The Lazy Way to Great Winter Wedding Centerpieces
Chances are, the centerpiece issue is a bit like, oh, the manual transmission on that $500 Ford you bought in high school. Sticky. Temperamental. Sometimes, maddening.
But let's throw a disclaimer in here. Nobody can hit on the perfect centerpiece for your wedding, because yours is unique. After all, nobody has just a winter wedding. Catherine's winter wedding reflects her personal love affair with Scandinavian palettes. Julie's Christmas wedding spotlights a European St. Nick. Michaela's Yuletide wedding involves an alarming number of candles and a suspiciously pagan feel. Yours involves ... oh, you get the point.
And yet. It's always helpful to see what other brides have done, right? Especially when what they've done is easy and cheap, right?
Of course it is. That's why we've tossed together some hip approaches to winter wedding centerpieces that are only slightly more work than remembering to open your garage door before you back out in the morning.
1) The (Artificial!) Tabletop Christmas Tree
Try these two to three-foot high trees in white, or even blue. Or why not pink, with drop-crystal chandelier ornaments and a dramatic feather topper? You probably won't want to deal with extension cords gunking up your tables, so go for battery-operated string lights. And put them to twice the use: hang those Christmas ornaments you've bought as favors from the boughs.Romantic alternative: buy the white metal ornament trees you find at craft stores. Optional: wrap the branches in marabou feather boas for a more luxurious look. Final touch: hang elegant silver photo frame ornaments containing pictures of your entire family (including the newest additions, of course!)
2) Gobs o'Gifts
For an uber-romantic and girly centerpiece, start with a white or clear footed platter (height = drama). On top of that, place a glossy gift box you've lined with plastic, filled with a block of "wet" floral foam cut to size, and made stunning with a topper of paveed roses. Glue luxurious organza ribbon to the box on four sides, gift-box style. Hang the box top casually over a corner so that most of the roses are visible. (Okay, cheat. Glue it there with a toothpick so your favorite nephew doesn't blow it off in 15 seconds.)Optional: Gift Tower. Pile several gift boxes together, from large to small. Glue a thick, absolutely-must-touch ribbon so that it seems to hold all three together. Fill just the top box with roses.
Finishing touch: surround your rose "gift boxes" with real gifts: complementary gold ballotins or favor boxes holding rich, dark truffles.
3) The Cheater's Way ... Er, Sleigh
If you want to cheat your way to instant cuteness (and who wouldn't?), start by contacting a floral shop or browsing ebay, and tracking down miniature sleigh planters or flower holders. If you're willing to search, you can find these items for as cheap as $10 each. The world's simplest floral arrangement (a smattering of white carnations, a handful of red roses and a smidge of pine, say) looks smashing when you lay it in a wooden sleigh.4) Sleek and Chic
For a simple, chic and totally modern centerpiece, all you need is an oversized ornament stand (at least a foot high; bigger is better — try here) and one very large and hopefully attractive ornament to hang from it.Amp it up: choose an ornament with lots of glitter and shine. Place a mirror tile under the ornament stand. And surround the whole thing with votives. You'll definitely be digging all that light.
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
| See All Winter Wedding Favors ... | |||||||||||
5) Let it Snow (Let it Snow and Etc.)
It's amazing what you can do with a bit of florist's foam. For starters: carnation "snowballs."Get a sphere of florist foam (wet and pre-soaked if you're using real flowers; regular if silk) and about 50 white carnations. Clip the carnations so the stems are only about an inch long, and working in a spiral pattern, cover the form.
Possibilities: make four or five snowballs for each table. Line them up along the runner and link them together with wide, satiny ribbons. Or: Place each one on top of a vase. Or: wire to a topiary stick like a lollipop. Or: hang your snowballs over the tables. Hint: if using real flowers, let the whole thing drip-dry for at least a few hours before going live.
Amp it up: give your snowballs a little bling by adding sparkly bouquet picks or pins.
Amp it up more: create durable mini snowballs out of mini-spheres of floral foam and baby's breath. Scatter liberally.
Snowballs remind you of getting pummeled by those two boys come room from the next block over in third grade? Use cone-shaped floral foam to create Christmas tabletop trees out of flowers, or cranberries, or ... basically anything that comes on a stem or you can stick on a toothpick. Well, almost anything. Maybe not cheese.
