Five Easy Do-It-Yourself Wedding Centerpiece Ideas
What's a great way brides are saving money on their wedding budget? Doing their own wedding reception centerpieces, of course.
If you keep it simple, you too can have elegant centerpieces without breaking the bank. Here are five quick ideas to get you started.
Shimmering Silver
This is probably the cheapest do-it-yourself centerpiece of all! Gather up branches, driftwood, leaves or pine cones. Spray them with metallic silver spray paint and arrange in the center of the tables. Add a few tea lights and you have a shimmering centerpiece that's perfect for a winter wedding. This looks stunning against dark linens!Tissue Paper Mason Jars
Here are surprisingly elegant centerpieces that cost under $10. Gather assorted mason jar sizes and wrap them in colored tissue paper, add a few flowers and you have cheap centerpieces. Or skip the decoupage, and fill with bright colored water to match your palette.
Skip the Flowers
Consider using unusual finds for your centerpieces, like peacock feathers or small sculptures, wooden carvings or pretty teacups, vintage books or glass vases full of beach sand, or even interesting rocks.By choosing things that can simply be arranged, you'll save a ton of time and have unique do-it-yourself centerpieces everyone will remember.
Think Functional
Pillar candles of varying heights give off a romantic light and can easily be set up ahead of time in an environment that's not too drafty. Or, turn to food as an attractive yet functional centerpiece. Consider arrangements of tropical fruits — including star fruit, pomegranates cut in half, melons and citrus — for a lovely summer centerpiece sporting bright colors.Mix and Match
Scour thrift stores, discount stores and garage sales for intriguing vases to mix and match colorfully. Even drinking glasses could attractively display single stems. Trim with scraps of lace for a sweet vintage touch. Add a few long stems, and you'll have a lovely bohemian look for your reception tables.Helpful tip: always remember to do a mock-up centerpiece a few weeks before the wedding, so you're sure it lives up to your vision. It's also a smart idea to enlist the help of a few friends if your centerpieces are at all labor-intensive.
With a little creativity and a little effort, you'll have unique wedding reception centerpieces in no time!
we need some ideas for cheap center pieces for our daugther’s wedding. her colors are pool (David’s Bridal)/and chocolate brown. any ideas..also she’s looking into what colors and flowers to use for the bridal bouquets…any suggestions?
what is her theme? thecreativeknott@live.com
not sure what her theme will be..any suggestions will be great..we are not very artistic at all, and so far it’s only the colors she knows..she does wants it to be a bit more romantic than modern. Thanks!!
Szasza,
The most beautiful color bouquets are white with this theme. It also keeps it easy. White roses mixed and/or white orchids( which ahave a tinge of color), would be my pic. For the centerpieces have cylinders from dollartree.com and add submerged orchid or white rose in a bed of brown stones. Add floating candle and your done!
*pics
* centerpiece pics
Youcoudl also do floating flowers and candles.
* like this
Thank you for your input…this will help us to start thinking of what we can do…
So im geting married nov. 20 2010. And our theme is butterflies. The only think i don’t have now are centerpieces! Helppp me please
My wedding is June 4th, 2011. The fiancee and I want to do something different so we are not doing a traditional wedding. My family is big into four wheeling and I have gotten him into it. We want to use that as our theme. We have the cake all planned out, what were are wearing, how we are making an appearance. The thing I am stuck on is center pieces. Anyone have any ideas on what to use?
I was thinking goldfish in bowls with real dirt at the bottom but I hear those don’t last. I want something to where I won’t hurt the fish if I do use them and then I was possibly thining betta…please help with some ideas.
Amanda and Dale,
If it were me I would have potted flowers or plants ( to look like the outdoors) and then bring in framed pics of you both or the families riding four wheelers, and set a framed pic with each pot. Think rustic, outdoors. Anything in the woods. You could gather up some fresh cut greenery and have in container would work too. Hope this helps! It would still give the real dirt without having to worry about the fish not making it.
