Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

The mason jar has come a long way. Once known best as a container for putting up pickled beets in the winter, the jars have been reborn in chic but rustic lighting arrangements that even the least crafty and budget-conscious couple can make themselves.

Where to find them? First, ask around. They could be hiding in a loved one’s basement or even in your boss’s daughter’s friend’s garage. Or try posting a request on craigslist or freecycle to seek out leads, then hit up garage sales, flea markets and antique stores. Make sure to comparison shop, however, because some dealers have caught on to the jars’ popularity for weddings and charge accordingly. Wal-Mart sells them, too, but check out your local hardware store as well. We recently spotted a bunch of mason jars for sale at or neighborhood True Value at a reasonable price.

Once you’ve amassed a collection, and scrubbed down secondhand jars as necessary, you’re ready to start assembling. The easiest way to include mason jars in your lighting scheme is to place votive candles inside and cluster the jars on tabletops or along pathways. First, fill the bottoms with a bit of water (or sand) to prevent the wax from sticking. (Thank you Martha Stewart for that tip. Her website’s ribbon-bedecked example is, well, a good thing). Try a variety of candle heights to add visual interest.

But if a hanging display is what you have in mind, all you’ll need are some wire, wire cutters and pliers. This P. Allen Smith explanation has great step-by-step instructions. Just remember to make the handles long enough to keep the candles a safe distance from tree leaves or other flammable materials. Keep in mind that the jars can get hot and, of course, don’t leave them unattended. If you’d rather not worry about all that, consider battery-powered tea lights.

Be sure to bring the jars home with you after the reception. You can hang them in your garden, use them as vases, or — and we’ve stolen this idea from the always adorable Etsy — use them as birdfeeders. Or to continue their illuminating life spans, check out this amazing mason jar chandelier idea. And hey, you could always use them to store pickled beets!