Incorporating “something borrowed” into your wedding day is not only a meaningful tradition but can also be a sustainable choice. Rather than buying new items, borrowing can add a personal touch while keeping things eco-friendly. Here are 25 borrowed wedding ideas that combine tradition with sustainability…
1. A Family Heirloom
Borrowing a family heirloom—whether it’s a piece of jewellery, a pocket watch, or a brooch—adds a personal and sentimental touch. By using an heirloom, you’re honouring family traditions and history without the need to buy something new. If you’re worried about it fitting in with your style, consider having it cleaned or slightly modified (without altering its original form) to suit your overall look.
2. A Wedding Veil
Many families pass down wedding veils through generations, which can be an emotional and sustainable choice. If it doesn’t quite match your style, you can always make small adjustments like adding new lace or embellishments. Asking your family about the veil’s story can make wearing it even more special, knowing its sentimental history.
3.Vintage Jewellery
Vintage jewellery can add an elegant, timeless touch to your outfit, and borrowing it is both sustainable and sentimental. Whether it’s a family ring or a friend’s bracelet, vintage pieces often carry emotional value. Making the borrowed jewellery the statement piece of your ensemble can bring a unique flair to your look.
4. Groom’s Tie or Bowtie
For the groom, borrowing a tie or bowtie from a family member or friend is a practical and eco-friendly choice. It also adds a personal touch, especially if the tie has significance, like being worn at a past family event. Coordinating the borrowed tie with the wedding’s colour palette ensures it fits seamlessly into the overall look.
5. Wedding Dress or Suit
Borrowing a wedding dress or suit is an excellent way to reduce waste and save money. It could be a family dress passed down through generations or a friend’s dress from a recent wedding. Having the dress or suit professionally tailored ensures it fits you perfectly while still honouring the original design.
6. Shoes
Borrowing shoes from someone who shares your shoe size is a great way to avoid buying a new pair that you might only wear once. Whether it’s a pair of heels for the bride or dress shoes for the groom, this can be a sustainable and practical choice. Make sure to break the shoes in before the big day to avoid discomfort.
7. Bridesmaid Dresses
Instead of buying new bridesmaid dresses, you could borrow them from friends or family members who have been in other weddings. Bridesmaid dresses often only get worn once, so this is a great way to give them another life. Embracing mix-and-match styles can add to the charm, as similar dresses can create a cohesive yet unique look.
8. Cufflinks
Borrowing cufflinks is a small but significant way to add a personal touch to the groom’s or groomsmen’s outfits. Whether they’re vintage or modern, borrowed cufflinks can save money and add character. If the cufflinks have sentimental value, sharing their story on the day can make the moment even more meaningful.
9. Handbag or Clutch
A handbag or clutch might seem like a minor detail, but borrowing one from someone close to you can add sentimental value and help you stay sustainable. It’s also practical, as you probably won’t use a wedding-specific bag again. Choosing a borrowed bag that matches your dress and wedding theme ensures it fits seamlessly into your overall look.
10. Hair Accessories
Borrowing hair accessories such as a headpiece, hairpin, or veil comb is an elegant way to add a personal touch to your look. You’ll avoid the environmental impact of buying something new, and borrowed hairpieces often come with a beautiful history. Someone in your family may have a vintage piece that could add extra meaning to your outfit.
11. Decor Items
Borrowing decor like vases, candle holders, or centrepieces can help you reduce waste and costs. Many people have leftover wedding decor they’re willing to lend, so it’s worth asking friends and family. You can creatively repurpose these items to fit your wedding theme without needing to buy new ones.
12. Ceremony Arch
A ceremony arch can be an eye-catching focal point, but it’s often expensive to rent or buy for just one day. Borrowing an arch from someone who has recently had a wedding is a cost-effective and sustainable solution. Dressing up the arch with flowers or fabrics that match your theme can make it feel more personalised while staying eco-friendly.
13. Silk Flowers or Faux Bouquets
Instead of fresh flowers, borrowing silk or faux bouquets from a recently married friend is an eco-friendly option. Faux flowers last forever and can look just as beautiful as fresh ones, without the environmental impact. Personalising the borrowed bouquet with ribbons or small embellishments in your wedding colours makes it feel uniquely yours.
14. Table Linens
Borrowing table linens, whether it’s tablecloths, napkins, or runners, from a friend or family member who recently hosted a wedding can save you money and reduce waste. Choosing linens in neutral tones or simple patterns will blend well with your wedding’s decor, and adding your own centrepieces can make them feel more personal.
15. Signage
Many couples create their own wedding signage, and borrowing these signs can save both time and resources. You could reuse signs for directions, table numbers, or a welcome message. Adding your own calligraphy or decorations can make borrowed signs fit your wedding’s style while keeping the core design intact.
16. Cake Stand
A cake stand is a small but significant detail, and borrowing one is a smart way to avoid buying something new that you’ll only use once. Ensure the cake stand is sturdy enough for your cake and complements the style of your dessert table, blending seamlessly with your wedding decor.
17. Hair and Makeup Products
If a friend or family member has leftover wedding-worthy hair or makeup products, borrowing them can save you money and reduce waste. High-quality beauty products are often expensive, and sharing them is a practical solution. Doing a trial run with the borrowed products before the wedding ensures they suit your skin type and desired look.
18. Jewelled Belt or Sash
Borrowing a jewelled belt or sash to complete your wedding attire can be a sustainable and stylish choice. It can add a touch of sparkle without the need to buy something new. Having a tailor fit the borrowed piece to your body shape ensures it complements your dress perfectly without altering the original item.
19. Wedding Invitations or Templates
Borrowing a digital template for wedding invitations from a recently married couple is an excellent way to reduce paper waste and save money. You can easily personalise the borrowed template with your details and theme, making it unique to your wedding while still keeping the design process sustainable. Sharing digital invitations also helps to cut down on the environmental impact.
20. Ring Box
Borrowing a ring box from a friend or family member can add a meaningful touch to your ring exchange. It’s a small detail, but it can be a wonderful way to incorporate personal history into your ceremony. If the ring box has a special significance, knowing its story can make the moment even more touching.
21. Table Numbers
Many couples create custom table numbers for their weddings, and borrowing these from someone who’s recently had a wedding is a practical way to cut down on waste. Adjusting small details like font or colours can make borrowed table numbers fit perfectly with your overall design.
22. Cake Knife and Server
Borrowing a cake knife and server from a family member or friend is a simple but meaningful way to honour tradition while staying sustainable. Using a cake knife that has been part of past family weddings is a lovely way to connect generations through a shared wedding item.
23. Photo Booth Props
Borrowing photo booth props from a recently married couple is a fun and eco-friendly way to provide entertainment for your guests without purchasing new props that will only be used once. Personalising the borrowed props by adding signs or small details that reflect your personalities or the theme of your wedding can make them feel more tailored to your day.
24. Ring Pillow
A ring pillow is another small but sentimental item that can easily be borrowed from a family member or friend. It’s often only used for a brief moment in the ceremony, so borrowing one is both practical and sustainable. Checking if the pillow has special meaning, like being used in a previous wedding, can add even more significance to your ceremony.
25. Wedding Playlist
Instead of spending hours creating a new playlist from scratch, borrowing a wedding playlist from a recently married friend is an easy and eco-friendly option. You can use their carefully curated songs as a base and tweak it to suit your tastes, adding in your own favourites for a personal touch. Here’s our wedding playlist you can borrow!
IF YOU FOUND THIS USEFUL THEN WHY NOT PIN IT