Bag the fish idea. The pictures of you four wheeling would be amazing. Try using flowers that have more of a wild flower look since that’s what you see four wheeling in the mountains.
My wedding is June 18, 2011 and I am trying to figure out my center pieces. My colors are lapis (from davids bridal) and yellow. I do not really have a theme. I just need something cheap and easy to do myself. I am inviting 300 people to my reception so I am looking for something that will WOW them but is cheap at the same time.
Kayla,
I recommend using candles. I use this suggestion alot because it has the best bang for the buck. High impact on less. I suggest cylinders or square vases with flaoting rose petals and floating candles.
* like here
Dollartree.com has vases for a buck each. Also consider renting the vases and adding the rest. That way you wont have all those vases to hold on too.
* here is another page
The rose petal and candles are among my top faves for centerpieces.
* more pics
* even more
If you want to look at xtra pics of the floating centerpieces- just google image floating candles and rose petals.
Kayla,
smartyhadaparty.com
loved this website for my daughters wedding. I was able to get so many wonderful things on the cheap. Her colors were yellow and gray. I found vases at dollar tree also and orientalexpress.com for lots of favor ideas and votives if you want candles.
Good luck and have fun!!
I am trying to figure out what kind of flowers to put in a cylinder vase with a floating candle? found some on a craftstore web site, orchids, but how do you get them to stay down? Silly I know, but just need some help.
Desiree,
* how to
desiree,
we had definitely use silk flowers and let them sit in the water for a bit. The sink after awhile. My daughter did daisies with the floating candles.
I’m getting married in a month (ahhh!) and still have no centerpieces. The venue is a trendy urban loft… Colors are black, white, and burgundy. Help!
Dana,
I would embrace your venue’s feel and go completely modern. Start off with black and white patterned runners or just strips of black and white ribbon going across each table, and do simple still life arrangements of varied objects like silver or glass balls and glass candlesticks of varying heights. Candlelight is key! Check out http://www.cb2.com, http://www.jamaligarden.com, target, walmart, etc. As long as you stick to just one color or material (glass, metal), you can put varied items together. Hope that helps!
i’m painting a flower pot black and putting (you’ll have to google how to make them) ..jordan almond flowers and also hershey’s kiss rose buds. you can decorate with your colors. they act as a centerpiece and also a gift for the guests!
I’m getting married in November 2011– We are thinking of doing the reception outside and was wanting some feedback on that and some ideas on centerpieces and favor ideas. Our colors are pink and camouflage. The camo is mostly just accents I’m trying to gravitate towards more brown rather than camo.
Billie,
Since your doing pink, you could take pink flowers( wildflowers) or a mix with garden flowers, and add curly willow to the centerpieces to make it a little woodsy. Consider using vases and have a thin layer of brown stones (from walmart or a craft store) in bottom. Accent napkins with pink camo ribbon for “just a touch”. or wrap a ribbon around the vase’s middle. Just some ideas to pick and choose from. You could choose one of these elements or a mix.
I am getting married in May 2011 and my wedding colors are navy and white with an accent color of silver. I need some good inexpensive ideas for my wedding reception centerpieces. Our reception will be held in a hall that has a balcony ( Where the bridal party will sit) and a stage where the dance floor will be. I want to keep a romantic theme. What do you suggest?
Tish,
Floating candles and rose petals is the way I would go. Or at least floating candles in cylinders. Dollartree.com candles are one of the most romantic things to use and you can group them together etc.
since we are having our reception at a bar / lounge/ resturant I have a lot of tables. I’m lost on budget friendly ideas for centerpieces and decor. My wedding colors are orange and black and white. please help!
Denise,
* some pics
Hi I’m getting married July of 2011 and I was wondering if you had any ideas of a floral center pieces. Our colors are violet, white and silver
Ashlee,
What color will your linens be?
* purple centerpieces
* more pics
Ashlee,
weddingwire.com has fantastic photos. search by color and type decor needed.