6) The Ol' Candle/Wreath Combo
Don't yawn just yet. There's a reason this keep showing up — it looks great. (Or maybe it's that a team of bright aemobas could put these together?) At any rate, try these spins on the ol' pillar candle. Just make sure to give your creation height. Get it off the table and you're 80% there.Red pillar / wreath of red roses on a footed stand. The super-strong colors add a ton of drama.
White pillar / marabou feather wreath on a footed stand. Simple to do, lovely to look at. Option: surround with pale blue or silver glass ornaments.
Pillar / ornaments in a footed bowl. Toss in the pillar, and surround with glass ornaments. Try hard to stick with one color; it'll really look much better. But if you mix up large and small ornaments with shiny and matte ones in that color, you've got a home run.
Can't find footed platters or bowls? Make your own, super-cheap. Instructions: find a suitable glass or vase. Find a suitable plate or bowl. Turn the glass upside down and epoxy-glue it to the bottom of the plate or bowl. Bonus: glue marabou feather boas or silver glitter around the rim, or use gold-leaf paint pen to draw a border.
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
| See All Winter Wedding Favors ... | |||||||||||
And A Few More Ideas for Seasonal Sizzle
You probably already know that cranberries make an eye-popping anchor for holiday floral arrangements (a posy of white roses in a container full of cranberries, for example — yum). But you don't have to throw the cranberries into something traditional. Try them in oversized martini glasses, for example.Want something a little warmer than glass bulbs to ring your arrangements? Try glazed fruit. Pick out some gorgeous pears, or apples. Spray paint the edges with gold — or water down ordinary white glue, mix with glitter, and brush onto your fruit.
Have the perfect centerpiece but need some rose petal alternatives to scatter around them? Try these on for size:
- miniature nutcrackers
- pinecones: paint them white, or brush with gold
- large, glittery snowflake confetti
But here's our favorite idea for adding a little pop to those candles, trees or flowers: scavenge yourself a collection of pretty glasses. They don't have to match: try faceted wine glasses from the thrift store, or sundae glasses, or silver mint julep cups. Glue white feather boa along the rim, or line of glitter, or just leave them plain. All done? Now drop in a single glass ornament so it's perched on top like an egg ... or pour in a bit of H2O and a white floating candle.
Share the Wealth
What winter centerpiece ideas have snagged your imagination? Let the world know ...You Might Also Like ...
Dazzling Winter Wedding Favors "¦ and Decor IdeasInspirational Ideas for Winter Wedding Flowers
Fresh New Ideas for a Winter Wonderland Wedding Theme
Like the Perfect Man, a Great Winter Wedding Dress is Hard to Find
The Red Wedding Dress
Calling Cupid: Planning the Perfect Valentine's Day Wedding
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
| See All Winter Wedding Favors ... | |||||||||||
Pages: [2] 1 » Show All
I am getting married 1/9/10, decorating the hall and church are a dilemma at the moment. I too, want the Winter Wonderland Theme. I am on a very limited budget and need a lot of ideas on the DIY decorations. I absolutely love the idea of the branch trees and painting them white and adding glitter. Ideas for potting them..Im open for suggestions. Table centerpieces I haven’t a clue yet. Ive thought of balloons, boas/feathers, crystal/stones & candles but would like to incorporate a little height at the same time. The reception hall doesn’t allow putting anything in the walls/ceiling so Im also trying to think of backdrops for the cake area and the wedding table. Any ideas would greatly be appreciated. Thanks so much.
allie,
can i see a pic of the venue to determine what it needs? thanks!!also what is your color scheme?
Hey I understand your dilemma we are going through the same thing! so we are ordering a castle back drop its blue and has snow and such you could also use standing lighted snow flakes, and center pieces we are take small terracotta pots spray painting them the colors of the wedding with a glitter overlay, and sticking foam in the bottom taking wooden rods with a round foam ball that has been spray painted white with glitter and putting a few fake small flowers and putting some fake snow on those, another idea is to take a bunch of small glass bowls put round rocks the color of the wedding in them with beta fish (good easy favor kids will love) and we are taping balloons using fishing line instead of ribbon inside the bowl under the rocks so it seems as though clouds are floating hopefully this will help
I’m getting married at an as-yet undetermined date, but my wonderful fiance and I have decided that the fantasy and drama of a Winter Wonderland wedding is right up our alley. Here’s what we have so far:
Indoors (this is almost Canada and we’re talking December/January. There’s no WAY we’re getting married outside in the snow) at our church in the evening with a very short guest list (we’re trying to keep it less than 50). No wedding party except maybe a flower girl. Just him and me and the minister in a forest of bare trees and evergreens. Lots of candles, lots of fake snow and candlelight. I’m hoping to have a patchwork cloak in my wedding colors (shades of blue and purple with silver accents) and he’ll have a vest to match. And I would LOVE for my bouquet to be in a lantern.
