Want 10 New Centerpiece Ideas in the Next Five Minutes?
Coming up with ideas for centerpieces can be one of the roughest bits of wedding planning out there.
Of course, for a few lucky brides, it's not that hard — they just set the florist free with some thoughts about "mood" and a blank check. Others are happy to find their venue offers perfectly decent centerpieces as part of the evening's services. Neither of those brides are reading this.
Since you are, you're probably somewhere in between. And it's possibly up to you to at least design, if not actually produce, the cute things that'll unify the design and provide a focal point — or a talking point, even! — at every table. (And no, "what was she sniffing?" is not the type of talking point we'll leave your guests with, promise.)
At first, the task can seem overwhelming. But if you check out the centerpieces showing up at weddings across the country, you'll find there's a big trend toward keeping it simple that works in your favor. And it's easier than it looks to dream up dozens of great ideas.
How? Just mix and match, stealin... — ahem, borrowing — from popular building blocks you'll see everywhere. Just keep your overall look in mind (traditional? contemporary?) and you'll be sure to come out looking like you were born to style weddings.
What Fabulous Centerpieces Have in Common
Not all centerpieces have all these elements, of course. If you actually used them all at once you might have some sort of horrible gravitational accident ("Sorry about the black hole, honey. I'll work in the garage next time."). But most of them use a few. Just play along with our creative nomenclature, and you'll be off and running.
The Guts
The guts, the contents, the gear, the goods. This is them. Going for the most stately and traditional to aggressively modern, these is a list of popular, well ... stuff that brides build their centerpieces around.
- pillar candles
- floating tealights
- candelabras
- roses, gerbers, hydrangeas, callas
- black magic roses, orchids
- flowers plus interwoven bear grass
- hypericum berries
- flowered branches, curly twigs
- green ranunculous, brown or green roses, green mums, gomphrenia, proteas
- small citrus fruits wrapped in contrasting satin ribbons
- ferns
- large variegated leaves, curled into clear cylinders
- wheat grass
- medium gauge copper wire, curled and spiraled
- tall curly willow or flowered branches pushing vertically above floral arrangements
- peacock feathers (a collar for roses, hydrangeas)
- white ostrich feathers (typically in Eiffel vases)
- traditional white blooms dyed startling colors (acid green, aqua blue)
- tropical exotic flowers, reeds, bamboo
- lotus pods, artichokes, kale "roses"
The Guts, Thematic Version
We're going to take a brief detour here and list a few popular "thematic" centerpieces. Those are little more specialized, so we won't linger long.
- candy bouquets (oversized lollipops, chocolate long-stemmed roses)
- cookie towers
- individual cakes
- tiered favor box "cakes"
- terra cotta pots, painted or natural
- wine bottles
- sand castles
- flower-filled conch shells
- pumpkins, gourds
- galvanized pails, watering cans
- birds nests, birdhouses
The Containers
Okay. Let's talk vessels and cylinders, fishbowls and boxes. These are a few of brides' favorite things when it comes to holding The Stuff.
- bubble bowls ("fish bowls"), ivy bowls, hurricane lamps
- footed pedestal bowls, urns
- silver mint julep cups
- eiffel (tower) or trumpet vases
- mason jars
- photo cubes
- gift boxes, hat boxes
- wooden crates
- clear glass cylinders
- square vases, square bowls
- oversized martini or wine glasses
The Treatments
A rose is a rose is a rose, it's said. But wasn't a rose something else when you lopped off the heads of a dozen and sent the stems to your cheating ex in college? Of course it was.
How you treat Your Stuff says at least as much about your style as The Stuff itself. Here are some popular treatments, ranging from Princess Di-ish to Edie Sedgewick-y.
