Tasteful Ideas for Making Your Own Wedding Centerpieces

Many people choose to do their own centerpieces for their weddings. This is because it allows them to do something more personal, and because it can be a great money-saver. Centerpieces can be given away at the end of the wedding (many couples tape a piece of paper to the bottom of the chair to indicate that whoever is sitting in that chair gets the centerpiece). All of the ideas on this list are inexpensive and easy to do.

Nearly everyone knows about floating things in a small glass bowl filled with water. These can be little tea lights, flower petals, or whole blooms. You can add even more sparkle by placing a small, round mirror beneath the bowl. Or use bowls that are of colored glass that matches your wedding colors. All of these things are found rather inexpensively.

Since I had two receptions, I had two different centerpieces. At the New York reception we used simple vases (with wedding color) filled with white silk carnations and roses. They looked very nice and didn’t cost more than $3 a piece. This is a great way to have a floral centerpiece. You can also buy real flowers in a large bouquet from a grocery store (cheap) and then divide them up into groups if three to seven and put in inexpensive vases in the middle of the table.

At the reception in Idaho, we did a variation on things in glass bowls. Colored marbles or flat colored pieces of glass are very cheap and can be found at pet supply stores (by the fish) or in craft stores. Fill a small glass bowl as full as you like (we did half full) with the colored glass and set the bowl on small mirror. These cost less than $5 a piece.

Another way to get foliage on the table is to visit a local nursery. Small potted plants usually cost between $5 and $8 per plant, and make simple and elegant centerpieces.

Purchase candles of different shapes and sizes at a discount store. White is always elegant, or you can choose candles that match your wedding colors. Arrange them in groups of three (make sure each candle is a different size) in the center of the table. You can leave them plain, or you can arrange greenery at the base, tie a ribbon round the three, or set them on mirror.

Purchase cheap frames and put a picture of you and your new spouse in them, and use those for centerpieces. Each table can have a different picture.

Edible centerpieces serve two purposes: they can cut down on dessert costs and they are often inexpensive. Unique and decorated cookie jars can be used. You can fill them with cookies or candy. If you want to cut down on expense, you can ask your guests to get involved by baking a batch of their favorite cookies and then using those in the jars. Another idea is a wicker basket filled with muffins or breads. If you make these things yourself, it can cut down further. Finally, set out cheese and crackers garnished with olives, flowers, or peppers.