Eight Incredible Centerpieces for Your Wedding
Are you tired of the traditional and terribly expensive floral arrangements at weddings? Why not get a little creative with your centerpieces and give your guests something to talk about (literally!) for years to come? It's a great way to break out of the decoration doldrums and make your wedding truly memorable.1. Don't get Bored, get Board!
In just about every wedding, there's a group of people who prefer just to sit around their tables and talk, often catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. Sometimes, these conversations can lull, leaving the people at the wedding who don't dance with little to do. This won't be a problem with a small collection of board games in the center of the table. This not only gives the guests something an activity, but provides an excellent opportunity for people to mingle at a table where guests might not already know each other. 
2. Get Fishy Wid' It
Tired of that bowl of traditional flowers or shiny multi-colored balls? Why not fill it with live fish? Just fill simple glass bowls with a few small decorations (marbles add a nice touch to the bottom) some water and, of course, a few exotic goldfish. You could even include a small packet of fish food. If you've got kids at the table, the goldfish is sure to be a big hit, especially if you let them feed the fish. It's unique, cheap, and keeps both kids and adults entertained.3. Write makes Right
If you've got a lot of literate friends, another unique centerpiece idea is an attractive journal that matches the theme of the wedding. It looks lovely on the table, and if you include a few pens (how about getting your names and the wedding date on them?) your guests can leave messages, congratulations, best wishes, fondest memories of the bride and groom, embarrassing stories, or anything they feel the bride and groom would enjoy reading as they reflect on their wedding day. 
4. Bring it On, Cupcake
Never underestimate the power of a good cupcake. Small cakes or cupcakes artfully arranged on an attractive serving tray and decorated with small fresh or artificial flowers make a truly unique centerpiece. If you like, you can even use these as an alternative to the traditional wedding cake. This allows for more variety in decoration and flavors. Also, your guests can relive wedding memories by cutting the cakes at their table after the bride and groom.5. Smoke and Mirrors
The combination of candles and mirrors can make for some dazzling effects as centerpieces. Place an attractive round mirror in the center of the table, and have several lit candles of different heights and shapes on the glass. If the light in the reception venue is dim, the light of the candles on the mirrors can produce an awesome effect. Make this tried motif more modern by placing square mirrors under square glass vases, delightfully filled with floating candles and/or submerged flowers.6. Gift and Grab Boxes
If you've got bigger tables, different-sized gift boxes can add a unique touch as centerpieces. Take three different sized boxes and wrap them in unique but complimentary wrapping papers, then glue them together at odd angles to make them unique. For a little extra fun, get some grab bags at a local dollar store and put them inside the boxes for children, or the children at heart.7. A Puzzling Venture
One idea that's growing in popularity is to have a jigsaw puzzle made from a picture of the couple as a centerpiece. It encourages the people at the table to work together to assemble the puzzle, and this serves as a great icebreaker.8. Champagne Anyone?
Another great and useful idea for a centerpiece is a collection of unique champagne glasses. Thrift stores and garage sales often have a lot of these at very reasonable prices, and with a little cleaning they can look as good as new. Arrange the flutes on the tables in random patterns as a centerpiece. They don't have to match — they just have to play well together. The unifying touch? Fill each one with wedding-friendly candy, such as translucent vanilla Jelly Bellies, champagne candies, or pastel M&Ms. The guests can then use the flutes for toasting — and munching.
Don't be stifled by traditional centerpiece choices. These unique ideas can not only give your guests a way to break the ice the wedding, but something to marvel over later for years to come. Break the mold, but not your budget!
I don’t think anyone is disputing the fact that it’s ok for bettas…
Ok, I think most people use betta fish when using fish as centerpieces and if any of you people would do your research, you would know that betta fish are perfectly happy in a small fish bowl with 1/3 a gallon of water in it. Don’t tell me it’s cruel because it’s what they prefer. Don’t tell them to do their research when you haven’t done yours.
everyone who said goldfish are not animals must have an IQ similar to a bag of bricks. They are classified under the kingdom ANIMALIA. They have a brain,heart,nervous system and a LIFE. How stupid can any of you be who proclaim that goldfish are not animals and their quality of life does not matter? I keep a number of different exotic animals ranging from poison dart frogs to sea urchins and it is safe to say i know a thing or two when it comes to animal husbandry. Bowls are completely inadequate for a number of reason that i dont really want to get into due to the fact this a site for bored housewives who don’t really care about goldfish. If you are still interested there are a number of books and websites about this topic. Any gold fish caresheet will also confirm what i said earlier.
