The best wedding decor to hire instead of DIY

Look, we love a Pinterest board as much as the next person. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing rows of glass bottles, hand-lettered signs, and picture-perfect backdrops all lined up in pastel tones. But here’s the real tea: DIY wedding decor isn’t always the fairytale it promises to be.

It can be stressful, messy, expensive, time-consuming, and in the end… you might be stuck with six giant wooden pallets, twenty metres of bunting, and a glue gun-induced blister.

Hiring your wedding decor can take all that stress off your shoulders. You still get the gorgeous aesthetics and personal vibe—but with none of the clutter or last-minute panic.

Let’s dig into why hiring decor (especially cool decor) is the way forward—and what kinds of pieces make the biggest impact.

The myth of the DIY money-saver

Sure, you might save a bit on paper costs or vases. But when you add up the tools, materials, last-minute Amazon orders, and time spent building, painting, cleaning, fixing, repacking, and storing… DIY quickly stops being the budget option.

Hiring isn’t just easier—it’s often cheaper overall. And way less likely to result in a 2am breakdown over floral foam.

So what’s worth hiring?

Some decor pieces are just better hired than bought. Here’s what we recommend:

1. Backdrops & statement pieces

You want something eye-catching for your ceremony or photo moments—but you don’t want to lug a 7-foot triangle made of reclaimed wood back home (trust us, we’ve done it).

Hire options:

• Triangle backdrop frames

• Painted panel sets

• Streamer or neon backdrops

• Hanging floral frames

2. Table plans & signage

These are surprisingly tricky to DIY well. Hiring gives you beautiful, themed signage without the trial and error—or the last-minute realisation that your chalk pen is dried up.

Hire options:

• Rustic pallet table plans

• Statement welcome signs

• Cards & gifts table set-ups

• Easels and stands

3. Snack & statement stations

Because who says a crisp wall isn’t a classy addition?

Hire options:

• Crisp & snack walls

• Pimp-your-drinks stations

• Sweet tables (with vintage crates)

4. Furniture with flair

We’re not talking trestle tables and plastic chairs—we’re talking quirky, nostalgic, personal touches.

Hire options:

• Vintage school desk for your card table

• Pallet signage stands

• Wooden crates, barrels, and low tables

5. Just married signs and finishing touches

Little things go a long way—and they’re a faff to DIY for one-time use.

Hire options:

• Just Married hoops

• Painted signs

• Candles, tealight holders, lanterns, vases

Why hire from us?

Our Decor Elements range is full of unique, personality-packed pieces made from reclaimed materials. We’re talking real wood, repurposed metal, and sustainable styling with flair.

We build most of our decor ourselves (hello, Tom’s carpentry skills!), and everything we create is made with character and a bit of cheeky charm. We don’t do cookie-cutter wedding vibes—we do statement pieces that say something about you.

We also offer bespoke builds if you have a vision in mind. Got a quirky idea? A themed moment? A colour palette to match? We’d love to make it for you—and offer discounts for items we can add to our hire catalogue later on.

Real wedding wins

One couple came to us wanting a soft-industrial backdrop with colour-blocked panels in bright pink and orange. We built it using salvaged wood and metal mesh—then added a custom neon quote. It became their ceremony backdrop, their photo booth later, and their home garden feature after the big day.

Another pair wanted a crisp wall (yes, like a sweet table—but make it savoury). We built a bold pegboard display, stocked it with their favourite pub snacks, and it was the talking point of the reception. Easy to restock, easy to dismantle, and no one had to glue a single crisp bag to cardboard.

Hiring = eco + easy + fun

Let’s be honest: most of the stuff you buy for your wedding ends up in a charity shop or forgotten box. Hiring cuts waste, saves stress, and gives you access to higher-impact pieces than your budget would stretch to otherwise.

Plus, it gives you more time to enjoy the fun parts—like cake tasting, playlist building, and googling "dog bow ties." (Just us?)

How to book your decor

Want to see what’s in our stash? [Download our hire catalogue here]

Can’t see what you’re looking for? Let’s talk bespoke builds. If you’ve got the idea, we’ve probably got the wood to make it.

Decor dreams without the stress, waste, or storage issues? That’s the Wedding Elements way. ✌️