While it’s true that the big-ticket items like the venue, dress, and catering take center stage, it’s the little things that add that extra sparkle to your big day. As someone who’s planned a DIY backyard wedding from start to finish, I’m here to share the essential small items you shouldn’t overlook – for both your ceremony AND your reception!
So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty, with little DIY tips throughout (because… you can’t be the Savvy Swaréy without a budget-savvy twist!😉).
━━━━━➤ And, before you go, be sure to subscribe so you can access ALL my free planning resources, including my printable DIY wedding planning checklist, and get extra tips, tricks, and new ideas delivered to your inbox.
10 Little things you need for a wedding ceremony
First, let’s talk about the little things you need for a wedding ceremony. Don’t forget to make a plan to execute these little details. We’ll talk about each one in more depth – so keep reading!
- Guestbook
- Signage
- Ceremony programs
- Wedding ceremony entrance decorations
- Wedding ceremony arch swag
- Aisle decorations
- Ring box
- Flower Girl Basket
- Vow Books
- Marriage License
1. Wedding guestbook
A wedding guestbook is a wonderful keepsake to remember all your family and friends who celebrated this once in a lifetime occasion. Incorporate this either at the ceremony, or at your reception (your choice!), and you don’t have to stick to the traditional guest book format either. Consider these budget-savvy wedding guestbook alternatives!
- Polaroid Guestbook: Set up a station with a Polaroid camera, markers, and a blank scrapbook. Guests can snap a photo and leave a message.
- Jenga Pieces: Have guests sign Jenga pieces for a fun and interactive memento.
- Coffee Table Book: Rather than the traditional guestbook, why not find a fun book of places you want to travel to keep on your coffee table for guests to sign?!
2. Ceremony signage
Clear, stylish signage helps guide your guests to your wedding ceremony and enhances your decor. Consider incorporating these signs into your plans:
- Welcome sign: Typically a welcome sign includes your names, your wedding date, and the location, but you can also consider incorporating a timeline of your ceremony (and ditch the programs), or a personal letter to your guests!
- Reserved signs for VIP guests: Create small “reserved” signs to hang from the chairs of your VIP guests (like your parents, grandparents and other close relatives).
- Unplugged ceremony sign: Use signage to let your guests know that you want them to be present and to keep their phones away (totally optional!)
- Parking: Is there designated spaces your guests need to park for your wedding ceremony? Let them know where they can park with specific signage!
- Directional Signage: Is your ceremony a bit of a hike from guest parking? Directional signs (typically staked in the ground) can help get your guests to the right place.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA:
For easy and affordable wedding signage, thrift a variety of old frames. Spray paint them all the same color, if you can’t find frames that all match!
Then, design your signs on Canva and print them at home to pop into your frames. You can even use larger frames for your welcome sign and seating chart by replacing the print or painting over it!
3. Ceremony programs
Ceremony programs provide your guests with information about the bridal party and a timeline of the wedding ceremony, so they know what to expect.
These can be kept super simple and informative, or ditched altogether if you’re keeping your ceremony short and sweet.
━━━━━➤ DIY IDEA: If you’re having a summer wedding, a nice little touch that’s super easy to DIY is to turn your programs into fans like the ones pictured!
4. Wedding ceremony entrance decor
If you’re having your ceremony indoors, chances are there’s a nice beautiful entrance already built in. If you’re having your ceremony OUTDOORS though, consider creating an entrance to walk through.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: A simple arch, or even a couple pedestals (or wine barrels) with flower arrangements set on top would create that WOW moment when you and your bridal party walk down the aisle.
5. Wedding ceremony arch swag
Decorate your wedding arch for stunning ceremony photos with either floral arrangements, greenery, or simple swags using fabric that matches your aesthetic and color palette.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: Head to your craft store, find a fabric you like, and get 10 yards of fabric cut that you can wrap around your arch.
6. Aisle Decorations
Line your aisle with simple aisle markers such as small hanging bouquets, ribbons, or even flower petals.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: For my wedding, we got flower petals from Costco. They were super affordable, came a few days early, and just needed to be refrigerated until we were ready to sprinkle them along the aisle.
