DIY Summer Party Decorations – beauty without breaking the bank

During the summer months many of us will host or take part in planning a special occasion. From the heady heights of an all-encompassing wedding, to a simple summer supper with friends in the garden, decor will play its important role. And there will be a great many ideas to suit an equally diverse budget. Those who know me well, will recall I am no stranger to budget setting. I think I probably set a budget for almost everything I do and buy which could of course be a dull and restrictive exercise if you allowed it to be. As if to highlight that this simply isn’t the case, join me today as I offer just a few of my inexpensive and decorative ideas in this article; DIY Summer Party Decorations – beauty without breaking the bank…

Recently I was asked to write a guest blog post for Polpier and Penpol a luxury hotel and house situated in the heart of Mevagissey, Cornwall. Weddings and lavish party celebrations at this outstanding venue, are what dreams are made of, so I was delighted to offer a selection of decoration ideas to help personalise a couple’s special day. This week’s post is the article I wrote and whilst throughout reference is made specifically to weddings, you will quickly see these diy summer party decoration ideas are perfectly suited to many a summer celebration. I hope you enjoy your read…

Whether your wedding is to be a grand or intimate affair, one thing is for sure, it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Ask yourself three simple questions when you are planning your special day:

1) How much money do you have to spend?

2) How much time do you have to achieve your goals?

3) How much human resource is available to you?

Perhaps you have family members or friends happy to donate their time and skills as a wedding gift? Don’t be afraid to ask those who are bakers, decorators, crafters, florists or gardeners for contributions of help towards your big day. Nobody wants too many toasters and a team effort can add to the fun and happiness of a successful wedding.

Determining the answers to the three questions I pose, creating a plan around them and then working to that plan, will reward you with a special and individual look for your celebration.

In particular, let’s take a look at personalising tables and room décor. Firstly, decide how you want your wedding décor to look and keep in mind your three simple rules. You could begin by addressing your flower displays. If your budget is small and time is on your side, you could grow a selection of inexpensive and simple blooms of your own from a few seeds or ask your gardening guests if they would so for you. If on the other hand you are short on time, you could look to buying your beautiful blooms locally from a grower or flower market.

Displaying your choice of flora can be done in many personal and budget friendly ways. Recycling and decorating tin cans ahead of the big day is a fun way for everyone to get involved. Painting each tin to compliment your colour scheme and adding a pretty rag ribbon for a decorative finish can have a stunning effect. You can use paint left over from a decorating project or buy sample pots so this doesn’t become too costly. Fabrics can be found at charity shops, flea markets and car boot sales, or you may have your own stash – for example the dress you no longer wear – which will add to the sentiment of the day.

Recycling doesn’t have to stop at tin cans. Glass jam jars and small bottles collected in advance make wonderful flower vessels. Maybe a friend who writes beautifully, could lend a hand and scribe the wedding couples’ names on torn strips of fancy paper. Try typing simple messages directly onto scraps of pretty linen and cotton and attach decoratively with ribbon or glue. Use in groups or individually for flowers and essential candles on your tables.

Another simple and effective idea for table décor is beautiful decoupage on tin cans. Decorative paper napkins, tissue paper and pretty gift wrap are all suitable materials to use and each tin will look perfect complete with colour co-ordinating string. Use to hold essential cutlery and napkins on tables or food and drinks stations. These versatile vessels can be used to store bright paper drinking straws or pens and crayons for younger guests. And filled with small sticks of rock or sweets, they would appeal to guests of any age.

And if children are joining your special day, remember to keep them occupied throughout the speeches. Try dressing your tables with rolls of brown craft paper or simple white disposable table cloths and encourage a game or two of snakes and ladders, dot-to-dot or maybe even a happy drawing of the special couple. You may end up with some portraits that make you smile as much as the official wedding photos.

When it comes to decorating your room or gazebo, bunting and garlands are always a clever choice. For an inexpensive option, invest in or borrow a large hole punch; a star shape, flower or heart makes a perfect template. Keeping your own theme in mind, choose from newsprint or brown parcel paper for a rustic look or candy coloured card or floral paper for a more vibrant decor and get punching. If you are handy with a sewing machine or know someone who is, join the shapes together in a simple running stich to your required length. A similar effect can be achieved by sticking two shapes either side of clear wire or twine with PVA glue. String and layer lots of bunting for a fuller effect or stick to one single length if your look is more minimal. Add fairy lights to create a magical mood as the evening draws in.

You could try your hand at a more traditional fabric bunting, choosing colours and textures to suit your day. Leave simple raw edges showing or tidy up with a quick running stitch on the machine or even by hand. Remember your resource and time rules and maybe ask a crafty friend to donate their time as your wedding gift.

And as dusk falls on your magical day, remember to subtly light up trees and magical pathways as well as your tables, with the help of decorative tin cans and glass jars once again. Your choice of jars will look particularly effective decorated with glass paint selecting a design as flamboyant or simple as you like. And if you don’t have resource or budget for glass painting, reach once again for delightful rag ribbons or simple string.

Whether your search is for diy summer party decorations or for a forthcoming wedding, on-line search engine’s like Pinterest are full of fabulous ideas. And for a wedding you could create an old-fashioned scrap book with endless magazine cuttings and leaflets you collect in the build up to your big day. This could also become the prettiest and most personal of keepsakes for the future. And don’t forget your local library for a wonderful selection of old and new books packed with ideas to make your wedding day as unique and as special as you would like it to be.

And finally, last week’s alfresco dining tablescapes blog post, offers yet more ideas for beautiful and inexpensive diy summer party decorations to add to your repertoire this season.

I do hope you are able to take just one or perhaps more ideas from these two blog posts to help with your diy summer party decorations this summer. Inside or out, these simple ideas can help create an individual look for many a summer celebration. And if you do try any of these ideas, do tag me on Instagram or add a comment or two to these blog posts. Seeing your ideas spring to life is a wonderful way to share within our community. I am taking my summer break for the next two weeks and will be back on Thursday 4th July with a brand new story for you. I know this will be one blog post you will not want to miss. Until next time…x