Ok,
So I still have a while and am searching but I`m getting married in August of 2011, and I really like the Peacock theme, I`m just wondering if I could get some help on some creative ideas/party favors that aren`t expensive or too expensive. So I like the bright blue, green, purple, pink colors… I don`t even have my dress or anything but I want to get a head start and take my time so that I don`t stress over it. We`re going to be about 30-40 people at the wedding.
Thanks!
Kim,
*here is alot of different ideas for a peacock wedding
Kim,
* more ideas
* tons of pics
* you might like this
Kim,
* this is so pretty. You could actually do this for less. Shop Dollartree.com and flea markets, thrift stores for containers.
Kim,
* another pic
Kim,
My wedding is in April 2011 and I am also doing small accents of peacock. I haven’t completely decided on what the centerpieces will look like yet, however, I have found a website to purchase the feathers for a very cheap price. You can buy them natural or dyed (in many colors), long, medium or short in length. They also sell them in larger or smaller packages.
Hope that helps a little bit! GOOD LUCK!
Hi im gettin married in July 2011 and i need ideas for our centerpieces. My theme is James Bond/Casino. The colours is black, red and ivory. Im on a budget because we are paying for the wedding ourselves. There are 10 tables at our evening party and 10 tables at our sit down meal ( i would like different for both) Please HELP! xx
Zara,
* keep it sleek and sharp
* feathers and martini glasses
Zara,
* scroll to last pic, Dollartree.com has glass vases for a buck, this would be simple and easy.
Zara,
* sleek like this board
* neat article
Zara,
* like this vibe
* cake
Zara,
* this would be neat especially adding some printed 007 pics, how cool!
zara,
* very nice, great for party decor
I’m getting married in September 2011. My wedding colors are teal and white. I would love to hear any ideas or suggestions about center pieces or anything unique for a wedding THANKS!!!
Shanon,
* teal and white pics
* here is turquoise and white( for some ideas)
Shanon,
* this is beautiful
* blue and white weddings( for ideas)
Im getting married in July 2011. Our colors are black and Purple. Do you have any unique ideas for the centerpieces. We were hoping that we would not have to use flowers, but it was an option.
Kay,
Are you having a theme? What is your wedding style( vintage, modern, etc.) also your venue, will you need low or tall centerpieces?
*You could use feathers, candles, etc.
Kay,
* candles
kay,
* something like this using black rocks would look nice.
you could even use black and white photos in black frames or black candelabras.
Hello! My grandparents are celebrating there 50th anniversary in July and I am looking for ideas for centerpieces. My grandma likes the idea of floating candles. My grandparents are very vibrant people, so we want something unique and not boring. They aren’t going very traditional in colors. We’re using sangria from Davids bridal, black with just touches of gold. Any ideas would be very helpful and appreciated. Thank you!!
Jessica,
What color will the linens be? How simple or elaborate do the centerpieces need to be?
* this would be stunning in your colors
* scroll down to the pillar centerpiece, that is awesome!
Hello, i’m getting married on November 12th 2010.. so close by. My wedding theme is black white and a little silver/silver glitter?.. I need help with center pieces.. I need them to be on the cheaper side. I dont have my parents to pay for it so we are paying for the wedding. Most of the $$ is going to the reservation hall.. Can you please give me some ideas?? I know i want something with crystal bases, and flowers. i just need to see them??.. plz get back to me!
Hi Gabriella,.. email me! I have the exact same colors and Im getting married this month!
Jennifer- jimknott@live.com
Congrats!
Ok I have alittle while to plan this but am going to be doing the whole wedding myself. My husband and I are renewing our vows in 2 yrs. We went to the court house to get married and would like to have a very nice outdoor wedding as both of us never had one with our first marriages. We are planning on having our vow renewal at a State Park that we both love. I need lots of ideas. It will be in the fall and our colors are chocolate brown, black and cream.
Amy,
Dont know if this is what you were looking for but this is a board i did a while back.