- flowers, nosegays
- flowers, wired to topiaries
- flowers, pavéed
- de-stemmed single flower heads floating in water: gerbers, roses, peonies
- blooms arranged into pomanders or spheres
- maple or oak leaves, roses, orchids, gerbers: submerged entirely in water (aka "drowning rose")
- callas, bear grass, sword grass: submerged and twirled in bubble glass
- roses, orchids, gerbers: submerged plus underwater lighting
- vegetables (gourds, succulents): submerged
Killer Container Fillers
Of course, it isn't always enough to have fabulous flowers and Baccarat vases (or wheat grass and stainless steel). Sometimes we ladies just need an extra design element. Voila: pretty stuff that goes into the
container. Hey, plain old water isn't always thrilling enough for events like this.
- gel beads
- vase gems, clear
- vase gems, bright striking colors
- vase gems with underwater lighting
- cranberries, kumquats, cherries, frozen green peas (can take water)
- coffee beans, candy corn, dried indian corn, popcorn, dried peas, lentils (keep dry)
- colored water, underwater lighting
- citrus fruit, arranged cut side out
- block of floral foam wrapped in sword grass or hosta leaves (placed in square jars)
Snappy Container Wrappers
You've tossed in the callas, the vase gems, a magnificent beta fish for good measure — but something's still missing. What could it be?
Perhaps it's the snappy container wrapper. Because that bubble bowl can look a bit bare without a little something wrapped around it. Miniature "bowl lingerie" is hard to find, but satin ribbons are easy. Hurrah!
- ivy
- raffia
- multilayered satin ribbons
- berry sprays/garlands
- bark strips
- marabou feather boas
- bear grass
- bear grass threaded with crystals
The Underlayments
What a pretty word, eh? "Underlayments." Sounds like something that involves a lot of rivets, and maybe some naughty lace. But in this case, it's something that goes
under your container to make it look even more fabulous. Yeah, like that's possible.
- contrasting table runners
- doilies
- reflective mirror tiles
- criss-crossed satin ribbons
- hosta leaves
- sheet moss
- "stone" runners on webbed backing, cut into squares
- bamboo rolling mats or soba trays
Surrounds
Contrary to popular belief, this is not the unfortunate transformation your fiancé wreaks on your living room before you even tie the knot. ("Your TV isn't wired for 5.1?? Don't worry, honey, I'll take care of that. Can you hand me that coat hanger?")
No, surrounds (at least in our minds) are those sophisticated little things you toss around your centerpieces to give them even more visual interest. Rose petals and vase gems are the most traditional. You can simply scatter them around your creations like little moons in loose orbits.
Or, if you're feeling a little more luxe, you can arrange your centerpieces in a soldierly little line all the way down the table, filling the spots between with heaps of petals or orchid heads. Or if you really want to cheer up your guests, you could always scatter gold coins.
- vase gems
- rose petals
- round votive holders
- beach glass
- seashells
- teacups (as votive holders)
- loose dendrobium orchids
- river stones
- square votive holders
- glass ornaments
- miniature gourds (plain or hollowed to hold votive candles)
- polished black river stones
And Now, Over to You
Whew! Well, that's enough out of us (do I smell something burning?) You've probably thought of a few great centerpiece ideas yourself. Trade ideas in the comments field below ... and don't forget to include some pics of your mock-ups or final results!
What about a pink open rose head sitting on pink gems in a cylinder vase filled with water and a floating candle on top. This is what I plan to use at my wedding reception.
thanks for the new idea. I’m sure dinner will be alot better.
Hey everyone,
I envy each and every one of you because I lack any sense of creativity towards anything. I would have never thought of 90% of the ideas on this website, and that leads me to my current dilemma. I am currently a cadet in Air Force ROTC and for some odd reason they decided to put me on the committee to help plan our Fall Dining-out, which is a fancy way of saying formal dinner. The cadet in charge of the entire program at my school has a motto/goal for everyone to focus on for the semester and that it “Make it personal.” Meaning take academics, physical fitness, and all of your responsibilities including social life and take it seriously, find a way to improve, get help if you need it and just make it personal by taking steps to keep everything within your control. Lengthy explanation but needed, sorry. So the four person committee that is putting everything together for the dinner wants to make the theme along the same lines as her motto. Doable? Yes we believe so. We do have a very limited budget (we are college students and its a military budget that we are working with.)
