Create an everlasting life for your big-day buys
From gorgeous floral displays to elaborate signage to table decor, many wedding items may survive in your credit card statement and landfills, but only there.
“The average US wedding produces approximately 400 pounds of waste,” said Melodie Foley, a senior associate producer at Naturally Yours Events. “With about 2.3 million weddings each year, that adds up to over 1.5 billion pounds of waste annually.”
It doesn’t have to be that way. “By extending the lifespan of this once-in-a-lifetime day, couples can increase the long-term value of their financial investment while significantly reducing their environmental impact,” said Foley. Ahead, we tapped wedding planners and vendors alike to find out creative reuses for wedding day purchases.
Heart of glass
“The resulting shards represent the destruction of the holy Jewish temple in a long-ago past, but also the breaking of one soul into two parts. These two parts then must find their way on this earth to each other to become one again,” said Keith Willard, owner of Keith Willard Events in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
You can turn your smashed glass into art (ideally you will have picked a colorful glass, but anything works). Willard sent pieces from his wedding to London artist Eva Edery to create a glass heart sculpture, but you can find plenty of vendors on sites like Etsy or by visiting a local Judaica store.
One of our favorites is Love and Latkes, helmed by Randee Kushner in Chicago, who repurposes shards into candlestick holders, art and mezuzahs (from $75). Or opt for Modern Tribe (from $60), which can create a mezuzah, kiddush cup, paperweight and other keepsakes.
Flower power
You spent a lot of money and time picking out floral details at your nuptials (remember the arch and centerpiece sticker shock?), so don’t throw them away post-party. Vendors make everything from framed flower art and coasters to ring dishes and jewelry out of dried flowers.
Amelia Kovacs, CEO and founder of Element Design Co.’s Pressed Bouquet Shop, creates pressed floral pieces (starting at $70) from her Easton, Pa., studio. Since the company’s inception in 2019, they’ve upcycled flowers for over 15,000 clients.
Another solid artisan is Foley’s top pick, Moments to Memories, based in Chicago. She especially loves the custom bookend set ($500).
Still have more flowers to spare? Amy Abbott, founder and CEO of Amy Abbott Events in Los Cabos, Mexico, points us to Hive Fragrance Studio Cabo, which turns your wedding flowers into a bespoke perfume.
Cloth keepsakes
Many Jewish and mixed-religion couples stomp on a wine glass at their wedding ceremony, a custom that holds beautiful meaning as a reminder that even on your happiest days there are those experiencing deep sorrow.
Cassie LaMere, founder and creative director of Cassie LaMere Events in Austin, Texas, urges brides and grooms to re-evaluate using tableware rentals for their weddings, since in a small wedding setting, couples can invest in reception essentials that become prized additions to their home.
Consider purchasing embroidered linen napkins or tablecloths featuring your monogram or crest, LaMere said. “Every time they set the table, they’ll be reminded of their special day, sparking memories and conversations with loved ones.”
Art of the matter
Sure, you could spend hundreds of dollars on a custom “Just married” sign, but why not pick wedding signage that you want to display at home, too?
Abbott believes that wedding day art can offer the perfect blend of creativity, practicality and longevity. For instance, custom-painted Veuve Clicquot bottles that match your wedding’s aesthetic can double as elegant bar decor at your reception and as statement pieces in your home. Table signage can become a collage or gallery wall display.
“In one unforgettable wedding, we designed modern place cards and menus inspired by MoMA,” said Abbott. “Post-wedding, the bride framed these pieces to create a dynamic gallery wall in her home. She … loves the endless compliments it draws from visitors.”
Or make a large-scale artwork. “One of our clients, deeply devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe, commissioned a stunning painting of her. It served as a breathtaking photo backdrop at the wedding and now hangs proudly in her home, a constant reminder of the celebration,” Abbott said, noting that for the same client, she incorporated her love for butterflies by designing over 3,000 custom acrylic butterflies.
“These beautiful accents enhanced her wedding’s ambience and were later repurposed into her home decor — a happy, whimsical reminder of the day,” she said.