I know it doesn’t sound like much. Seeing as my family is in food, we have the menu just about figured out and we’ll be eating a sit-down dinner off of real china (at least some of it with a purple, blue, and silver pattern!), but I’m excited to plan more. I’m certain that stars and snowflakes will make an appearrance, though I don’t know how just yet. And my dress is a complete mystery (though I’ve been advised not to wear white by my decorator). So, we shall see what comes of it all!
Good luck to all of you! These sound like fun ideas. I’m so glad other people are using the winter months for weddings, too. They’re sure to be beautiful.
I am planning a wedding for some yet unset date about two years from now. We have settled and agreed on a winter wedding, and I am fighting for…I know it’s crazy…a ceremony outside in the snow! I was inspired by Phoebe’s blizzard wedding in the snow on a street in Friends. There was just something that seemed so beautiful and elegant about it all. I’ve had trouble convincing people that it won’t be a Christmas wedding. Just winter and snow. I’ve been trying to find some ideas, but as of now what I picture in my head (that will likely NEVER work out on my budget) is this…
a fresh field of snow and lots of pine trees with guests dressed nicely and bundled apropriately (the few there are). There will be no seats, but maybe a sort of stage/raised area made of packed snow or ice? Idealy, I want this to be near dusk. There aisle way to be light with those old candle lanters, hanging from metal posts. I saw some in a Pottery Barn magazine this past winter. Guests will hold candles and candle light lanters to add to the light. I was thinking of red/burgundy as my colour (the groom to be aproves) and having the front area decorted with some neat little cranberry ice candle holders I saw in Better Homes and Gardens a while back (at least, I think it was BHG) At any rate, the candles flicker through the ice. PERFECT for outdoors.
I somehow picture elegant long wool coats and the like to help keep the very small wedding party warm. Just a best man and maid of honor. Depending on the cold, I thought I might pass my coat off to my maid of honor before I walk down the aisle.
For the reception we aren’t sure yet about maybe just a party at a pub or a more traditional recption. I’m wondering about the idea of baby pine tree potted to wait to be planted when the weather is right as sort of table centerpieces/ goodies for guests to take and keep.
Thoughts?
kari, hi. love your ideas! i also love the idea of the baby tree centerpieces. it fits so well and i love the fact it can be replanted. it is something that will be a reminder of your beautiful day. there are some gorgeous white bridal coats that you can wear and you dont have to take it off which you could for an the indoor reception. i also love the cranberry ice holders, how beautiful is that gonna be!! candles in the snow. i hope you have a wonderful wedding. and i wouldnt change a thing! you are so creative!! though i wanted to post them all, google image outdoor winter wedding also try winter wedding. then bridal coats and take a look at tree wedding favors. good luck!!
A friend once had a winter wedding and rented a beautiful white fur stole. She looked wonderful AND stayed toasty warm.
Hello and congrats to all the other brides out there! I am not a wedding planner or florist, etc., just a frustrated bride. It seems all of the wedding magazines, wedding websites, etc. leave winter as a last thought.
Anyhow, after searching endlessly I’ve found a bunch of photos that inspired my winter wedding and if you email me, I can email you the pics.
For my wedding, we are having it at a wonderful location that has a gorgeous ballroom/event center. Since I am getting married in January and our honeymoon is at Deer Valley, UT, my fiance and I would like to incorporate a winter feeling for our guests.
The location, in addition to a fabulous ballroom, it also has an incredibly large ceremony room where the ceiling is a rounded dome shape, made up of glass. For the ceremony, I’ve decided to create a sort of winter wonderland. At the altar, I’m going to create a scene with lots of fake snow, candles, and white Christmas trees. But, down the aisle, I am putting up large white sparkly willow branches tied together for each row of chairs. Then, hopefully, I’m going to find some blue Led lights to light up the room ice blue. For my ceremony bouquet I’m going to have a bouquet full of white peonies. In my ceremony I’m trying to focus on these colors: silver, white, and blue.
