Make Your Own
Wedding Reception Table Centerpieces

Have you been looking for simple, yet elegant ways to make your own wedding reception table centerpieces?

With all the wedding details that need your attention, you'll want ideas that don't require a huge effort to put together, yet look beautiful while saving you money. Use the suggestions below to put together your own unique wedding centerpieces.

Potted Plants - Go to your local nursery and buy some small potted plants. Cut a large circle from fabric in your main wedding color - enough so it covers the bottom and the sides of the pot, so you can gather it together by the rim. Secure the fabric with an elastic band. Tie a wide ribbon and bow around the top of the pot to cover the elastic using a contrasting color. These make very nice and simple wedding table centerpieces which you can hand out to your bridal party attendants or to family members at the end of the evening.

Wicker Baskets - Decorate some wicker baskets in your wedding colors using ribbons and fabrics. Place fruit, rolls or an arrangement of flowers within the basket. This makes a very nice centerpiece that also has a practical use.

Beads and Floating Candles - Buy some colored glass beads (available in most craft stores) and place a small layer in the bottom of a large, yet shallow glass bowl. Fill the bowl with water (you may color the water with food coloring if you wish) and float some candles along with some flower petals on top.

Sweet Offerings - For unique, but fairly cheap wedding centerpieces, use sherbet dessert dishes or champagne glasses for this centerpiece idea (you can get these fairly inexpensively at the Dollar store). Using 3 dishes/glasses per table, arrange them in a cluster in the center of the table. Tie ribbons and bows on the stems. Put mints in one dish, small chocolates in another and hard candies in the third. Scatter flower petals, confetti or sequins around the bases of the dishes. You could also use dishes/glasses of varying heights and add 3 to 5 votive candles arranged around the dishes for extra flair.

Pillar Candles and Grapevine Wreathes - Using pillar candles is popular choice for wedding table centerpieces because they are so convenient. Get a plate or base slightly larger than the pillar candles you choose to use. Place a grapevine wreath on top of the plate (make sure the opening in the wreath is at least a 1/2" larger than the candle base. You can decorate the wreath with some thin ribbons, string craft beads and small dried flowers. Place the candle in the center. If you wish to do so, you can also top it off with a glass hurricane lamp cover. Simple, yet elegant.

Straw Hats - Buy small straw craft hats and decorate them with ribbon tied around brim and a cluster of dried flowers on one side of the hat. Finish off with a bow. Place these in the center of the table and scatter some flower petals around. These make lovely wedding reception table centerpieces for a country and western theme. Another idea is to turn the hat over and fill it with a dried flower arrangement.

Bird Houses - For an outdoor garden wedding, purchase pre-made small bird houses that you can paint and decorate yourself to match your color scheme. If it doesn't already have a perch, drill a small hold in the front of the bird houses and glue in a small dowel piece. Attach a small bird to the perch (available at most craft stores). Place the birdhouse on a bed of twigs and colorful leaves on the table.

Glittering Beer Bottles - Here's an interesting idea for wedding reception table centerpieces: Clean beer bottles thoroughly and remove the labels. Spray paint the bottles with a glitter spray (silver, gold, or in your wedding colors). Tie a matching or contrasting ribbon around the neck of the bottle with ribbon streamers hanging down. Place either a candle in the top or fill with water and insert flowers. Make an arrangement of 3 or 5 bottles per table.

Teacups and Saucers - Visit garage sales or a dollar store. Purchase several decorative teacups and saucers. Hot glue the cup to the saucer. Place a small bit of florist foam inside the cup, add water and insert fresh cut flowers into the foam (or skip the water and use silk flowers). This is a perfect and charming centerpiece for a Victorian wedding.

Make Your Own Wedding Reception Table Centerpieces by Rose Smith
© 2007-2010 Wedding Themes and More