I Saved $5,000 on My Wedding by Thrifting These 10 Decor Items

Forget paying $20 to $50 a pop for generic glass vases from a floral supplier. Thrift stores are an absolute goldmine for unique containers. You can find everything from elegant cut-glass vases to quirky ceramic pots, brass goblets, and vintage tins. The secret is to go in with a vision but an open mind.

What to Hunt For:

• Glassware of all shapes: Look for bud vases, hurricane lamp glass, and classic cylinders. Even better, find colored glass that matches your wedding palette.
• Brass & Silver: Don’t be afraid of a little tarnish. A good polish can make an old brass pot or silver-plated goblet look like a million bucks.
• Unique Shapes: Think outside the vase. Old trophies, vintage teapots, and decorative tins can all be repurposed into show-stopping centerpieces.

My best find was a box of 20 assorted small glass bottles for $10. That’s $0.50 each! A quick wash and they were perfect for single stems on every cocktail table.

Nothing says romance like candlelight, but the cost of new candle holders adds up fast. Thrift stores are overflowing with them. From mismatched brass candlesticks that create a warm, eclectic vibe to dramatic candelabras that can serve as a major centerpiece, the options are endless. I scored a massive, five-arm brass candelabra for $15 that would have easily cost $150+ new.

Pro Thrifting Tip:

Don’t stick to one style. Collecting a variety of brass, glass, and even wooden candle holders in different heights adds so much more visual interest and depth to your tablescapes than a matching set ever could. It looks intentional and high-end, not cheap.

Custom wedding signs are a huge expense. A simple ‘Welcome’ sign can run you $75 or more. The hack? Thrifted picture frames. Look for ornate, vintage frames with interesting details. With a can of spray paint (gold is always a winner) and a custom printout from your home computer or a cheap print shop, you have high-end signage for pennies on the dollar.

How I Used Them:

• Large frames for the welcome sign, gift table, and bar menu.
• Medium 5×7 or 8×10 frames for table numbers.
• A collection of small, intricate frames for a photo display of our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos.

This single hack saved me at least $400 on signage alone.

Want to level up from picture frames? Hunt for a large, old mirror. A beautiful, oversized mirror with a detailed frame makes for the most elegant welcome sign or seating chart. All you need is a chalk marker or a friend with good handwriting (or order a custom vinyl decal online for cheap). These statement pieces look incredibly expensive but can often be found for under $50 at a secondhand furniture store or estate sale. After the wedding, you have a gorgeous piece of decor for your home. It’s a win-win.

A single new cake stand can cost $50-$100. If you’re doing a dessert bar with multiple treats, that cost multiplies. The thrift store is your best friend here. Look for vintage milk glass stands, simple ceramic plates you can glue to a thrifted candlestick, or even tiered serving trays. Mismatching is key—it creates that effortless, curated look. I built my entire dessert display with five different stands I found for a total of $25.

Renting linens is a sneaky budget-killer. Buying them new is even worse. The solution? Get creative at the thrift store. You might not find 20 matching tablecloths, but you can find incredible table runners. Look in the curtain and bedding sections. A vintage lace curtain panel? That’s four table runners right there. A beautiful flat sheet with a subtle pattern? Instant tablecloth for the head table. You have to use your imagination, but the savings are massive.

This is one of my favorite decor hacks for adding height and personality to centerpieces. Head to the book section and look for old, hardcover books. Don’t worry about the title; judge them by their covers. Find books in your wedding colors, remove the paper jackets, and you have beautiful, textural objects. Stack two or three, tie them with twine or a silk ribbon, and place a small vase or a few candles on top. It’s an instant, intellect-chic centerpiece for less than $5.

If you’re having a smaller wedding or just want to outfit your head table with something special, thrifting glassware is the move. Instead of boring, uniform water glasses, imagine a collection of mismatched, colorful vintage goblets. Each guest gets a unique glass. It’s a fantastic detail that makes the tablescape pop and serves as a great conversation starter. You can often find them for $1-$2 a piece.

A ceremony backdrop can be a huge focal point and a huge cost. Think creatively. I’ve seen people thrift old wooden doors, antique room dividers, or even large macrame wall hangings to use as the base for their arch. Attach some flowers or flowing fabric, and you have a one-of-a-kind backdrop that tells a story. It’s way more interesting than a generic rental arch and costs a fraction of the price.

Every wedding needs a few functional-yet-stylish pieces of furniture: a table for the guest book, a small stand for the programs, or a cool chair for the photo booth. Renting these can be hundreds of dollars. Instead, look for a small, unique piece at a thrift or antique store. A vintage side table, a set of nesting tables, or a single, statement-making velvet armchair can add a massive dose of personality for a small price tag. And just like the mirror, it’s something you can use in your home forever.

Talk is cheap, so let’s look at the numbers. This is a conservative breakdown of what my decor would have cost if I bought it new or from typical wedding suppliers versus what I actually paid. The proof is in the savings.

Finding these gems isn’t about luck; it’s about strategy. You need a game plan to thrift your wedding decor efficiently.

The Rules of the Hunt:

1. Start Early: Give yourself at least 6-8 months. Thrifting is a marathon, not a sprint. This gives you time to wait for the perfect items to appear without getting stressed.
2. Have a Vision, Not a Checklist: Know your color palette and overall vibe (e.g., ‘moody romantic,’ ‘boho chic,’ ‘classic vintage’). This allows you to spot items that fit the mood, even if they aren’t what you were explicitly looking for.
3. Go Beyond Goodwill: Your local thrift store is great, but expand your search. The real magic is often found on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and at local estate sales and flea markets. Set up keyword alerts on apps for things like ‘brass candlesticks’ or ‘vintage mirror.’
4. The ‘Ugly’ Test: Learn to see potential. Can that hideous gold frame be spray-painted matte black? Can that dusty candelabra be polished to a brilliant shine? A little DIY work transforms cheap finds into luxe decor.
5. The Storage Plan: Designate a corner of your garage or a few storage bins for your wedding finds. Keeping it all in one place helps you see your collection grow and visualize how it will all come together.