After the vows have been taken, the rings exchanged and the toasts given, most newlyweds are left with a mountain of post-wedding junk. From extra invitations, to un-needed formal clothes, to bowls of left-over salad, there's stuff everywhere. If you think it seems a shame to throw all that stuff away, you're right. There are so many ways to recycle left over wedding items that there's almost no need for a garbage can.
FOOD
1. Shelter
Do not try to donate "used" food to charities or shelters to feed people. Nobody wants to eat old meals that have already been picked at. For sanitary reasons, most shelters absolutely will not take the food. Even if they want to take it, almost every health regulation will prevent them from being able to accept your donation.
If you have things like unopened cookies, bread and anything else in an unopened package, you can donate those. But most general wedding food needs to go somewhere other than the garbage or a shelter. Though the thought is sweet, there are no national food-based charities in any English speaking countries that accept "used" food.
2. Compost
The easiest and most earth-friendly way to deal with left-over food is to simply compost it. There's no need to waste the gas and energy with a dump or garbage truck. A simple compost pile in your backyard takes very little upkeep and provides you with plenty of rich soil.
If you don't care for composting, see if you know somebody who does. Perhaps a friend or relative would be happy to take care of the food waste for you. If you can't find anyone you know, look at local organic farms. There are some places and companies that will take food from restaurant buffets and such to compost.
3. Feed
If you live in a resort area, look for pig farms. Many of these farms take resort buffet food and process it into a mush to feed the animals. This mostly works with pigs, since they are such scavengers. They may be willing to take your left-overs and get some use out of them, providing you didn't serve pork.
CLOTHES
1. Donate
There are endless shelters and charity organizations that can use both men and women's formal clothing. You can donate that dress or tuxedo to a local organization and leave with the knowledge that your happy day is providing happiness for someone else. It also doesn't hurt that you may be able to use the donation as a tax write-off.
2. Decorate
Most wedding attire is covered with frills, thrills and all the extras. This can make the garments perfect for turning into fun and attractive home decor items. A cummerbund can become a throw pillow. You're veil only needs a little modification to become a sheer curtain at the head of your bed. Your wedding gown sleeves can become very fancy curtain tie-backs.
3. Remember
If you're a little bit crafty, think about making a fancy photo album out of your wedding dress and other wedding garments to hold your wedding photos. You could make enough albums out of one dress to hold all your wedding pictures.
4. Have Fun
If you're handy with a needle and thread, and know a little girl that needs dress-up clothes, you have the perfect situation. Make some aprons, hats, robes, capes, and little dresses from your left-over material and used garments. Just make sure to keep the wedding veil the same, it's perfect for a little girl just as it is.
DECORATIONS
1. Donate
Wedding decorations should be easy to get rid of or find a good use for. Any thrift store or charity might need them. If not, ask local religious organizations if they need extra wedding supplies to help out any members. Flowers can be given to guests, hospitals or a local shelter to help brighten someone else's day.
2. Decorate
Wedding decorations are also rather handy for some do-it-yourself decorations. You can jazz up almost anything with a few left-overs from the reception. Add some fake flowers to a picture frame, tie the ribbons around a vase, use the wreath at holidays and put the candles in your bathroom. Dry your flowers and bouquet, then place them in a vase. Make a wreath from the arrangements or just use the flower petals as a sentimental potpourri.
OTHER
1. Get Creative
If you want to cherish your wedding as much as possible, think about using the clothing and decorations to make a framed collage or a keepsake shadow box. If you just want to use the all left-overs, try tie-dying tablecloths to use as picnic blankets. Embroider napkins for holiday themed dinner sets. You can even let a child take the cake toppers and use them as toys.
If you're into scrapbooking at all, you are in luck. Left over wedding items can create a wonderful scrap book. From fabric edging to tokens decorating the pages, left over wedding stuff is a scrapbook fanatic's playground.
Extra invitations or any general paper waste could be the key to cheap thank you notes. Just rip the paper up, put it in a blender with some water, and you have paper pulp. Now add dye, flowers, glitter or whatever to make your own paper. Use the paper to write your thank you notes on. If you're feeling lazy, remember that paper can be composted as well.