Also go here
* the knot
if you havent signed up it is free. Once your logged in click 5000+ pictures then brown weddings, it will take you to color pairings/click on brown&black( in case link doesnt work)
Amy,
* the board
Hi,
We are getting married on Jan 1st…our colors are teal with roses…brown and maybe cream will used to complement the teal…I want an elegant wedding…any ideas for centerpieces, themes?
Tosha,
* some pics
* more pics
Tosha,
I personally think going with a winter wonderland theme would be gorgeous with this. icy branches, white edible glitter on a white wedding cake, etc.
* winter ideas
* real wedding with black white teal
Tosha,
* just found this one, love it!
Hi i’m getting married 8/7/10 my colors are silver and apple red we are having a 6:00 reception and dance outdoors can you give me any ideas for centerpieces we only have like $200 left to spend on the decorations
please please help
Estrella,
If your wedding has a rustic chic theme why not use red apple centerpieces.
* like here
Estrella,
* or use floating red candles or submerged red roses or other flower with floating tealights. You cant beat candles for impact on a tight budget.
Estrella,
* dollartree.com has cylinder vases or other containers for a buck each
I am getting married 10/30/10. Our colors are Apple Red (from David’s Bridal) and Black. I want something classy and elegant, but not super expensive. The reception hall has round mirrors and candles that we can use/ add to. Any ideas??
Ashley,
* something like the second pic would work
* you could also use black rocks/glass rocks in bottom of cylinder
Ashley,
* cylinders for a buck
hi,
I’m getting married in november.Cant get my head around a nice affordable centerpiece for the tables.Its a beach wedding late evening and my colours are turquiose and copper brown.Any suggestions??? I’m open to it.Flowers are not very accessible and usual wither off by nite… Im getting married in india,goa and my dress is victorian… looking for suggestion for my bridesmaids too
HELP HELP>>>>
Amanda,
I would have the bridesmaid try on either turquoise or copper and whichever color looks better with their skintone. I think copper would look amazing with cream or white bouquets and turquoise bouquet ribbon.
* look at this board
Amanda,
have you thought about copper lanterns? I think that would be super gorgeous with this theme.
* if you use seashells in your centerpieces, they have coloring that is close to a copper color.
Amanda,
* this is pretty great!
Amanda,
*look what they did here
Amanda,
* see the copper coloring? it is pretty close
Amanda,
* you can really see the coloring here
Amanda,
* this is fab!!
Amanda,
forgot some dress pics from alfredangelo.com you can head there and use the interactive colors. Hope this helps! Have the dress and opposite color for sash. They dont have copper so Iused burnt orange, just to see.
Hello!
I’m getting married on June 12, in a community center…
The colors (or lack of) are black and grey with some white tossed around here and there. I would really like a vintage theme, (see pics)but it seems we’re working a budget or around $200 :/ and I need to come up with some snazzy decorations and centerpieces, plus a bouquet…and party favors o.o
Would love any help I can get!
melani r.
Could I get a pic of the community center so I can see what it needs? How many centerpieces? Will you be renting linens/chair covers? If so what color?
Melani,
When I look at the clipart you posted. The first thing that comes to mind is feathers. Cylinder vases with feathers would work so well. Jazz up the bouquets, etc. with these too. also simple things like rhinestone buttons added to ribbon to wrap around napkins, bouquet stems, would give an amazing effect. I like feathers because they fill up a room with height, leaving less to do for impact. Scour flea markets or thrift stores for a small vase to hold the guestbook pen. Simple ribbons in black for bouquets or just to tie in a bow around napkins with the tails draping would give impact for less. Dollartree.com has containers for just a buck. Dont want to go the feathers route for centerpieces
melani, OOPs. I am back
I was saying, use tons of loose pearls or buttons in glass vase and set a candle down in it.
* like this
Melani,
One idea I just had is searching for vintage style postcards or even print your own and use them in the centerpieces. The more you are creative the more you can do.
