The Last Guide to Inexpensive Wedding Centerpieces You’ll Ever Need
It’s true — traditional floral centerpieces add a lovely touch to your wedding reception tables. It’s also true that they usually cost an arm and a leg, especially if your wedding's big.Happily, there’s no rule that says you have to stick to the tried but costly floral route for your centerpieces. You have plenty of options that are original, creative and inexpensive. All you need is a good idea of your theme and color scheme.
How Sweet It Is
Having a less formal wedding? Add a lighthearted touch with candy bowl centerpieces. Start with a set of attractive glass containers you found at a craft store or your local Wal-Mart or Target — these could be fluted glass bowls, oversize goblets, clear glass pitchers or anything that strikes your fancy. Now fill them with anything you like, ranging from pastel M&Ms to jelly bellies. Finish them off with a silk ribbon round the edge. You can even stick a long-lasting, casual, pesticide-free flower right in the middle, such as a Carnation or Gerber daisy. These centerpieces are easy to put together, and your guests will enjoy munching on them throughout the evening.Bargain Blooms
Absolutely must have flowers, but don’t have the budget for a big production? Again, you have options. Skip the pros entirely, and go with bright, appealing Gerber daisies in simple mason jars or clear glass pitchers. Fresh flowers don’t have to be fancy to be absolutely beautiful. |  |
Or take the Eastern route, and go for minimalism. Buy yourself some hardy but exotic blooms, such as anthuriums or birds of paradise. Place two or three stems in a simple glass filled with white riverstones. Accent with a few white pillar candles.
Here's another striking look with only a few flowers: buy a number of clear glass cylinders. Fill each one with water, and submerge the head of a perfect rose. Top off each cylinder with a floating candle and a smattering of petals. Surround your creations with more petals, or clear glass vase gems.
If you want the floral look but don’t have the time to mess with fresh foliage, take a good look at silk. Almost every hobby or craft store offers a wide selection of silk flowers that you can arrange into lovely centerpieces long before your crunch week arrives. These flowers are much more durable than the real thing, so you can experiment at length and explore your creative horizons. The same store will probably offer all sorts of inexpensive vases, but you may find you like the look of your silk flowers even better without a vase, tied with simple twine or ribbon, just like meadow blooms.
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Gone to Pot
if you like the flowers but hate the thought of all those blooms going to waste after the reception, why not use potted plants? You can find inexpensive ones at home improvement stores, greenhouses and even grocery stores, all of which periodically discount their plants like mad to clear out the store. You’re sure to find lovely, fragile blooms perfect for repotting in more attractive containers that match your wedding’s color scheme. Or if the pots aren’t half-bad, sponge-paint them or add a little gilt and a satin ribbon to spice them up.Remember that you don’t have to use traditional flowers if you go the potted route. If you’re having an Asian-themed reception, go for twisted columns of lucky bamboo in a lovely porcelain container. Having a wild West wedding? Group together some mini-cacti for a cute and memorable centerpiece. At the end of the wedding, make sure your guests know that they’re free to grab one and become its “forever owner.”
Hitch Up Some Helium
A classic tactic for dressing up tables inexpensively is helium balloon bouquets. Even with the expense of weights and a helium tank, balloons are a cheap way to add vertical interest and lots of fun to your tables. They also come in hundreds of colors, shapes, patterns and textures, although most brides will want to stick with the tasteful, pearlescent pastels. (Alternately, pick one neutral, light-colored pearlescent balloon, and one more dramatic color that matches your table linens.) When creating balloon bouquets, cut your ribbon in graduated heights so your balloons form an attractive vertical spiral. Or tell your cousin to do it — balloon bouquets are so easy, you can delegate this task to almost anyone.You can jazz up your balloon bouquets and add an element of surprise. First of all, balloons don’t have to come in the familiar light bulb shape — heart shapes are sweet, and a little different.
Another way to give your balloons that extra punch is to use inserts. Inserts can be as simple as some sparkling confetti you’ve dropped inside your balloons, using a simple tube to hold open the neck. You can even insert flowers (avoiding the thorny ones!), foil-wrapped candies, or most dramatically of all, other balloons. Here’s a page with how-to instructions on making dramatic “chandelier” balloon inserts, just to spark some ideas.
Thinking all that could just be too complicated? Here’s a simple crowd-pleaser. Instead of using traditional weights, tie your balloons to the table using candy bars — the regular grocery store variety, or exciting — and heavy — imports like Toblerone or Cadbury. This way, some of your guests can take one home as a souvenir, or at least do a clever munchkin imitation during the waning minutes of the reception.
Go Bananas … or Just Go Nuts
Even the simplest bowls filled with fruit on a little greenery usually look out-of-this-world wonderful. Try large, shallow wooden bowls filled with Spanish moss, lemons, and some matching yellow squash. Tall glass bowls filled with walnuts, grapes, a flower or two and a little durable greenery will look simply smashing.How about this for simple elegance? Glue a six-inch segment of copper tubing to a flat plate. Fill the tube with dramatic curly willow, and heap the plate with bright red, resilient berries.
