When you’re planning a wedding, you put lots of time into planning the ceremony and reception, but you don’t want to overlook planning the minor wedding events that often take place right at your home. Will your home be a staging area, a meeting spot for guests and vendors, or will you be housing guests? If so, you want your home to be clean, welcoming and styled for the big day. These low-cost tips will help you make that happen without blowing your wedding budget.
Cleaning and Decluttering Strategies
Plan to do the bulk of the cleaning a few days ahead of time so you aren’t rushing last minute. Then be prepared to clean up small messes that pop up as you’re prepping. One of the best tools for dealing with these last-minute messes is a handheld vacuum cleaner that is easy to grab in a pinch. Review the best options on the market so that you can make a budget-friendly choice for your big event.
If you want your home to be sparkling for your big day, your best bet is to simply hire qualified cleaning professionals. In addition to carpets and other surface areas, enlist the help of a local professional furniture cleaner. On this site you can check out ratings and customer reviews, which helps start the process of narrowing down your search.
Besides making sure every surface is neat and tidy, Better Homes & Garden notes you also want to clear a path. This is especially important in the entry, where guests will greet each other and are likely to linger. It may help to set up a temporary “drop zone” for coats and bags. If people plan to bring gifts, you may also want to designate a room where they can be stored so the rest of your home stays clutter-free. Don’t forget about last-minute decluttering too such as clearing enough space in the refrigerator and freezer.
Stage Rooms for Function
Another great strategy is to think through how each space will be used and set up furniture and accessories accordingly. We like this party-planning checklist from Real Simple, which suggests arranging furniture for flow. Make your own checklist too based on the events you will be hosting and what items are necessary. For example, if you plan to get ready at home, do you have a full-length mirror, a nice spot to hang your gown and plenty of light? Bridal Musings suggests thinking about those getting ready photos and how each room will look as the backdrop. You can make simple changes like adding light or bringing in some flowers to make your staging space stand out.
One thing you shouldn’t rule out is changing the color of your walls. This may seem like a mission too big to accomplish before your wedding, but there are ways to make it happen. For example, peel-and-stick non-toxic wallpaper comes in different colors, designs, and patterns, giving you plenty of exciting possibilities to explore. And if you make a mistake during the application process, or you have a change of heart and simply want to remove your new designs, peel-and-stick wallpaper can be removed easily.
Make Guests Feel Welcome
If you will have any overnight guests, make sure spare bedrooms and bathrooms are ready to accommodate them. Free up some closet and drawer space so guests can unpack. A storage bench or ottoman is an ideal unpacking spot, but if you don’t have one, get creative about ways to repurpose other items that can be used for unpacking.
Along with a welcoming space, you want guests to have all the amenities they need to feel at home. Stock bathrooms with soaps, lotions and necessities like extra toothbrushes. A sweet touch that is becoming more popular is to put together inexpensive welcome bags, filled with snacks, drinks and details for wedding events.
Make it Special
You put special touches on other wedding events, so why not make your home reflect the same overall feel? All it takes is a few inexpensive decor items to make a big impact on a small budget. For example, coordinating patterned throw pillows make a statement, and the small investment is something you and your spouse will enjoy for years to come. You could also incorporate your wedding colors with throw pillows, or order other decorative elements with your new monogram for truly special items that you will cherish.
Another budget-friendly way to give your home a high-impact ‘wow’ factor is to make wedding flowers do double duty. This goes for the inside and outside. Activities such as the ceremony itself will be taking place outdoors — unless the weather isn’t agreeable — so make every effort to create a memorable setting. This should include sprucing up the landscaping, manicuring the lawn, and perhaps even installing floral umbrellas from Living Canopies for tables or a canopy over the gazebo.
Family photos, candles, and incense or essential oils for a fresh smell are other inexpensive ways to decorate that create a warm finishing touch.
Planning a wedding is no small feat. Getting your home ready for guests may feel like one more to-do, but when the time comes, you will be glad you planned ahead. These smart strategies will get your home ready for your special gatherings to avoid last minute surprises!
Photo credit: Pixabay