7. Ring box
Don’t forget to grab a box for your rings! Whether you’ve got a ring bearer, or you’re entrusting them with your best man, a box is a smart idea to keep them secure (and also provides a great detail photo opp for your wedding photographer!)
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: Check out your local thrift stores for unique vintage boxes to use for your rings. It may save you some money, and also put a personalized touch on this wedding detail!
8. Flower girl basket
Your cute little flower girl needs a cute little basket to carry all those petals in!
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: This is an easy one to find at any thrift store! You can usually find a sweet little basket that’s perfect for your flower girl for under $2!
9. Vow books
Writing your own vows? Keep them secure on your wedding day while providing a nice keepsake to look at long after you say your “I Dos” by grabbing or making vow books.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: Consider making your own vow books using heavy duty cardstock or cardboard! Check out the Modern DIY Bride’s tutorial here!
10. Marriage License
Last, but definitely not least, is your marriage license. DO. NOT. FORGET. THIS. Honestly, if it’s the one thing you remember, remember this! Set a reminder in your phone RIGHT NOW to make sure you don’t leave this at home!
10 Little things you need for a wedding reception
Next, let’s discuss all the little things you need for a wedding reception. Keep in mind, many of these items are dependent on the type of celebration you’re hosting. These are merely details to consider based on your vision and the experience you want to create for you and your guests. We’ll get in depth on each of these, so keep on reading!
- Signage
- Centerpieces
- Serving ware
- Place cards
- Favors
- Lighting
- Guest photo capture plan
- Menus
- Disposable supplies
- Confetti (or sparklers, or bubbles) for your exit
1. Wedding Reception Signage
Signage is an important element of your plans for both your ceremony and reception. Here is a list of the signage to consider for your reception! (see the list above if you missed it for your ceremony!)
- Seating chart
- Table numbers:
- Gift sign
- Buffet signs
- Dessert signs
- Favor sign
- Bar sign
2. Centerpieces
There are so many options for wedding reception centerpieces, including non-floral centerpieces that you can easily DIY instead of shelling out BIG bucks for fancy flower arrangements. Find inspiration at the links below!
3. Wedding reception serving ware
Don’t forget serving ware! And when I say serving ware, I’m talking about all the things you’ll use to serve your guests food and rinks.
Here’s are some serving ware considerations:
- Chafing dishes
- Bunsen burners (to keep buffets warm)
- Serving utensils (ladles, tongs, etc.)
- Tiered display stands (great for displaying desserts!)
- Water decanters (great for having at each table for self-service water refills)
- Beverage dispensers
- Wine and champagne chillers
4. Place cards
Help your guests find their seats using name place cards! These can be displayed at a table instead of a seating chart with their table number assignment, OR you can use them at your tables to assign your guests specific seating (great for a mixed crowd where Uncle Joe doesn’t get along great with Aunt Sue!).
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: Simple create them on Canva using a pretty scripted font and print them at home on heavy duty cardstock. OR, get creative and with materials like leaves, stones, or mini chalkboards.
5. Guest favors
Many couples choose to nix favors altogether; however, if you’d like to show a little extra appreciation for your guests, budget-friendly favors like homemade cookies, small potted plants, or DIY candles are always a nice touch.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA:
Allow your decorations to pull double duty! One of my favorite ideas I’ve seen is a couple who made all of her guests a bud vase arrangement and displayed them for their guests to take.
The guests took their arrangements to their tables (creating sweet eclectic wedding centerpieces) and then got to take them home afterwards!
6. Lighting
Good lighting creates the perfect ambiance. Consider:
- Fairy Lights: Affordable and magical, string them around your venue.
- Candles: Use LED candles for a safe and budget-friendly option.
- Lanterns: Paper lanterns are both charming and inexpensive.
7. Guest photo capture plan
Even though you’ve likely hired a professional photographer, there’s a lot they’ll miss because they can’t be everywhere at once! One of my favorite wedding trends is to set-up a Google Drive where your guests can dump all the photos they take at your wedding. All you need to do is create a sign with a QR code that prompts them to do so and links to the drive you setup.