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Blast From the Past
A photo cube also makes an inexpensive and creative centerpiece. Pictures of the couple as children, or photos of them early in their courtship, can be a big hit for the guests. If you know in advance who’ll be sitting at which tables, spread the nostalgic wealth by tucking in photos of family, friends and guests as well — be sure to get some photos of grandparents and great-grandparents in their christening gowns!Give it Some Glow
Candles are another favorite way of putting together a simple but elegant centerpiece. You can group your candles by color and shape, or mix them up a little more if you’re good with arrangements. Many brides like to place mirrors under their candles to amplify the glow (mirror tiles are cheap to buy at home improvement stores; round mirrors from craft stores are slightly more expensive).Don’t stop at pillar candles, though. You can often find hurricane lamps for cheap at your local Wal-Mart. You can also dress up candles in a big way with a little presentation. How about placing a big white candle in a low, black bowl? The result looks anything but low rent.
Over and Out
When your budget’s feeling a little strain and the lottery hasn’t yet come through, you’ve still got plenty of room to move when it comes to spectacular centerpieces. Just fire up your greatest asset — creativity — and you’re sure to come up with an option that’s far more exciting than the same old ho-hum floral arrangements.Then, when all’s said and done, you’ll probably hear, “how did you come up with that?” Just smile demurely and murmur something about necessity ... that is, if you're feeling generous.
I’m cake pro and do loads of sugar craft so I’m thinking of using cakes with edible pictures of us (either cupcakes or round 6″) as centrepieces but I feel they’ll be too bland just being on d table yet I fear the effect of our pictures on d cakes will be lost if I put the cakes on 4″-6″ high cakes stand. How do I incorporate mason jars filled with coloured water with floating candles into cake centrepieces?
EncoreBride,
What I would do is have a ring of greenery or flowers/greenery around base of stand with votives. I am thinking mason jars might be too much with the cake centerpieces unless you go with the half pint jars with floating candles. Thye are tall yet small enough to not overpower the table and accent the cakes.
Example ideas
I also google imaged wedding cake centerpieces then cake centerpieces for some great setups.
I’ve made centrepieces with cakes and sugar flowers and even airbrushed stenciled designs in d past for customers. I wanted something different and got the idea of the edible pictures on the cake from this new trend if framed pictures of d couple on d tables. I agree d mason jars may be overkill but my major fear is: will d pictures be visible from cakes on a stand?
EncoreBride,
I agree with the pics on cake may not be seen. What if you could put them on the sides of the cake? Like this…
I’m getting married in October. I’m on a budget but i want centerpieces that will still add elegance to my wedding. I chose a rose and crystal theme. I’m not opposed to doing it myself either. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated….thanks!
It depends on the centerpiece look. You coudl always do low centerpieces with roses in simple crystal vases or tall rose centerpieces with hanging crystal garlands.
* real wedding
I love this wedding cause it pulls in some fallish elements thru the crystal branches. Very simple to do and makes a impact. If you are using colored roses with the crystal branches-even better.
HI I AM LOOING FOR SOME HELP FINDING FLORES&DECORATION FOR MY WEDDING MY WEDDING THEME IS PARDISE SO I AM WOUNDERING IS ANY ONE CAN HELP MY WEDDING COLORS IS IVORY 7 & CLEARET PLEASE HELP MY E-MAIL IS pn8c@att.net ps my wedding is in january 15 2011
Penny,
* here are some pics
* pic
penny,
* ton of pics here
* more great pics
Penny,
* love the cranberry centerpieces
* project wedding pics
my fiance and I love motocross and mini trucks, trying to come up with some classy ideal center pieces any suggestions would help…
For those who MAY NOT know what a mini truck is, I’ve added a pic and would be glad to explain. Thanks again :)
deanna,
i was raised up with a brother building hot rods and a hobby was dirt bikes and 4 wheelers, so this is all VERY familiar to me!!
what are your wedding colors?
do you have access to someone who custom paints or airbrushes? if you have a friend that would do this for very reasonable, then why not have vases like a custom paint job? just keep it in your colors. then for his cake have a motocross grooms cake.
you could also have chrome vases with florals and have programs with a custom airbrush design on top. this could be done and it will look amazing, unique, customized, modern, and will pull in the “chrome” from the rims. i am betting you wont find another wedding like this!! and that is what makes it all the bride and groom. do you know what would be so unbelievable!! having cameleon painted vases!! you could add votives around them and it would change colors with the light. that would be amazing!! plus you could put use them in your home, if they were painted in the right color or a neutral, like pearl or silver, .
deanna,
i know the cameleon paint idea is pretty high or very diy but i was thinking if you knew someone. they might do this as a gift, or as a favor. ?!? just a thought,
you could still go with a custom colored vases or containers though.
thanks soo much stacey for the advice
how about something like a (remote controlled car sized) tyre, with a single flower inside or put on a plate, filled with something like candy or nuts?
