without realizing it, you may have accumulated a bunch of things that you really don't need after the wedding is over. So - what should you do with all of that stuff? The following are four different ways in which you can recycle your wedding decorations:
Give
Simply give your decorations away. Did you have your sister admiring your centerpieces? A friend obsessed with your floral? An engaged couple asking where you got your table runners? Make their night and offer some of your stuff up! Think of it this way - these things can double as wedding favors to some of your guests. For example, you could give away floral arrangements to your immediate family. Plus, giving away certain things the night of is a quick way to lower the amount of things you are taking home with you.
Donate
Various charitable organizations would be willing to accept things from your wedding that they might be able to utilize for future endeavors - whether that be within their building or at their future fundraisers!
Repurpose
Save your favorite decorations from the night and find fun, unique ways to repurpose these things to utilize them within your house. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
Have leftover cups, vases, stands, mason jars, etc.? Use these as glassware within your home. These can be unique glasses for water, wine, etc.
Every couple will have memorable items that they will end up keeping - cake toppers, bouquets, charms, invitations , champagne glasses, etc. Get a shadow box that matches the other decorations in your home and place these items within that. This is something you would be able to display or hang within your home to have a constant memory of your big day.
Leftover runners/designs/monogrammed items? You could turn these into pillows or have the monogram, design or quote framed and hang it in your house.
Have Mr. and Mrs. chair decor? Hang these above your bed, put them on your nightstands or in a display case.
Extra candles and candle holders can be kept in storage - you can break them out and use them on special occasions or holidays to dress up your dinner table. The same goes for any extra place settings that you might have (i.e. chargers).
Sell
If nothing else, you could just sell your decorations. There are many couples out there who probably have the same taste in decorations as you, so why not have those couples buy your decorations? There are many sites out there to sell these things to people hoping to use them for their own wedding. The following are a few options:
Facebook Groups - there are various wedding garage sale groups out there. Here's one for the Sioux Falls area: Sioux Falls Wedding Rummage