Stephanie Nelson | Updated

22 Dollar Store Wedding Hacks That'll Save You Hundreds

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It’s no secret that weddings are freakishly expensive.

But there’s no reason you can’t have the wedding of your dreams while staying within your wedding budget.

The secret? Our best friend, the dollar store. Here’s how to cut your wedding costs by making the dollar store your BFF.

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1. Fill paper lunch bags with LED lights to make lanterns.

 

2. Decorate bride and groom champagne glasses for the toast.

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Basically all you need is a little bit of black paint and some tulle.

Here’s the tutorial.

 

3. Make cupcake stands out of plates and candleholders.

cupcake stand1

Use strong adhesive rated for glass — like E6000 — to attach candleholders to plates.

TIP: You can also use this to make a cake stand if you use a pie pan instead of plates.

 

4. Make a paper lantern using cupcake liners.

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Via Make Haus

The color possibilities are endless, too!

Here’s the tutorial.

 

 

5. Buy pillar candles — they’re cheaper than they are at craft stores.

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Via Aphrocattery

You can get sweet deals on pillar candles at Walmart, but nobody beats the dollar store here.

Learn more ways to save on candles like tea lights and jar candles.

 

6. Put fairy lights to work being fabulous inside dollar store jars.

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Via Pinterest

Amazon offers decent prices on fairy lights — you can get them for a little over a dollar per string.

 

7. Make lanterns out of dollar store frames and spray paint.

What happens when hot glue and dollar frames meet a little bit of spray paint? Lantern magic.

Here’s the tutorial.

 

8. Put together a DIY hot chocolate bar.

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Via Prudent penny pincher

You can find all the jars, lids, and shakers you need to make a hot chocolate bar for your guests.

And if you used candy coupons to save on items like marshmallows or hot chocolate powder to round it out, nobody would think you’re too crazy.

Here’s the tutorial.

 

9. Use tea towels as high-class cloth napkins.

tea towels

Tea towels will make your wedding feel like a Williams-Sonoma designer planned it.

And nobody has to know the “napkins” came from the dollar store!

 

10. Spray paint dollar store mason jars, bottles, and vases.

Don’t shy away from metallics and glitter!

 

11. Give plastic serving trays an upgrade with white spray paint and a scrub sponge.

Just rough up the surface of a plastic dollar store tray with a kitchen scrub sponge and then spray paint it!

 

 

12. Make DIY candy jars to display at the reception.

Once you have some terra-cotta pots and globe vases, all that’s left is to decide what color of spray paint to use.

 

13. Use dollar store supplies to fashion classy topiaries.

These are slightly more involved, but worth the effort if you want something that doesn’t even look like it was DIY’ed.

Here’s the tutorial.

 

14. Add water to mason jars to make globes for decor.

These are perfect for a winter wedding, but you could easily use seashells or anything else in order to keep with your wedding theme!

Here’s the tutorial.

 

15. Turn coffee filters into faux roses.

Add a bit of dye if you want colored roses.

Here’s the tutorial.

 

16. Decorate a Hula-Hoop to display photos.

A Hula-Hoop, ribbon, and hot glue make this come to life.

You can also go for dollar store artificial flowers instead of real ones to save extra money.

Here’s the tutorial.

 

RELATED: 22 Things Every Shopper Should Know About Dollar Tree

 

17. Fill centerpiece vases with candies or fake fruit instead of fresh flowers.

After venue costs, catering, and possibly photography, fresh flowers can be one of the most expensive items in your wedding budget.

 

18. Use dollar store ribbons to decorate the backs of chairs.

 

 

19. Transform dollar store bottles and twine into a flower bottle garland.

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Via Modern Gardens Magazine

Here’s the tutorial.

 

20. Use balloons to decorate doorways or create a balloon arch.

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Via Mon Cherie Bridals

You can do so much with balloons, and the best part is you can get them at the dollar store.

Here’s the tutorial.

 

21. Spray paint cheap charger plates rose gold for an instant upgrade.

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Via Southern Events Online

Of course, any color works, but rose gold is just so freaking classy!

 

22. Buy party favor bags and fill them with candy for guests.

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Via The Dollar Tree

The dollar store sells these little bags, and you can customize them however you want to fit your theme.

 

UP NEXT: 15 Wedding Freebies Worth Over $700

stemless wine glasses