Want 10 New Centerpiece Ideas in the Next Five Minutes?
Of course, for some 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.
The Building Blocks of Fabulous Wedding Centerpieces
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"
Thematic Guts
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
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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, paveed
- 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
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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, 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!
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I need a reasonably priced (cheap) centerpiece for a fundraising dinner. The motto is “Giving Hope Today” Any ideas? They must be fairly compact as there is not much room on the tables.
I am getting married and I need some help with centerpeice ideas. I have just been buying things as I see them with no idea of what I am going to do. So far I have 288 white votive candles and 24-12″ square mirrors. My colors are red, white and silver. I was thinking of using some red rose petals with all this but I don’t know.
any ideas with live fish in a fishbowl???
Blake,
How did you secure the flowers in the cylinder vase - to keep them from floating up? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks - Jenni
I’m helping my daugher plan a Bridal Shower for a friend. Could someone please tell me how the centerpiece with the lime slices is made???
Thank You
Hi Blake
I am so loving those ideas you posted today. This is what I was looking for my wedding 7/5/08. Love the flowers submerged in water, with candle floating, i think it’s a cool idea. My colors for my bridesmaids are mocha-brown, and their bouquets are a mixture of callalillies, hydrangeas and roses, with differnt shades of pink, from subtle to popping, with some sprays of ivory cream thrown in, and the base will be the shade of cream and mocha. What colors do you suggest that we use for the centerpiece ideas you have posted today. I really like the middle and last pix. Thanks blake.
I just wanted to post some beautiful CPs of flowers submerged in glass cylinders, often topped with a floating candle. Here we’ve got purple orchids (a big favorite), blue hydrangeas, roses and mini chrysanthemums, set off with rose petals, votives, cedar and mirrored plates.
I have a large family and everyone wants to come. I’m celebrating her birthday March 2nd and need ideas for the centerpieces.
Can you help me?
Thank You!
Amanda, when is your wedding?
The church I’m planning to get married in has a very bold saphire blue and light blue carpet. What color choices do I have for my bridesmaids? I dont’ want to clash with the blue, but I don’t want them to wear blue and blend in with the carpeting. Please help! Thanks
Does anyone know where I can get the winter cake stand that has the reinderr, posted on this site. My Wedding is this December and I have been searching for it since February.
Hi, I am wanting to incorporate chocolate covered strawberries into my centerpieces, but I am somewhat overwhelmed. I was thinking of putting them in Martini glasses, but I am afraid the chocolate will melt and look sloppy. Any suggestions would be lovely.
Idea!! Thank you for the list of items to use for center pieces that are cost effective. Our team is moving on to our next assignments. I arranged a “No Host Gathering” with a zero budget. I wanted to decorate the tables on a shoe string budget. All your ideas are wonderful so I wanted to add my own finishing touch idea for a “underlayment.”
I’m taking fancy gift wrap, cutting it into squares the same length as the width it comes in, and placing in on my table in a diamond shape on the square table top. With the combination of your idea of lollypops instead of flowers and candy corn for a filler this should be a fun unexpected surprise addition. Because it is at a restuarant it will dress up each of the tables and makes everything editable and disposable. Thank you again.
Hi Sandra:
Here is a link:
http://www.surroundings.com/order.cgi?cart_id=&page=othercpks.html
I like the centerpiece that is the 5th one down. It would incorporate everything you want (minus the mirror and vase). I think this would look nice ON a mirror and then spread out some red and white silk rose petals (don’t use blue, even though they make them) because there are no TRUE blue roses….I would just use the red and white. I like this centerpiece with the glitter also. You don’t have to buy it off this site, it was just a suggestion. You could buy all these items at a craft store or discount store.
To Nina Mudd:
Congratulations on your milestone anniversary and upcoming celebration!
You have a lot of decorations going on here. This is strictly MY OPINION, so you can take it or leave it….
I would forgo ALL of the decorations that you have suggesed. The reason being….balloons remind me of a birthday party or the prom. They are not sophisticated enough for your celebration.
The same goes with the arch with tulle and the ceiling with lights and tulle. Again, my opinion, but I would nix all of that. You are not having a wedding, this is an anniversary party.
Instead, focus on an elegant celebration! If you want some kind of decoration on the exterior of the building as your guests come in, why not hang a wreath made of roses on the outside of the door to the hall? Something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Floral-Wreath-Centerpiece-Weddings-...
You can tie a beautiful wide silk riibbon on it and then hang it using a wreath holder (sold at craft stores.) I think that would be elegant.
I would then rent chair covers. Here is a link for those:
http://www.chaircoversonline.com/
Or, simply call your local party rental place.
For the tables, I would get RED ROSES and have them in vases placed on a mirror and then put a couple of votives next to them. You can buy roses wholesale. You can buy nice vases at the dollar store, and fill with 3-4 roses and a few greens ~ beautiful! I have used this company and can vouch for their on time delivery: http://www.rosesource.com/
There are lots of other ideas out there if you still want the “winter theme”. Just Google in “winter theme ideas” and lots will pop up. But my opinion is to go for ELEGANCE, not any kind of theme. To be honest, people don’t really get “themes.”
Good luck and happy anniversary!
Hi Everyone
I am planning a fourth of July weekend wedding, and am really wondering what type of centerpieces to use, I really like the mirrored glass, with a vase, votives and candles with petals strewn, but what else can make it a bit more patriotic, aside of red, white and blue shimmery stars scattered all over the tables. Suggestions, thanks
Hello
In November, my husband & I will be celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary. Our children is giving us an party with about 100-150 guests. We never had a wedding receptionist, so I love balloons, candles, I know that Nov. is still consider as Fall, but with white balloon along the walk way going into the building, I want the feeling of almost winter wonderland, then inside we want a beautiful archway with white lights, wrap with a sheer material, with greenery also. Our problems is how to decorate the main tables and the others tables. I would love to keep it with either balloon, candles or white lights. Also from the ceiling we also found similar white lights with the sheer coming from the ceiling with about 4-8 hoops from the center of the ceiling to each corners. Please help us to make this a beautiful affair that we will remember for the rest of our life.
Thank you
Nina
Kim, take a look at our Las Vegas theme page, especially the comments. Near the middle you will find a fantastic bowl-within-a-bowl idea, if your budget allows. Basically, buy two clear bowls, the second a little smaller and placed inside the first. Between the two bowls, put your theme items like colorful dice, poker chips, etc. If you want, finish off the inside bowl with some water and a floating candle, or some simple flowers.
This looks fantastic and is easy to do. You can also adapt it to almost any theme. Bowl-within-a-bowl looks adorable with those big white wedding conversation hearts, for example, tucked between the inside and outside glass. Shells look gorgeous. And so on and so on!
I am in charge of decorations for our school auction. I am trying to come up with a centerpiece utilizing a mirror, votives and maybe using a garden bowl but the theme is 007 Casino Royale. Any ideas?
Joanne, you have GOT to see this article on a Victorian-theme wedding with a plum palette and a bird focus (and lots of peacock feathers). It will knock your socks off and hopefully put your concerns to rest.
Amy & Scott’s Hauntingly Beautiful Eastlake Victorian Wedding