(Disclaimer: If you’re not a current bride, stay tuned! This DIY cake topper can also make one darlin’ book end. Intrigued?)

When I set out looking for a cake topper, I was excited to find a treasure that was unique, meaningful, and within my rookie budget. I didn’t think this mission was going to be too difficult. Boy, was I w.r.o.n.g.

Apparently, cake toppers are EXPENSIVE, a little too cliche for my liking, and not as plentiful as I originally imagined. After some serious searching, I made the commitment to DIY a cake topper. Oh boy…

My guidelines:
1. Affordable… well, let’s be honest here- I really meant cheap.
2. Reflective of our wedding’s theme & meaningful to Matt and me
3. Not very time intensive. (I only had about a week before I had to turn it into our caterer) #oops

That’s when I hit up the local Hobby Lobby.

I simply added this….

….plus this….

…. and then hot glued on this…

…to create…

… this gold and glamorous ampersand. Easy enough, right? (Sorry for the blurry cell-phone pic. This was the exact pic I texted to Casey the night I finished my masterpiece). #proudrookie

Minus the frigid temperatures in my garage when I was trying to spray paint this sucker, the DIY cake topper was easy as pie, or maybe easy as cake would be more fitting?

I submitted the ampersand in to the caterer with two extra strands of pearls I had left over from my tree and held my breath until the big day. Low and behold, this little “&” didn’t let me down.

She was gorgeous, meaningful, and my favorite part… AFFORDABLE! For under $15, we topped off our cake and didn’t break the bank.

If ampersands aren’t your thing, you could use this idea to create the letter of your new last name or a meaningful number? And if you don’t need a cake topper, this gorgeous letter could be placed at the gift table, next to the place cards, used as a photo prop or just placed on your bookshelf to enjoy as a not-so wedding DIY. Wow, who knew a cake topper could be so versatile?!

Bridget