Whimsical Wedding Decor: Unique Ways To Upcycle Old Windows After Replacement

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Planning a wedding is both exciting and stressful. From the initial cost of booking the venue to ordering invitations and buying the dress, it is easy to have overwhelming emotions and high expenses. If you are currently planning your wedding, it is important to find ways to save money. Considering Americans created an estimated 251 million tons of trash in 2012 alone, recycling old building materials into unique decorations after window replacement is a great way to cut costs.  

If you want a whimsical wedding that includes romantic lighting and rustic decorations, consider using old windows and shutters. Using this guide, you can upcycle old windows into inexpensive wedding decorations.

Romantic Lighting

Your wedding should celebrate love with hints of romance around your venue. While many brides opt for professional lighting systems for their elaborate celebration, multiple fixtures of subtle lighting adds a romantic touch to your special day. To create unique light fixtures with old window frames, complete the following steps:

1. Gather a variety of window frames and remove the glass of each frame. Be sure to wear work gloves and safety goggles to protect your eyes from glass shards. Use a hammer to break out the glass. Using the back of the hammer, remove the leftover glass pieces from the corners.
2. Sand down the entire frame with fine sandpaper.
3. Apply a coat of paint to each frame and allow to dry overnight. If you prefer a rustic look, leave the frames in their original state.
4. Attach a hanging bracket on each end of the frame. Loop the hanging chain through the brackets.
5. Loop multiple strings of battery-operated lights through each window frame. Be sure to connect ends, as needed.
6. Using the attached bracket and chains, hang the lighted frames from various areas of your venue's ceiling.

Rustic Art

A rustic-themed wedding is one of the most popular trends in the industry today. Centered on distressed wood, barn receptions, and DIY decor, the benefits of a rustic wedding are easy to see.  Thankfully, you can enhance your rustic theme with art upcycled from old windows. Here are a few options to consider:

• Backdrop – Create a backdrop using window frames and shutters. Arrange window frames and old shutters in mismatched patterns on a wall of your venue. Attach to the wall with nails or wood screws. Leave the materials in their existing distressed state to complete the rustic look. Ask guests to hang greeting cards or well wishes on the shutter openings for a whimsical display.
• Photo Gallery – Window frames make great frames for photos. Gather photos of you and your future spouse as babies, children, teenagers, and as a couple. After cleaning the glass panes, attach photos to back of the panes using small drops of clear glue. Use multiple windows to create a large photo gallery that is enjoyable for guests of your reception.
• Reception Signs – Entertain your guests with rustic signs at your reception. After cleaning and drying the glass panes, add messages using acrylic or enamel paint in colors that match your theme. Add humor with messages such as, "Eat, Drink, and Be Married" or "Buffet, Booze, and Bad Dance Moves!"
• Ceremony Signs - Use your windows to create signs for your ceremony. Use paint to stencil a traditional message on the glass such as, "Today, two families become one, so choose a seat, not a side."

It is important to create a wedding that displays shared love and your unique personality. However, you do not need to use expensive decorations. Using these unique window upcycles, you can create whimsical wedding décor without a big expense. 

3 April 2015