But, for my actual reception, I’m totally changing the look and I’m going for that natural, woodsy feeling with pine cones, red berries, and pine trees. In the reception, I’m trying to focus on green, red, and brown. At our reception, my bouquet will be red, black magic roses. Around the ballroom I will have plain, green Christmas trees. On the grand stair case I am decorating it with real green, fresh cedar tree garland. For my centerpieces, I am using 1 small pine tree inside of a vase made from birch tree(found at Pottery Barn), and then I am stuffing green moss around the tree. Then, I’m including a tall brown lantern that holds a cream colored candle, surrounded by pine cones and berries. The location has a beautiful gate that leads into the entrance and I am placing a large Christmas Wreath made of pine tree, pine cones, and berries. For my cake, I am taking a previous brides idea and using a cake stand made from a tree(it looks spectacular). The cake is all white, but surrounded by sugar(so it looks like snow), and lots of twig branches are surrounding the bottom cake layer. My fiance and I are dancing to “Baby it’s cold outside.” This is really all I have thought about for my winter wedding, I still need to think about my bridesmaids dresses and the color of the linens. For my bridesmaids, I’m considering champagne color or red, still not sure though. For the table linens, I am thinking either white or champagne color. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please let me know!! Goodluck to you all!! I found inspiration for my wedding from this couple’s winter wedding: http://blog.thehandcraftedwedding.com/handcrafted_wedding/2008/02/all-in-who-you.html
HI MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING A WINTER WEDDING AND YES IT IS HARD TO FIND IDEAS . I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY IDEAS OR PICTURES YOU MIGHT HAVE TO OFFER.
FRUSTRATED MOM
dania,
hi, i didnt know her colors but black and white for a winter wedding is amazin, simple, and it takes a huge stress out fo planning. it just seems to fit together and look classic and beautiful without trying. that is why 2 classic wedding color schemes are my fave to work with or a bold color paired with a neutral.
like this…
*this is the most amazing winter wedding i have ever seen and it is nothing more than wrapping white lights around branches and securing to columns.
*real wedding it has that warm feeling that you find at winter time. everyone loves that cozy feeling!!!
*winter real weddings
*winter wedding boards
you will need to look no further if wanting lots of pics than here….
*the knot winter weddings ( sign up free and log in then check out real weddings by season)
dania,
also check out this link…
*sws weddings winter
Inexpensive white poinsettia plants (Throw white glitter on them to catch the light). Wrap a box w/ lid resting on the side of it, like a gift. Put the poinsettia in it. Put votives around it on the tables. People can take them home & keep them through the holidays. I used this for a party & got alot of compliments (& there wasn’t one left). Best of Luck!!!
Hello and congrats to all the other brides out there! I am not a wedding planner or florist, etc., just a frustrated bride. It seems all of the wedding magazines, wedding websites, etc. leave winter as a last thought. Anyhow, I’ve found a bunch of photos that inspired my winter wedding and I just thought you guys might like to see some of them. By the way, my wedding is at a gorgeous ballroom/event center but I am getting married also in January and would like to incorporate a winter feeling. The location also has an incredible room(its ceiling is a rounded glass window) where my ceremony will take place. For the ceremony, I’ve decided to create a sort of winter wonderland, that means a lot of fake snow and Christmas trees. Hopefully, I’m going to find some blue Led lights to light up the room. For my ceremony bouquet I’m going to have a bouquet of white peonies. In my ceremony I’m trying to focus on a these colors: silver, white, and blue. Here are some pics that inspired my ceremony.
My son is getting married in January of this year and it is a snowflake themed wedding. We are using branches, painted white and glittered and hanging 2″ glitter snowflakes off of them. They are in a white vase and the rim of the vase is tucked with toulle. They are gorgeous and the lights bounce off all the glitter and sparkle beautifully!