Even vintage pics or newspaper clippings in vintage style frames, set with candles. One of my favorite looks is simple “supperclub” style candles. In restaurants you see the minimum used on tables cause food needs space and it is the main highlight of the evening.
Melani,
* perfect example is second pic( click to enlarge)
Melani,
* saveoncrafts
I was studying the second pic again. Look at the restaurant program at the tablesetting. I was thinking how neat it would be to use that as your own style program with the same font and the word vintage down the side. Buy some dollar cylinders or vintage style vases and use white flowers. Depending on your table it could be budget friendly. The pic looks like it has very small cylinder vases for a single flower. Add clear or frosted square candle holders. You could easily design something and print it for cheap. Then at guestbook have a vase of black or white feathers. I am thinking making your reception vintage supperclub would be jawdropping. I am hoping the community center is kinda decorated to pull this off.
Hi, my name is Tory. We’re getting married 09/18/10 and our colors are red and black with a little ivory and silver thrown in there as well. We are getting married ourdoors and our reception area is outdoors as well. It’s a rustic-like pavillion, but at the same time high quality building. We’re going for a somewhat classic, vintage theme but at the same time we have to be a little rustic to have everything go together well. The reception is going to be very laid back with BBQ type food served and also smaller with only about 50 guests. I’ve been having trouble finding centerpiece ideas that will fit, everything I’ve found have either been too cheap looking or too elegant to fit surroundings. For favors, we’re doing 2×2 black boxes with a red ribbon and filled with personalized hershey kisses. I’m still not sure what I want to do for flowers. I’d greatly appreciate some ideas! Thank you!
Tory,
I would go with roses and gerberas. It would fit the rustic vintage theme.
* mason jars full of blooms
Tory,
* more mason jars
Tory,
* this just suits the theme to a tee
im getting married june 12 2010. our colors are white, purple and gold. i need some ideas for my centerpieces?? PLEASE HELP. i also need ideas on how to decorate useing the colors….. i really need some help.
Karla,
* here are some pics
Karla,
* more pics
* great board
Karla,
waht shade of purple are you using?
I seem to be in desperate need of many ideas from centerpieces to flowers. I’m getting married on the beach/lake. Reception is in a tent. I am doing a Cinderella/beach theme. I bought a bunch of yellow sand pails at dollartree for centerpieces but am completely lost on what to do with them. I am also having a candy buffet so filling with candy would be too much. My color scheme is cornflower blue (Bridesmaid dresses) and yellow. HELP.
Vicki,
* look at this
* this is cute, looks like the pail was along for nearby flower picking.
Vicki,
Were you wanating to use the buckets with centerpieces? If not, just find have them sitting with flowers like on steps.
* look at these bowls with floating daisies, you could use sunflower blooms in water tinted with blue food coloring * like here
i’m getting married in two months and i have no clue as what to have for centerpeices colours are blue and silver i need help if possible
David,
* some pics
* more ideas
hi,
I’m getting married in november.Cant get my head around a nice affordable centerpiece for the tables.Its a beach wedding late evening and my colours are turquiose and copper brown.Any suggestions??? I’m open to it.Flowers are not very accessible and usual wither off by nite… Im getting married in india,goa and my dress is victorian… looking for suggestion for my bridesmaids too
HELP HELP>>>>
An idea would be to get small vases or candle holders. Fill them with either brown sand or copper spray painted shells (you know the small white ones). Then put a small tea light in each vase and tie a small turquoise ribbon around each vase. you can even scatter other shells and small cadles/tea lights around the vase. Low cost, simple but yet elegant. If your having your wedding at a beach, the view will be so beautiful that a extravagant centerpiece will only take away from its natural beauty. Hope that helps.
I am getting married on July 15th, 2010. I dont know what to do for centerpieces, i was thinking small ones, i only have about 10-15 tables and our colors are light blue, like cornflower, black and white. I am on a very tight budget, and need an inexpensive way of making cute centerpieces, i am liking the idea of floating flowers with colored rocks maybe, but im just very unsure. HELP please??