HELLO
Mi daughter will be married in october in argentina so spring time..in a golflclub and i want to konw what i cand do for centerpices with lemon or apples ..because all is green and white –
I d like to do it in a basquet or another recipie ..
please give ideas..
hepl
mary
mary,
google image lemon centerpieces you will find great ideas! i would use the lemons instead of the apples. i just think the lemon would give a more chic appeal. good luck!
you can also google image apple centerpieces.
these are what i found, hope it helps
Hi Mary,
Here’s a picture from theknot.com which is quite cute using limes. You could easily use lemons.
future mrs,
you could do the edible centerpieces and keep flowers to a minimum like a sprig tucked in a napkin. also another idea is using old bottles and grouping those(check out thrift stores/flea markets) add 1 amazing flower that can hold its own(lily for example or a hydrangea) you can also find historical articles( guests will love reading this and good conversation starter)and print/copy those on antique looking paper and have the papers( either one) have a border and curl it a little to make it look like an old treasure map. in link below check out wed on beach, ( i dont know if yours is beach themed?!?)but its more in your colors.
do you have a theme? for just your centerpieces why not add another pop of color to blue. say a mixed centerpiece it will jump off the table without having to be expensive. when your on a budget, color is the best way to make it look a “bit” more. if your not crazy about that. why not group 1 type of inexpensive flower in 1 vase, have mix and match, a total of 3 vases with 3 types flowers.always keep an odd number and add candles. another thing you can add that would be inexpensive is photos or a printed poem(on antique looking paper) with each centerpiece in an old world style font. if you dont want flowers consider something edible, like bowls of candies or breads with butter. you can easily make something edible and in todays that can be more practical and well used!!
*Reception Stories
My fiance and I got engaged in Ireland and would love to tie in a Celtic theme for our centerpieces. Any ideas?? We don’t want anything too precious (no leprechauns dancing on shamrocks). Help!!
Peggy, Hello! Totally doable and completely affordable! I did a wedding with wine bottles but utilized them as placecards – I found a label in a photo the bride and groom sent me of a trip they took to Italy, found that graphic on line and changed it so that it had their wedding information on it but was still noticeably the same bottle
. Then I put each guests name on each label and set it at their place – the roses marked who was eating steak or fish. For the centerpieces I found old-timey looking glasses (like your grandmother had) at the dollar store and we filled those alternately with candles and flowers.
Those few things were relatively cheap. What will cost a few more but I believe is COMPLETELY worth it, was we covered the tables with a pretty sea-blue and had beautiful napkins made in golds and purples.
You can see the photo set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishkadesigns/sets/72157604702715820/
Helping to plan my daughter’s wedding at a winery in May 09 and would like some ideas for centerpieces that would go along with that theme. Daughter likes the idea of candles more so than flowers and I like the idea of incorporating grapes/grapevines or wine bottles/wine glasses in the mix.
I was married at a winery in Napa, CA in 2001. Many guests commented on my centerpieces: On a 10 inch round mirror place a 3-4inch diameter and 6 inch high glass cylinder. Fill 3/4 with water. Place a stem/bunch of champagne or wine grapes into water until submerged. place a floating candle on top and light. place 3 votive candles around the cylinder and on the mirror. Looks beautiful!! You can rent the mirrors and cylinders. I had the candles made to match my wedding colors and purchased the grapes from a produce store who special ordered.
Wedding is 8/02/08 with my flower as Red roses and wedding colors Red, White, and Gold. Help me with centerpiece and bout and corsaig. HELP and cant even spell the flowers that go on to parents and the groom. HELP!!!!! I am stressed.
Jade,
Where did you find Tiffany Blue Pashminas??? If anyone knows, please let me know!!!
Thanks!
I am planning a 50th anniversary party for my parents in September. I know that this is considered the “golden” anniversary, but their favorite colors are gray and yellow. I would like to have a centerpiece specifically for the guests of honors table and something else for the other tables. Do you have any suggestions?
My fiancee’ and I will be getting married this October. Our colours are espresso and gold with fall accents, such as reds, oranges,and greens. We would love to do our own centerpieces using branches instead of flowers, but not quite sure what to do. Do you have any suggestions?
Need help making centerpieces. My ideas is to use a 2 sided 18 x 20 photo on a 18” pole/dowel connected to a base. I don’t know what kind of base that would hold it, and how to attach it to the photo. Help!
Jade – I would look at using an embossed or textured gold or silver ribbon to reflect the light and give contrast to your colors. You can use them to tie around the stick ends or vase. You can also look for some inexpensive candles (if allowed) to provide additional contrast. Last possibility is finding some inexpensive golden / silver beads / necklaces and loosely placing them in and around the flowers.
Good luck!
have a wedding at the end of october. colors are brown, orange, and tiffany blue. We are using tiffany blue pashminas as sashes for the chairs and doubling them as favors for the women. The linens are brown and the napkins are paprika orange. I have two flowers I bought that I feel are perfect. One is orange, the other blue berries. Both fake but with a very “Stick like” base. However, something just isnt right. Everything looks very blah and just needs a pop of something to soften the look. I need suggestions here.
getting married on July 28 07, colores are peridot, white, and silver. Need some idea for center piece, wedding formal, and theme is united as one, alot of hearts.