Wow..just wow! You guys are a bunch of nuts…once again we care about a little tiny thing rather then something a little more important..I can give you a list thats is..hmm,like a human life? like the planet?
Use glass fish! You can actually find them pretty cheap on the internet. You can skip the water, so no one will get gross things in the bowl, and you have exactly the same look, without the cruelty. If you must have something moving around, there are fake fish you can put in water that do move. Think of the fish. Even ignoring the fact that they won’t be happy in the bowl with loud music and all, they will not all be properly cared for after the wedding.
Beta are an exception and have entirely different needs to goldfish and are quite happy in smaller homes.
We used beta fish in our centerpieces. At the end of the night they were taken home by our guest. One is still living 2 years later.
Yes, anyone who keeps a fish in a bowl is subjecting it to suffering and that is cruel, whether through ignorance or not. I don’t know about in America but here it is finally becoming more well known that goldfish bowls are unsuitable.
Also, fish are animals. An animal is any living organism that has the power of voluntary movement and requires oxygen and organic food to live.
You are basically saying that cruelty is ok because we eat some animals. So we eat beef so it’s fine for people to beat their dogs. Yes, great point there…:D
Caroline, Exactly my point. We eat animals that are killed for us so we can eat them and people are worried about a goldfish in a bowl. Goldfish are not even animals. There are children all over the world that have goldfish as pets in little bowls. Are they cruel too? I don’t think that people are thinking about how cute a lamb is when they are eating it.
We eat lambs. Would you condone having them caged at a wedding for their cuteness factor?
To everyone saying using fish is cruel, that is just silly. We eat fish for dinner I think that is a little more “cruel” than using a fish in a fish bowl for a center piece. FYI fish are not animals they are fish, unless everyone who posted comments are vegetarians I think you have done your fair share of being cruel to animals. Even vegetarians eat fish! Give me a break 8-| . I like the fish idea. :D>-
I am a goldfish addict…I have two 55 gallon tanks, a 37 gallon, a 29 gallon and a 10gallon. I have 15 goldfish. I have 4 cats and 4dogs. I believe any animal you take into your life(dog,cat,fish, etc.) you need to research how you can best meet THEIR needs. Goldfish need a minimum of 10 gallons of water per fish…again Minimum!
Goldfish are very beautiful and I can see why people would want that beauty at their wedding. However, when you truely look at the needs of the goldfish, the risk of death due to drunk guest eating them, kids squishing them or pouring drinks into bowls, people tapping the glass and loud music and light shows that often scare the fish into injuring themselves…you have to ask if you truely want to put these gentle creatures in harms way so you can have a pretty wedding.
Also…what would happen to the fish that survive that night…do guest really know how to care for the fish? Do you have 100 gallon tank for 10 fish?
Please reconsider having goldfish at you wedding. Please prioritize the welfare of the fish. I have been to many beautiful weddings and not one included goldfish!
To the poster below- you should really do some research as there is heaps of evidence that goldfish bowls are not a suitable environment for goldfish. You may have had a goldfish who lived in a bowl, and whilst this does occassionally happen, surely the quality of life matters? You should check the very professional and experienced website KoKo’s Goldfish World- and this page in particular which mentions how bowls cruelly stunt goldfish- http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/care.html. I know someone who kept a stunted goldfish alive in a bowl for only five years. Goldfish have a lifespan of 20 years or more with sufficient care and can grow to a foot in length.
One evening in a goldfish bowl would not kill a healthy fish, no, but nor will it be comfortable for them and fish enthusiasts do not advocate the use of bowls for any breed of fish.
Also, ‘feeder’ goldfish should not have a short and delicate lifespan, unless you purchase them sickly from a poorly run petshop. They are generally commons or comets and therefore more hardy than fancy goldfish.
Talking to petshop staff will generally not help as the majority give out false advice on a regular basis, whether through selling overstocked tanks to make a profit or through sheer ignorance.
I have to disagree with the idea of a fish centerpeice being inhuman – quite the opposite – if done right, it is a very eco-friendly option – nothing dies (like flowers), no garbage, etc.