Forgot to add, that we are doing 2 very large ones to put at both ends of the bridal party table.
oh so unique do you have a pic
We are having a 50th wedding anniversay Winter Wonderland event. Silvery blue, white, silver, and royal blue. and a little gold? What about the gold. And, I would like to make the featured centerpiece with blue and white pillar candles, garland and blue ornaments? Please email me instructions. Thank you.
did you get the instructions as you asked. I reall y would like to do this for my daughter sweet 16
Hi, to all of you getting ready to plan that WONDERFUL DAY! I have planned a couple weddings, and made flowers for abou 10 in the last year. I am now planning two more weddings one being in Nov. and the other in Dec. I for one know how much stress it can be and I for one know the difficulties in choosing that special flower. For my own wedding (the first wedding i ever planned) I was completly lost, but as I started shopping and looking around it all came to me one day. I dont know how but it did. I ended up using mutliply roses (my colors were lavender, a darker purple, and white) so i used all the colors with the roses in my bouquet and it looked wonderful. I am not a full blown professional on wedding planning just yet but am working on it. I wanted to give you some ideas tha you migh find interesting on your chose of flowers. The last wedding I done (besides the two now) I made my first cascading bridal bouquet (i thought i was never going to get it done) but to my surprise it turned out beautiful! I used mainly calla lilies and some greenery, also adding just a touh of purple weisteria to the cascading part, at the top i added 2 cherubs glued to one of the flowers. also i would like to say that roses and lilies , poinsettas , weisteria, different kind of greenery are all wonderful flowers to work with. I have also found a site that is wonderful it is http://www.theknot.com you might try and see what you can find with that. I hope you all have the wedding of your dreams and Congatulations!!
my best friends daughter got married in december of last year. the men were in black and the maid of honor was in red and the bridesmaids in green and the flower girl was in red, she wanted it to look like when the girls were standing at the alter from the red to the green they resembled a poinsettia. it was really pretty. and the surprise was they even managed to hang a misletoe above the bride and grooms head at the alter.
Can you use creamy pink and cream colored ponsettias in a January Wedding?
I AM GETTINGM MARRIED IN THE SUMMER OF 09 AND MY COLORS ARE DARK BLUE AND SILVER, WITH A MIDNIGHT SKY THEME. STARS AND MOONS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT FLOWERS TO USE OR WHAT KIND OF CENTER PIECES TO USE. ANY IDEAS???
I am having a red and gold wedding in august does anyoneone have any ides for cheap or simple centerpieces?
thanks
HELP ME. I have no idea of which flowers to use for my wedding 01/23/09. It kind of helps to know I live in East texas but what else can I use besides the white roses??
Hello, I’m getting married on Jan 31st 2009. I already have my dress and the reception location but I just can’t decide on color. I like a medium green with brown accents. But, I’m just not sure at all. If I went with that, what kind of flowers/ colors would I use. Help, I’m totally lost!
Krissy,
You will share our anniversary date! My oldest daughter chose autumn colors - in August. To bring out browns I used a brown shimmer organza draped over pedestals that held bouquets of silk hydrangeas and worked in the brown color in willow stems and silk leaves. We draped the groom’s cake table area in same organza, layered over a cream tablecloth.
I suggest you use a cream or yellow flower color, staying in the “warm” color range with an analogous color scheme. For more color, consider salmon or coral shades for accent. Best wishes to you.
I am getting married at the end of January and cannot decide on what color/type of flowers for my bouquets/decorations! My dress is ivory and champagne. The BM dresses are a sapphire blue (in between a royal blue and navy blue). The guys are wearing black tuxes with blue ties. My MIL already bought pearl necklaces for the girls as gifts. So…..I’m having a winter wedding with ivory, champagne, sapphire blue and black with pearls. Any suggestions? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How do you make the featured centerpiece with blue and white pillar candles , garland and blue ornaments?
How do you make the centerpiece that is featured on the website on the table, blue garland, white and blue candle?
I am getting married Jan 9, 2009 and I am just beginning all the planning process. I have decided that I would love to have my fantasy winter wonderland wedding and the colors are going to be navy blue, silver, and white. I want to have white painted sparkling tree branches overhead in both the church and the reception but I’m having a problem deciding what pew markers to use, anyone have any suggestions?
Maria, what if you try something simple, use white colla lillies (real or plastic) and submerge them in a tall vase then surround the vase w/ tea lights. Hope that helps.
Have you considered using opalesent christmas balls of the same colors (silver, dark blue, white) and ribbons piled on clear plates or in clear bowls? I’ve seen that before with votive candles in frosted holders scattered around on the table. It was really pretty…