They for some reason put me in charge of the centerpieces for about 25 tables. Some ideas that we have so far include various pictures of cadets hanging out, past and present, including personal pictures and pictures taken at events. Maybe even crafting little popsicle stick frames to go along with it, or something simple (and cheap.) I would greatly appreciate some ideas to help me out a little. Its a formal dinner but we want to make it newbie friendly and as not intimidating as possible. HELP please!! Its my last one since I graduate in Dec and would love to make it an amazing evening for everyone. Ideas?
Thanks in advance and the Dining-out is in the middle of November just in case you were wondering.
I’m getting married 7/11/09 and need help with centerpiece ideas. I don’t really want flowers but that all I seem to find when searching. The wedding colors are aqua and teal. Any ideas would help!!!
I am getting married in January of 09′ and we are using live fish in hurricane lamps with a bow around the top and gems in the bottom of the lamp. Hope this helps!
Aren’t hurricane lamps open on the bottom? I love, love, love your idea…please let me know more specifics!
I’m getting married on 7/4/09 and we are doing mixed fruit as centerpieces :)
My daughter is getting married 8/8/09 and her colors are charcoal and teal and she has decided to use peacock feathers.
For my anniversary party (which was outdoors) for centerpieces I put a clear vase with a tea light on the bottom of each vase and added clear pebbles (marbles) on top ..each tea light was a diffrent color..(you can have whatever color – maybe the same color of your bridesmaids or your theme color) and when you light them the pebbles reflect the light…they look really pretty in the dark. Some tea lights are water proof so you can add water to your vase and put 1-2 floating heart candles or pretty leaves…or if you like flowers you can put a flower on top. Hope this idea helps!
I found this idea online…I think it might be neater if the ting was colored (spray paint would do it) And you can coordinate it to your colors.
I’m getting married 7/11/09 and need help with centerpiece ideas. I don’t really want flowers but that all I seem to find when searching. The wedding colors are aqua and teal. Any ideas would help!!!
We are having an anniversary party and trying to think of cheap centerpieces. I am using cheap wine glasses. The tablecloths will be blue. I will paint a pretty 25 on one side of the glass. On the other side of each glass will painted something that has meant so much to us in the 25 years. It will take just a few minutes for each one. Put a blue candle in it. I can’t wait to see what they will look like! It will put off some light — and people will enjoy looking at all the different things that have meant so much to us.
I’m looking for a nyc theme centerpiece. Do you have anything?
Hi my wedding is about one month away and i am still in a bind to figure out what i am going to use for a inexpensive yet classical looking centerpieces..PLEASE help i need some ideas
My colors are green and brown, and I have a 12 x 12 sheet of brown paper in the middle. I also have 12 x 12 sheets of green paper, which I’m cutting into circles, and then cutting into doilies in the same way that you made snowflakes when you were little. On that, I have shallow bowls with floating rose-shaped candles in the middle. It’s cheap! The candles were about 0.75 cents a piece at a craft store, and we got the bowls from the dollar store. All of the paper was less than 10 dollars and I have 20 tables.
My fiance & I are planning a Alabama Crimson Tide themed wedding. My future mother-in-law & I are trying to come up with a centerpiece idea for the head table. Please help us out.
Hi! I am throwing a wedding shower for my cousin’s wedding and we are having a cooking inspired party. We need related centerpieces. Any ideas?
Hi, I am giving a 50th birthday party for my guy. The colors are red, black and white. The linen wil be in white but I need help with centerpieces. Any ideas that won’t cost a fortune?
Hi. We are planning a surprise 85th birthday for my dad. It will be a casual party with at least 100 guests. It will be in a restaurant but we are to provide the centerpieces. We have printed shirt of dad’s picture for give away favor so his picture is out as far as the centerpiece is concerned (don’t even know if that give away is a good idea but it’s already done. Any good idea for centerpieces?
i am getting married 7/11/09 and i seen this centerpiece where there were feathers and roses in the middle now i cant find the site would u know where i can find a picture of that
Planning a Big Apple theme for my wedding as I got engaged in NYC!!! Any idea’s for table decorations? And any other ideas of how I can incorporate this theme into our wedding? Help!!!
