9 DIY Wedding Decor Ideas for a Sustainable Celebration

Written by

Tehrene Firman

Published

Weddings can be incredibly wasteful, with each producing an average of 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of carbon dioxide. One of the best sustainable wedding tips for making your big day more planet-friendly? Using what you already have to make eye-catching DIY wedding decor.

From upcycled place cards that utilize terracotta planter trays to whimsical hanging vases made from old light bulbs, these DIY wedding decor ideas are sure to make your guests do a doubletake. Here are some of our favorite projects to replicate.

9 DIY Wedding Decor Ideas to Try

1. DIY Hanging Light Bub Vase

Not sure what to do with burnt-out light bulbs? Turn them into beautiful hanging vases for your wedding! Attach them to twine, fill them with water and your flowers of choice, and hang them in your venue.

2. DIY Floral Photo Hoop

This is such an easy (and pretty!) way to display photos at your wedding. It also upcycles the hula hoop that's been collecting dust in your garage.

3. DIY Thrifted Frame Entrance Sign

You can create the prettiest wedding entrance sign by utilizing a vintage frame you already have, or looking for one at a thrift store. Then all that's left to do is press some flowers between the glass and write your message on it.

4. DIY Upcycled Vase Walkway

When you attach upcycled glass bottles to stakes and fill them with pretty flowers, you get a whimsical walkway for your big day.

5. DIY Wine Cork Place Card Holders

Not sure how to utilize all the wine corks that have built-up while wedding planning? Use them to create place card holders!

6. DIY Hand-Painted Teracotta Place Cards

Make use of all the terracotta planter trays you have and turn them into beautiful place cards. When you hand-paint guests' names on them, they become one-of-a-kind decor.

7. DIY Succulent Love Sign

If you're a plant lady, put your skills toward creating this "LOVE" sign from upcycled wood and succulents. After the wedding is over, you can repot the succulents to enjoy in your home.

8. DIY Dip-Dyed Fabric Placemats

Upcycle pieces of linen by dyeing them with food scraps like avocado skins. You can use this technique to make your placemats any color want so they match the rest of your decor.

9. DIY Leaf Centerpiece

Is there anything more eco-friendly than using leaves in your centerpieces? Paint glass bottles your color of choice using these instructions, then fill each vase with a leaf. It's a creative way to display your table numbers.