I have had goldfish who have lived for many many years – in a goldfish bowl none the less. There is no reason why one evening in a goldfish bowl would kill a healthy fish – unless you are using feeder goldfish which are breed as ffod for larger fish and have a very short and delicate lifespan. Talk to your local pet store owner on the best strategies for keeping the fish healthy and happy.
Make plans for AFTER the wedding so the fish are not “wasted” – if you aren’t planning on keeping them and caring for them properly, talk to the local pet store about “renting” the fish – when you are done, bring them back and they can resale them to another pet owner. You will still have to pay for them, but at least they are not getting left to die afterwards.
Poor goldfish. They can’t breathe in bowls, do some research- it has been proven time and time again how cruel it is to keep them in bowls. Anyone who loves animals won’t fully enjoy a wedding full of slowly dying fish. And afterwards if any are still alive what would you do with them? A mass killing of them? How inhumane. They ARE meant as pets, but require 20 gallons of water in a clean and filtered fish tank to live happily. Their lifespan is actually well over 20 years when given the correct care. Just because they’re cheap and plentiful doesn’t mean their lives can just be thrown away
I love the gold fish idea and plan using it at my reception. I am just trying to come up with ways to make it elegant but still keep the fun.
The fish idea is just cruel and disgusting. Fish are living creatures, not wedding decorations. Shame on you for suggesting it in the first place.
Caution with the fish: Know your crowd.
I’ve been to wedding receptions with fish in small bowls for centerpieces, which are very pretty, but I’ve also seen competitions/dares between male guests (usually a bit tipsy) involving swallowing the poor fish.
Try Bettamansions.com. They specialize in betta fish centerpieces that are safe for the fish and cost effective for you. I saw their sevices at a wedding I DJ’d and the centerpieces were elegant. The staff answered questions and had me inform the crowd that “Non fish were harmed in the making of this wedding” thecrowd laughed and enjoyed watching the movement at the table. Good luck.
It depends on the type of goldfish. If you purchase the cheap, feeder goldfish, you have a pretty high risk of them not living long. That is because they naturally have very short lifespans and are bread to be sold as food for larger fish. They are not meant to be kept as pets.
The wedding location is something to consider as well – fish may not be a good option for an outdoor wedding in hot weather. They are better suited for room temperatures.
You will also want to keep the bags that the goldfish came in so that you can put them back in the bags to be safely travelled home after the wedding. If you are worried about them dying, talk to your local pet store professional for advice on how to make it as pleasant for them as possible:D
The fish bowl idea is cruel and evil that is so sad my cousin did that for his wedding and more the half of the fish ended up dying and the people who took the fish home some left it in there cars accidentally its a mess its so cruel to the poor animal.
the fish centerpice idea is wonderful! Only thing is how would the guest take the fish centerpiece home? wont it spill?!?!
My daughter was the flower girl at a wedding where they had goldfish as the centerpieces and the children got to take them home afterwards. For that one, they had two gold fish together in each bowl – a couple:D
I love the fish idea. We are planning a corporate event, and we are using the fishbowl idea, and using them as table giveaway prizes!
A nice centerpiece to use would be a different picture of the bride and groom in nice but cheap picture frames on each table surrounded by lit candles in a bowl full of marbles or colored rocks.
For my center pieces we took bright gerber daisys and stuck them in 3 different sized vases. The biggest one we used 3 flowers and cut up oranges and placed them in the vase with the flowers. and then the 2 one we used 2 flowers and used lemons and limes in the vase. and the third one we used baby grapes and used one flower. it not only looks good but smells good to.
For my wedding, this june, our color scheme is blues and we are getting blue beta fish. we will be putting them in a vase with blue marble like stones in the bottom and we will be putting a couple of blue spider flowers floating in the vase.
why you give the gold fish to kids and guests as gifts!
For the fish centerpiece you would just get a bowl and buy a cheap goldfish or something— put whatever you want in the bowl.
BEWARE! I have been to a wedding where they used a bowl with a goldfish and put a flower to float on top of the bowl but as the night went on some of the rowdy guests reached in and started squeezing and coming up with other ways to kill the fish as “fun”. So, that is sad. Also, after the wedding what will you do with all the fish— if they are still alive?
I really love the idea of fish as centrepieces. Do you know where I could find them in Toronto, Ontario?
Thanks.