Hi Diane — fruit, urns, twigs!
See the photo … kind of like this. Could not be easier. Urns can be rented, or — I kid you not — I just saw ones at the dollar store that did not really look terrible. $1!
Fill them with anything. Packing peanuts. newspaper. You name it. Pile fruit on top, not lemons which cost a mint right now but woody fruit you can buy by the bushel from farmer’s markets for VERY cheap. Pile that on top, tuck sheet moss from craft stores between the spaces to cover the peanuts. You can lightly glaze the fruit with gold dust or a light spray of gold paint, not too much, just a hint. Accentuate with curly willow, twigs or some other vertical woody accent in the center for a very finished look and extra height, like in photo.
Then you can style the base with a scatter of fall leaves (silk or real). Or romantically with a wreath of ruched-up organza in pale orange, say, sprinkled with orange rose petals (get rose petals cheap from florists or grocery stores with florals).
Even easier? Buy potted mums in varying but coordinated colors. Wrap the plastic pots they come in with a simple fabric (muslin) and wrap over that with a romantic, gauzy overlay. Tie a belt of grapevine around the pots and scatter mini gourds and pumpkins at the base. Give these away the the end of the night. HTH!
fall wedding with 78 banquet tables to decorate? Must be fast and inexpensive
Hi Linda,
instead of doing fish and candles (which can quickly make the water uncomfortably warm for the fish and lead to fish deaths), maybe submersible leds beneath the fish instead? Look at these diamond lights if you need something brighter or submersible floralytes which are more subtle, but you can amplify the effect by layering things like vase gems or sea glass on top.
Just be sure to dechlorinate any tap water you use because otherwise it will burn the fish … also, stay away from food coloring! I know it probably goes without saying, but I’ve been to some events where it didn’t, if you know what I mean …
I want to incorporate goldfish and candles in a centerpiece without harming the fish. This is a 50′s themed event. I need to add some light to the centerpieces but do not want to use lights on a strand due to the combination of electricity and water. I am having a creative block…Help!
Amanda: for the flowers, try keeping the lemons whole, rather than cut up; for the sand with candle, maybe get slightly taller candles and tie colored ribbons around them (or around the vase), or place the sand vase on a bright fabric square, (like a napkin or bandanna or a quilting square).
My wedding isi n Nov I want a beautiful ostrich feather centerpiece, i really dont want the same usual flower or candle water bowl centerpieces I wnat a affect that will wow !!! the guest and myself but the centerpiece that I want are so expensive and I want to do them cheap as possible but not look cheap.
Please any ideas helppppppp!!!!
I am planning my parents 25th anniversary party, it’s a dinner cruise on a yacht. There will only be about 10 tables but I would still like to keep the centerpieces simple (and cheaper).
My two different ideas: clear vase with sand, sea shells, and candle in the middle- or vase with few blue/purple flowers and cut up lemons. I am worried the sand/candle thing might not be colorful enough and I’m worried about the worry that will come with fresh flowers and fresh fruit…
If I do the second one, how do you keep the cut fruit arranged on the outside of the vase? Do you have to stuff it with lots of fruit and flowers so it will stay? Or maybe I should just put some lemon slices in there to float around? Is there any concern about the fruit getting yucky looking or in some way affecting the flowers???
EEEkkkk…. thanks for help
The pictures are great… I have been looking forever for centerpieces and I think I found them
It’s fallen to me to design and produce, the decory things that’ll unify the band banquet in two weeks and yes I’d like it to be a talking point at every one of the 34 tables. (And no, “what was she sniffing?” is not the type of talking point)
The dinner will be held in the school cafeteria. We’ll be wedged in like sardines. The band director and other school administrators will be seated on the stage (cafetorium style) hopefully eating and staying up there as there is so little room.
