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Wedding Reception Centerpieces for a Budget
by K. D. Wicks
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Overview
Weddings can be expensive events, especially when most of what the money is spent on is never seen again. A dress can be saved and rings are worn every day, but what about the rest of it? The space is temporary, the food is consumed, and the decorations are thrown out or pilfered by the guests. There are ways to save money and still have attractive centerpieces at the reception, however, if your budget doesn't have room for a professional.
Even clear glass marbles and some ornaments can become an attractive centerpiece.
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Floral Arrangements
There are two ways to have inexpensive floral arrangements at a wedding reception: Use fake flowers or use cheap flowers.
Even the most expensive fake flowers at a craft store are generally cheaper than the real-life counterpart, at least in large numbers. Plus, you can make them well ahead of time because they won't die. For extra flair at an evening wedding, put the fake flowers in a glass container with white, indoor holiday lights.
Inexpensive live flowers and greenery can be had if you just don't like the look of faux ones. Flowers like daisies and carnations can be purchased in large bundles in a variety of colors for not much money. These would fit right in with a country, spring, outdoor or rustic wedding theme. Don't forget greenery and other accents. Potted ferns and ivy can be used as centerpieces then taken home for a new life after. They add color and can be formal or informal. Accents like seed pods and twigs are traditionally used on a small scale, but they can be striking to look at in large bunches.
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Edible Arrangements
You can make stunning and simple centerpieces with nothing more than common grocery-store goods and bowls or dishes from a discount or craft store.
Fruit and vegetables come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, so use them to your advantage. Lemons and limes, for example, can be stacked in a pyramid on a flat dish or piled in a serving bowl for a tropical or summer wedding. Place smaller fruits like cranberries and blueberries in tall glass vases or hurricane lanterns. For extra sparkle, whip egg whites into a foam and paint the fruit with the foam, then roll the painted fruit in sugar.
Gourds could be arranged on tables at an autumn wedding. They can be found in pale yellows and greens to deep purples and oranges, as well as in a variety of sizes from only a few inches around to a foot or more. Chain supermarkets keep them stocked through October and November.
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Lighting
Lights or candles are an option for indoor or evening weddings and can suit a myriad number of themes. Pillar candles in differing sizes can sit on mirror tiles. White, indoor stringed lights can be wrapped around twigs or stuffed into glass containers filled with stones or beads. Floating candles, bought in bulk, in the shape of the bride's dominant flower or wedding colors can float in odd-numbered groups in glass dishes. Masses of tea-lights could be arranged on mirror tiles scattered with glass beads or plastic gemstones.