━━━━━➤ DIY IDEA:
Create a tri-fold display that pulls triple duty like this one from @diyupcycleddesigns that I shared on my Instagram.
On one side, include the table number, the other side, include a personal thank you note to your guests, and on the last side, your guest photo capture prompt and QR code!
Another great way to get guest photos is a stationery photobooth – a modern wedding staple. A photobooth adds a fun element to your reception and all you need are props and a backdrop.
8. Menus
Guest menus are a nice-to-have touch for your wedding reception, no matter if you’re having a sit-down dinner, or a more affordable buffet.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: Design your own menu using free online tools like Canva. Print them at home or use a budget-friendly online printer.
9. Disposable Supplies
This can often go overlooked, especially if you’re planning a celebration at a DIY wedding venue without full service food and beverage. Disposable supplies at your bar and dessert stations are great for cutting down on the number of china and utensils you need to rent. Here are disposable supplies to consider:
- Wine glasses
- Beer glasses
- Champagne flutes
- small plates for apps and desserts
- silverware for apps and desserts
- napkins for the bar and dessert stations
10. Confetti (or alternative) for your exit
Planning a dramatic exit? Don’t forget your confetti (or sparklers or bubbles!)
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: Make your own eco-friendly confetti by simply choosing some leaves and using a hole punch. One leaf will create plenty of confetti pieces that can be used immediately or dried to preserve for later.
5 More Little things you need for a wedding
Did you think we were done?! Almost, but not quite. Just a few more things you need to prep for your wedding! As always, we’ll go in depth on each, so read on!
- Weather plan
- Guest comfort details
- Emergency kit
- Thank you notes
- Vendor Tips
1. Weather Plan
It’s actually a biggie, but I’m including it on the list so you DON’T FORGET! It’s incredibly important to have a plan B for inclement weather on your wedding day.
2. Guest comfort details
- Bathroom Baskets: Consider putting together small bathroom basket with amenities your guests might need, like spray deodorant, bobby pins, hair spray, and breath mints.
- Bug Spray: Planning an outdoor reception? Bug spray is a must to keep your guests comfy and itch-free!
- Tissues for Tears: Place small packets of tissues in a basket for guests to grab as they shed happy tears when you say I do!
3. An Emergency Kit
Be prepared for any wedding day mishaps with an emergency kit. Here’s a few ideas for stocking your kit!
- Safety pins
- Sewing kit
- Stain remover pen
- Band-aids
- Pain relievers
- Hair ties and bobby pins
━━━━━➤ DIY TIP: Put together your own kit using travel-size products and a cute pouch or travel organizer.
4. Thank You Notes
Last but not least, prep your thank you notes to show your appreciation to your guests and vendors who made the day possible.
━━━━━➤ BUDGET-SAVVY IDEA: Buy blank cards in bulk and personalize them with a handwritten message.
5. Vendor Tips
For vendors who went especially above and beyond, including a tip is an extra way to show how much you loved their service and support.
25 Little Things You Need for a Wedding
To sum it all up, here are 25 little things you need for a wedding (some a little bigger than others, and some totally optional). Hopefully this list helps you pin down all the details for your big day!
- Guestbook
- Ceremony Signage
- Programs
- Ceremony entrance decorations
- Ceremony arch swag
- Aisle decorations
- Ring box
- Flower girl basket
- Vow books
- Marriage license
- Reception signage
- Centerpieces
- Serving ware
- Place cards
- Favors
- Lighting
- Guest photo capture plan
- Menus
- Disposable supplies
- Confetti (or alternative) for your exit
- Weather plan
- Guest comfort details
- Emergency kit
- Thank you notes
- Vendor tips
Don’t let the little things slip through the cracks! These details can make a big impact on your celebration. For more budget-savvy and DIY wedding planning ideas, subscribe to access my DIY wedding planning hub and get your hands on a comprehensive printable checklist.
Let’s make your wedding unforgettable without breaking the bank!
Happy Planning!
The Savvy Swaréy