Any help will be most appreciated.
Hi LeaAnn, let’s see what I can offer, and maybe a pro florist will wander by and offer more help.
How do you get the flowers to stay down. There are lots of ways, but a good way for DIYers is to use monofilament (almost-invisible fishing line) and some kind of tiny weight.
A small fishing weight a.k.a sinker is good. Note: I just went to my local tackle shop. They had a bag of tiny clip-on sinkers, like maybe 50 for $6. They were perfect! Tie it to the bottom of your orchid stem(s) with just a short length, so the stem goes almost to the bottom. If you want to conceal the weight completely, pour in a little sea glass or some vase gems.
And if you do that — the vase gems — you can add some submersible LED lighting, which is fabulous for a sunset or low-lit, indoor event.
In some cases you won’t need monofilament or a weight or adhesive to keep the flowers down. If your flowers or branches are sort of stiff and sturdy, they’ll push against the sides, and you’re set. Or if you fill the cylinder really full with flowers (like the tulips shown in the pic here, from InStyle Weddings), they’ll also push against the sides, and you’re set.
And how do you get them to twist. If your orchids are long enough, and you anchor them to the bottom and push it down from the top with a floating candle, they should twist pretty naturally. If they aren’t, you can help them along with a few monofilament ties along the stem, or use inconspicuous floral wire to give them an ‘exoskeleton’ here and there.
Can you use fake flowers to do this? Fake flowers are an EXCELLENT idea, especially in that challenging destination wedding environment. Drowning florals look easy, but they’re actually tricky because most flowers don’t hold up well underwater for long. You need to do these right before the ceremony if they’re real. Especially with orchids, whose petals can start to look thin and tatty if they soak ‘in the tub’ too long.
Fake flowers let you trial-run the whole thing: orchids, line and sinker. Which you MUST do for your own peace of mind on the big day. Try out the twists and see if you have to fuss over them. See how long the filament needs to be, and if you need to clip the stems, or daisy-chain several together. See if your floating candles actually stay lit once you put them in water. Better yet, do all this with a very good friend or relative who will set most of these up for you before the ceremony.
Last note: try to use distilled water. It’s less prone to developing microbubbles along the margins, and has that clear-as-glass look.
Hello Blake,
I have a couple questions for you on centerpieces. The tall vases, with the flowers submerged in them and the floating candle on top, how do you get the flowers to stay down? And how do you get them to twist? Can you use fake flowers to do this?
I am planning a destination wedding and am doing my own centerpeices to cut costs and this is what I want to do. I have seen many pictures on the web of these, but can’t seem to find one the opens big enough to really see the details.
I need to create a centerpiece for everyday usage for my Banquet Department preferrably during luncheon events. I would like it to be sleek and contemporary, also storage friendly.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a rookie trying to expand their creative horizon. :-?
I need to create a centerpiece for everyday usage for my Banquet Department. I would like it to be sleek and contemporary, also
Hi again Sandy,
Glad you like the coffee bean idea. As for the feathers, i would only use them if they are incorperated elswhere such as, your bouquet. Otherwise, i would just use ivory petals, stones or whatever your theme is.
Thanks Tonya
The Coffee beans are excellent, especially that everyone knows how much I love coffee! I didn’t even think about that. I also thought about ivory feathers on the base, with a square mirror under each of them, and votives. What do you think? anyone else?
Sandy,
I love your idea! I have colours close to yours. I am using espresso brown, ivory and burnt orange. Your centrepiece idea is great! You think about layering your rice with maybe coffee beans or something along those lines.
Good Luckl
My colors for my wedding on 7/5/08 are Choco-Latte, Ivory and Pink. What recommendations can anyone give me as far as centerpieces are concerned. I am on a budget. I was thinking of renting triangular shaped vases, and filling it with dry ice, which explodes and gives a nice visual effect along with a spray of hot pink sparklers in them, with a baby pink and latte bow on top? What do you think of this?
Anyone, please!