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Wedding Table Centerpiece Craft Ideas

by S.E. Olson

Overview

Centerpieces are an important part of your reception decor. Not only will they be the decor element that stands out most as guests enter the hall, centerpieces will be, literally, right under your guests' noses all night as they dine. Homemade centerpieces are a great way to carry out the theme, style or tone of your wedding reception and show off a little of your personal handiwork. In addition, creating something yourself comes with a sense of accomplishment and the assurance you will get exactly what you want.
Planning and Materials

As with most do it yourself projects, your homemade centerpieces will take time--probably more than you think--to create, so give yourself plenty of time to gather materials, get organized and assemble. Start by flipping through magazines to get ideas for your centerpieces. Do not limit yourself to bridal magazines, though they can be a great resource. Go to the library or bookstore and browse home and lifestyle magazines too; you never know where inspiration will strike. Look at back issues of magazines that came out the month you plan to marry for seasonal color schemes and decor ideas. A centerpiece can be made out of almost any material. The only limit is your imagination and your skill level. Choose materials like paper, candles, artificial flowers and leaves and fabric that are easy to handle. Unless you are a master craftsperson, stay away from projects that require things like welding, glass blowing or building complex structures.

Tips and Tricks

For an outdoor wedding, make sure any centerpiece you make has significant weight to hold tight on a windy day. Often, this rules out loose petals or lit candles. When indoors, check with your venue about their open flame policy if you plan to use candles. For spring and summer weddings, use the outdoors for inspiration. Simple potted flowers or plants can make a beautiful centerpiece. Choose blooms that fit with your wedding color scheme, or simply go for green with a plant like bridal veil, a lush, ivy-like plant with an appropriate name. Then get crafty and adhere wallet-sized photos of you and your groom to sturdy florist wire, and stick the makeshift frames at varying heights into the potted plant. Tie colorful ribbon around the base and "stems" for added interest. Simple paper flowers can also make a stunning statement on a tabletop. Use bright colored tissue paper, scissors and florist wire to make big and beautiful blooms. Fall weddings are great for the crafty bride as rough edges and slightly askew construction only add to the rustic appeal of any centerpiece. Use twine to tie together sticks, a perfect frame for photos of the two of you, or to highlight table numbers. Add fall leaves as a base, along with a few votive candles, and you have got a gorgeous fall centerpiece. Winter wonderland weddings sparkle with ice blues, whites and slivers. Buy inexpensive glass ornaments to cover in glitter and jewels, and then display them in shallow silver or glass bowls. Add pillar candles for even more sparkle.