posts tagged "centerpieces"


Their reception was filled with terrariums on the tables, which guests  made and participated in a Terrarium Challenge. If guests wanted they  brought their own terrarium they made especially for the wedding and  then everyone voted and awards were given by Kim + Matt and they also  had a People’s choice. Such a great idea to get friends + family  involved – and it worked out great since they then used all these for  their centerpieces! [Green Wedding Shoes]

this is such a brilliant idea!  it gets your guests up moving around, socializing, contributing to your wedding in such a personal way, and it is an awesome ice breaker.  plus if you are a bride on a budget, this is like a centerpiece potluck!
these vintage tins turned planters make gorgeous centerpieces

books as centerpieces

more book inspired wedding images; images in this post via

Going Non-Floral: Unique Wedding Centerpieces
Since I wrote Going Non-Floral: Unique Wedding Bouquets a couple months ago, I have been thinking about the non-floral  centerpieces that could be associated with them.  And even if you decide  to have a floral bridal bouquet, you can still save money by going  non-floral for your wedding decor and centerpieces.
Fruits and Veggies
Seasonable fruits and vegetables  make great centerpieces and there are many different ways they can be  displayed.  One method is to submerge the fruit/veggies in water; try  filling a large glass vase with apples, lemons, or any other type of  produce that matches your color scheme then fill the vase with water.   You can see an example of lemons in a vase that are not submerged in  water here.   This is a great eco-friendly option that can double as your wedding  favors!  Encourage your guests to take the fruit and vegetables home  with them at the end of the night providing them with strawberry baskets  or paper bags so that nothing has to go to waste.
Seasonal Items
When I say seasonal items I’m mainly  talking about fall and winter weddings.  Acorns, pinecones, Christmas  ornaments, or miniature pumpkins can be assembled in large vases,  baskets, or vintage soda crates on reception tables.  Here are a couple  of great examples of pumpkins used in centerpieces for Halloween  weddings: pumpkins painted white with “till death do us part” on them and velvet pumpkin centerpieces.
Of course you can still use seasonal items in the spring and  summer months by incorporating vintage Valentine’s Day cards or candy  hearts.  For an Easter wedding you could use dyed eggs in egg cups as seen here.  For a New Year’s Eve wedding you could use disco balls, confetti, and mini champagne bottles to create a centerpiece.
Cotton
Cotton is a great centerpiece idea for an  outdoor southern wedding (it also looks great in bridal bouquets and  boutonniere’s for the men).  In this example cotton is displayed in vases and an antique shadow box display case.
Kerosene Lamps
Kerosene lamps are another great centerpiece option for southern weddings.  I especially love this example of a kerosene lamp centerpiece with a vintage hankie underneath.
Herbs and Grains
Bouquets of herbs and grains can be  displayed similar to floral centerpieces.  Gather up wheat and lavender  if you want to use dried herbs.  If one of you wedding colors is green,  try making up centerpieces of live herbs such as lamb’s ear, mint,  thyme, rosemary, and/or sage.  You can the live herbs individually and  assemble them into a crate encouraging your guests to take them home at  the end of the reception as wedding favors.  Live herb plants are always  practical even if you live in an apartment you can keep them in your  window so any leftover plants will not go to waste.
Cake
Providing a small cake or another type of food  can help hold guests over until the actual reception starts and spruce  up your reception tables.  Mini bunt cakes were on display here with even smaller bunt cakes boxed up and ready to be taken along as wedding favors.  You might also want to consider a cheese platter and baguettes, ice cream cone cupcakes, or French macarons.   If you are going to be serving up sweet treats as your centerpieces it  is also nice to serve up some milk, consider using vintage milk bottles  if it matches the rest of your wedding decor.
Globes
Globes make a great centerpiece for school or  travel themed weddings.  A great example of globes being used as  centerpieces can be found here.
Terrariums
Terrariums are gorgeous, always.  You can  see one of my favorite examples of terrariums being incorporated into  wedding centerpieces here.  I found an excellent tutorial for how to make tiny ones on Erin Ever After that don’t even require you to get dirt under your nails.
Succulents
In my eyes, succulents and terrariums  will always go hand in hand because succulents are my favorite types of  plants to put into terrariums.  One of my favorite non-terrarium  succulent displays can be seen here with succulents planted in long cylindrical vases with pebbles instead  of soil.  Another display idea is placing individual plants under bell jars.
Birdcages
Birdcages are becoming a popular trend in  wedding decor.  You can use them to hold just about anything imaginable -  plants, food, fake birds or butterflies, or candles.  An example of a  birdcage used in a centerpiece can be seen here.
Candles
I know what you are thinking, “ho-hum,  candles have been done to death”, but where there is a will, there is a  way to make everything old new again.  Go to flea markets, thrift  stores, dollar stores, and yard sales to find a motley crew of  containers.  Find pieces that match your wedding style, but don’t have  to be cookie cutter.  Next you will need some beeswax and candle wicks  from anywhere that carries candle making supplies and turn those trinkets into customized wedding decor treasures!  Avoid  the temptation of adding scents to your candles which can be  off-putting when your guests start to enjoy their meal.
Books
Books are cheap and easy wedding decor.  My  local thrift store has a couple of bookshelves full of books that they  are giving away for free.  Of course you can choose options that you  already own and are near and dear to your heart.  A couple of examples  of books as centerpieces can be seen here and here.   If you are having a hard time finding books to match your wedding  decor, try spray painting the covers of hardback books or go old school  and make book covers from old paper grocery bags.
Collections
Your centerpieces are a great way to  show off any items that you might collect such as doorknobs, vintage  matchbooks, marbles, buttons, seashells, crayons (especially at the  children’s table), skeleton keys, and photographs which could be  displayed in mason jars or apothecary jars.
If you have any additional suggestions for non-floral wedding  decor and centerpieces, please share in the comments section along with  links to an example if you have one!
You Might Also Be Interested In:
-Going Non-Floral: Unique Wedding Bouquets
-New Year’s Eve Wedding Ideas
-Sweet Little Wedding Sweets - Ideas for a Wedding Dessert Bar
-Prop Ideas for Your Wedding Photo Booth
[header images via style me pretty; this article is also published here]
i’m digging this idea for a rose centerpiece… pretty non-traditional as far as centerpieces with roses go!

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