Wedding Day Advice | Wedding Planning

Originally used by European navies as signals and as shipshape décor to mark important ceremonial occasions, bunting – comprising strings of fabric pennants called ‘bunts’ – has become a popular contemporary décor items for weddings, birthdays and other festive occasions. If you’re after a bit of wedding bunting on your wedding day, check out these nine nifty ways to incorporate this old navy element into wedding reception décor.

How to Make Beautiful Wedding Bunting

Bunting works particularly well as decorative items for weddings with a vintage or retro country feel about them. It looks pretty and, best of all, it’s a cost-effective way to decorate your wedding reception space.

Here’s what you need:

• Card
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pins
• Double fold bias binding
• Needles and thread
• Overlocking or sewing machine
• Assorted scraps of fabric
• Some sewing know-know!

Here’s how to do it:

• Measure out a triangle shape on the card – remember to allow 0.5cm for the seam
• Cut out your template(s) and pin to the fabric
• Fold the fabric over the triangle so that you cut two triangles of cloth per pennant
• Remove the card and, with the right sides facing in, pin or tack the two long sides of the triangle together
• Use a machine to sew the long sides together, leaving the top side open
• Turn inside out, so that the right sides are  now facing outwards, and iron
• Take the bias binding and position and pin the pennants at the desired intervals
• Sew along the length of the bias binding to secure the bunts permanently in place.

Now, here’s how to use your DIY bunting…

As Wall Décor

String bunting across a feature wall, with each bunt spelling out a special message.

Pinned by MODwedding | Image courtesy of: media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com | Image source: pinterest.com

To Decorate Trees

Hang bunting from trees to signpost the way to your wedding reception or to use as points of interest for photo calls…

Pinned by Alison Endean | Image courtesy of: media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com | Image source: pinterest.com

In the Photo Booth

Use bunting as photo props, like so…

Pinned by Praise Wedding | Image courtesy of: media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com | Image source: pinterest.com

To Decorate Wedding Cakes

Bunting can even be used as wedding cake toppers – unusual, creative and oh-so-effective!

Pinned by Anna-Lisa Taylor | Image courtesy of: pinterest.com | Image source: www.etsy.com

As Ceiling Décor

One of the more traditional ways of using bunting, strung from the ceiling of a room or marquee to create a visually arresting display…

Pinned by Hannah Harrison | Image courtesy of: media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com | Image source: pinterest.com

Even on a Wedding Invitation!

The applications for which bunting can be used are seemingly endless! Here, mini-bunting is featured on an invitation card…

Pinned by The day I marry | Image courtesy: pinterest.com | Image source: etsy.com

Seating Plan Bunting

An intriguing way of presenting the guest seating plan…

Pinned by The Nordic Knitter | Image courtesy of: media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com | Image source: pinterest.com

And as Place Cards…

Bunt, fold and behold !

Pinned by Hannah Van Dijk | Image courtesy of: media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com |Image source: pinterest.com

Last But Not Least…

Mini-bunting as part of a table centrepiece for that country fête feel…

Pinned by Scarlett Potticary | Image courtesy of: media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com | Image source: pinterest.com