Sharistan,
I know I recommend this centerpiece alot. It is a hot ticket wedding decor! But cylinders or other glass containers like bowls filled with black rocks, floating candles/flower blooms, are not only budget friendly-they are elegant.
* some pics
Sharistan,
* use black rocks from a craft store instead.
Biggest bang for your buck would be to use those gift bags for wine…fill the bottom with clean sand or a heavy cup( if your using real flowers) and a single flower and support it with tissue paper of a complimentary color with some coming out of the bag in place of greenery’
I am getting married 10-10-10 at 3pm. It is out in front of a family members pond. If weather permits I want everything outdoors, but if not the family has a large BLUE tent. Our wedding colors are black white and purple. This is a laid back, relaxed wedding, but I want it to be NICE and UNIQUE!! How can I work the tent in with my color scheme on basically no budget and all do-it ourselves? Any ideas for decorations for the wedding part? arch? Please HELP!!!!
Kimberly,
If you use the blue tent just pull in hints of blue flowers in the decor. It will pull the blue right in. Just a touch, like hydrangeas.
* here are some pond weddings
Kimberly,
Could I get the color of blue the tent is? Even if it is just a google image. Also what shade of purple are you using? Are the girls and guys in black? Are you renting any linens? And last are you using a fall theme? If so that will open up alot of options.
Kimberly,
* look how “just” the centerpieces were done with the black rocks in bottom, or use shades of pebbles from a craft store, would mimic the rocks in a pond.
Kimberly,
* this is unique, simple, and full of meaning in black, purples, touch of blue
Kimberly,
* this is not your colors but could you imagine using simple babies breath? guys wearing black and girls in purple, have simple white linens and centerpieces of black river rocks or pebbles with tufts of babies breath.
Kimberly,
* oops! here is the wedding
* had to show you the fab decor and the guys attire in this one!
They do have white pumpkins. If you are up for the idea for centerpieces, you could find some medium to smaller white pumpkins and cut the tops off like you are making a jack o lantern and remove the insides. You can then use them as vases for purple flowers. Or you can do lots of things with stencils. If you see vases, fabrics or whatever you like, use an accent color and stencil a design on that you like.
HELP!! HELP!! WE ARE GETTING MARRIED JULY 10TH…. OUR COLORS ARE A CANARY YELLOW, WHITE AND SMALL ACCENTS OF SILVER..AND I AM DESPERATLEY LOOKING FOR IDEAS FOR CUTE BUT SUPER CHEAP CENTERPIECES… I AM LOVING THE LEMONS JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM…. TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM EXPENSIVE REAL FLOWERS… ANY SUGGESTIONS ON CHEAP REAL FLOWERS… PLEASE HELP!
Amy,
Your headed in the right centerpiece direction for the budget. Lemons are amazing in centerpieces.
* simple lemons in bowl
* another pic
Amy,
Head to the dollartree.com and buy up bowls or cylinders and float lemons in water, with or without a floating candle. can also take ribbon and secure with a dab of craft glue around middle of vase.
* nice
* tons of pics with lemons and limes
the plumeria (frangipani) flowers may be the kind of flowers you are looking for, plus they’re fragrant too. Hawaii has them all year long but you may want to call some plumeria farms and see if they can be shipped. they start wilting in a few days so that’s also something to consider. otherwise, you could make your own (not real) with outer silver wiring and cut white material into petal shapes, glue each petal to the wire and paint the inside a canary yellow. use some floral tape to piece it together.
example
frangipani
Hi AMY,
Lemons are a great idea for centerpieces. What you can do is get big glass bowls, fill them with whole lemons then cut some lemons and place them on top of the whole ones. Stagger some buched of cut lemons next to votive candles (which are really cheap) and there you go. You can get frosted votive holders for a more white look and I would add strips of inexpensive satin ribbon in your colors across the tables like table runners. (For votives, try efavormart, try the scraps bin at the local fabric store for ribbon) Hope this helps you. Good luck!