Looking for creative centerpieces....

Question

My best friend is getting married in 3 weeks. The reception is at a B&B. We currently have small centerpieces which basically just consist of some candles and sea glass. We no longer want to use those. I am looking for some ideas that are relatively cheap. Flowers are not an option as it is just not in the budget. The food is BBQ themed, though it catered, so its not just throwing some burgers on the grill. Our bouquets are primarily feathers so centerpieces that incorporate those would be perfect but any unique ideas are much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Check out the site below.. it gave me a few ideas for centerpieces.. of course I will be doing a makeshift version for myself as I can't afford these ones... good luck to your friend!

Answer 2

I'm making pyrmids of lindt balls. All you have to do is cut a circle on a piece of card for your base. Melt some chocolate and 'glue' the unwrapped lindt chocolate balls to the card. Once you have one layer, repeat the process by stacking and gluing another layer of balls on top, until you have a pyramid! In some of the gaps between the balls, stick in some pretty flowers.

Put these in the middle of the table, surrounded by tealight candles.

Answer 3

one option i would say is @ marshall's and TJ Max they have the home section.  In this section they have these really glass big vases and some with tops.  The ones with tops only cost $6-$10 a piece. get thoses and order tiffany blue candy as well as a champagne color off of the internet and fill the vases up... Thats easy and cheap.

http://www.candywarehouse.com/champagnec...

http://www.groovycandies.com/V2product_P...

http://www.candywarehouse.com/bluecandy....

Another option even though u said u didnt want flowers becase they cost too much.  I went to a picking farm yesterday and they had fruits, veggies and flowers.  The one i went to located in MD but not to far from PA wanted to only charge me $5 for a dozen flowers.  U can pick them yourself and cut them the length that u want them.  That could also be an option if you can find one of theses farms in your area.

http://www.pickyourown.org/statelist.htm...

Answer 4

Lets see...  you could do small clear bowl, fill with marbles & water, then put floating candle on top (very pretty) and lay feathers around the bowl..   Or get  feathers, lay around table and put chocolates/candies with them. Or..  get a bunch of feathers together, tie them in the middle with pretty lacey ribbon and just lay on table.  Good luck....  This is a tough one  (lol)...  Have fun!  You could do the big feather pen for the guests to sign in or have a memory book where they could write a special message for bride & groom.

Answer 5

hit up dollar stores oin your area!  Go to several as they will all have different things in the wedding sections.  you can also get a lot of "wedding friendly" things in the dollar store craft sections!!!

PLus they sell vases of all types for dirt cheap!!

good luck

Answer 6

Check this idea: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site...

You can put some feathers on the outskirts of the arrangement.

My centerpieces will be my bridesmaids' bouquets in vases filled with colored pebbles (from the petstore) and some water.

You could also get boas in the same feathers as your bouquets and put punch bowls in the middle for each table. Fun, colorful and cool drinks :)

You could get large tin pails and fill them with soda bottles and ice as centerpieces.

Bowls of fruit like apples or pears wrapped in tissue that could have their initial stamped on it.

All the best :)

Answer 7

For a summer wedding I always found gold fish or beta fish to be interesting, especially if there were to be kids there they would have something to take with them.  Just a small bowl, some glass beads that match the colors of the bridal party and there you go.    

Answer 8

Does she have any certain colors she wants to stay with?

How many centerpieces are you talking about?

How big are the tables?  Are they the round tables or the long banquet tables?

Edit your question and I will try to come up with some answers.

EDIT:  OK....the first problem is your friend's expectations.  You are NOT going to be able to get something that is large and also "unique and grandiose, yet still relatively cheap and easy to make."  I am not trying to be mean....but it's just not going to happen.  You can, however, do something really easy and elegant.  

My suggestion to everyone regarding centerpieces is to keep things LOW.  Yes, the trumpet vases are very nice and elegant....but your friend needs to remember that the guests want to visit and chat with those across the table.  There is nothing worse than having an obstruction in your line of vision in the form of a vase.  So....no matter how nice it may look....it's an "eye sore" on the part of the guests.

~ Get a large mirror tile.  You can find 12" ones at home center stores like Lowes, etc. or at craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

On top of the mirror tile.....

~ Do a simple candle/flower combination like this:

http://www.wedding-flowers-guide.com/ima...

OR....a number of cylinders like these:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/...

You can buy floating candles at Walmart or dollar stores.  You can buy the cylinder vases at Walmart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby.

Get some silk blue hydrangeas (to go along with the tiffany blue color) and use those in the bottom.  OR....bring in another color.  Everything doesn't have to match her color scheme as long as all the centerpieces match.

~ Another idea....again, use the mirror tile....

~ Then, get a large clear glass plate.....a BIG plate, like the size of a dinner plate.  You can buy these at dollar stores and craft stores.

~ Then, get "vase gems" in a variety of her colors.  Spread those on the plate and then put a big pillar candle in the middle.  Here is a picture, athough it's not that good, but hopefully you will get the idea:

http://www.especially-4-you.com/images/c...

Again, you can buy the "vase gems" at places like dollar stores, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.

Hope this helps!

Answer 9

You can buy feather boas at a dollar store, "bundle" them up on the tables like in the middle and put something on top of it...maybe the candles, or a glass bowl (also can be found at dollar store) filled with chocolate kisses, potpourri, whatever.  Congrats to your friend!

Answer 10

We got organic seasonal wild flowers (can just get the regular bundles too) from grocery store florist (Publix in Orlando) at $10 a bundle. We ordered them to be picked up on the day of the wedding (can pick up the night before too).

We cut fern branches and other green filler from my friends back yard, and just arranged them in simple glass vases with the wedding color ribbon wrapped around the base. It was an outdoor wedding. They were beautiful, and the wedding photographer got awesome pictures.

Spent $120 total for five tables.

Remember for centerpieces: what are you going to do with them after the wedding? Do something that you might want to give away to friends and family after the wedding is over. That's what I did and people ended up with loads of fresh flowers to take home.

Think simple and elegant. To spruce it up more, craft stores like Micheals and Jo Anne's are your friend!

I wouldn't suggest fish at all as another individual commented on. First, if you are going to have alcohol at the wedding, do you think parents or guests will want to worry about getting a fish home safe. How are they going to transport them? Also, you could end up with a lot of dead momentos, before, during, and after your wedding. Is that what you want people to remember you by?  

I only sent my guests home with iridescent glass Christmas ornaments in padded boxes and simple Chinese fans with a flower prints and our name and wedding date written on  (it was a hot Florida outdoor wedding).

For the Ornaments,  I tied silver ribbon and a tag with our wedding date and names. Inside the ornament i put a dried rose petal from the rose bouquets which my husband gave me during our relationship (I dried them). My first idea was to put a feather (boa quality white feathers), which looks really cool.  But the rose petal ended up more sentimental. Now tokens of our love live on every holiday on Christmas trees.

A bit of a tangent with the wedding favors, but I hope this helps with ideas!