Have you wondered what you're going to do after the wedding with the loads of fake flowers, chalkboards and whatever other delightful piece of wedding décor you couldn't bare to part with? You may even have magical ideas of turning it into a wreath for your front door or re-purposing it for the holidays. Of course, some make great home decor, but some are just ... eh.

Let's be real: The odds of it ending up in a plastic bin in your basement and repeatedly getting moved and then eventually thrown away or rummaged is probably pretty high. For a budget-conscious couple, that's money being thrown away.

We've come to realize the answer for some of the fun, funky decor we want would best be acquire through renting rather than buying. The company that we'll be using, Relics Vintage Rentals, works this way: Make an appointment to check out their fabulous warehouse full of awesomeness, choose the items that suit your style, receive a quote, then pay a deposit to hold your beloved items until the big day. You can either pick them up, or they can deliver. Relics even has an in-house artist who helps with lettering on those chalkboards Pinterest fanatics love. (Time saver!)

In many cases, you can rent everything from small decor items and full sets of china, to furniture and large scale architectural pieces. Your local rental business may even help with full wedding design as well.

Before you make an appointment, you'll want to have some information already decided upon with your partner:

• Venue and date. (Duh.)
• Your wedding style: Many decor rental businesses lean heavily in the vintage or rustic direction, however, don't discount these places if you're going for a really shiny glam or bright funky look. You might luck out on an item you wouldn't naturally consider that will create a really eclectic and unique style.
• Approximate number of guests: How else would you know how many pieces of table décor you'll need without knowing how many tables you'll have?
• Your list: Come armed with a list of what you need, with a little wiggle room built in for that impulse piece you just have to have. (Don't worry, you'll figure out what to do with that vintage typewriter later.)

Another piece of advice is to keep your excitement in check. Less is more. Our venue, for example, is in a historic building that really doesn't need much décor (which ended up being a really budget-friendly decision, in and of itself). Seriously consider your venue before you go crazy on all the cool pieces you'll find at these warehouses. You want accents, not clutter.

Now go forth, and dream big! Your décor budget just got a little more friendly.