Designing Your Wedding Centerpieces

There's a huge number of options when it comes to your wedding centerpieces. The most common is an arrangement of flowers, but if you use your imagination you can come up with quite a few other options that fit any style or budget.

Flower arrangements are the traditional way to go. If this is what you're looking for, talking to the florist who's handling your bouquets is a good place to start. You might also want to speak to the owners of your venue or your caterer, since these people will sometimes offer floral centerpieces as a part of their package. Flower arrangements range from a simple spray to huge elaborate designs. Large flower arrangements can be very elegant but can also prevent your guests from seeing each other across the table, so keep this in mind when picking one out. A tall arrangement that is thinner at the base can eliminate this problem. Your arrangement can be in any style you like, from simple and elegant to bright and playful.  You can also chose from fresh flowers or silk flowers, which you will be able to take home and keep.

If you'd like a different take on the floral arrangement, you may want to think about submerged flowers. In these centerpieces a few select blooms, frequently orchids, are submerged in a vase filled with water and accompanied by several other decorative pieces. This centerpiece is simple and understated but still quite beautiful. It is especially well suited to outdoor celebrations.

If you want to give your reception a distinctly romantic feel, you can't beat candles. You could create a simple arrangement by scattering tealites and rose petals or a more elaborate construction. Floating candles are another elegant option. These candles come in a variety of shapes and light while floating on the surface of the water in a vase or bowl and can be combined with a number of decorative stones. Adding mirrors to your candle centerpiece will give it more depth and light. Keep your guest list in mind, since this might not be the option for you if there will be many young children. In addition, make sure you get long burning candles that will last for the duration of your reception.

Edible Decorations

If you want you centerpieces to be attractive but still practical, food can be a good option. Fancy fruit arrangements can look great and give your guests something to snack on while they wait for you to come back from taking pictures. The same can be done with chocolates or other treats. Some people are even getting away from the classic wedding cake and instead opting for personal decorated cakes for each table. If these are elaborate enough they could replace a traditional centerpiece as the focus of the table.If you want you centerpieces to be attractive but still practical, food can be a good option. Fancy fruit arrangements can look great and give your guests something to snack on while they wait for you to come back from taking pictures. The same can be done with chocolates or other treats. Some people are even getting away from the classic wedding cake and instead opting for personal decorated cakes for each table. If these are elaborate enough they could replace a traditional centerpiece as the focus of the table.

If you want your centerpieces to be not only beautiful, but also a conversation starter, this might be an option to consider. People will definitely notice if the vase holding your flowers also has several small goldfish or a single beta fish. This is a beautiful and slightly quirky option, but it only fits well if you have a relatively small celebration or someone whom you know will give these fish a good home when the party is over. Since they are living creatures, not just decorations, extra care must be taken. Beta fish are an especially good option for this, since they are both attractive an inexpensive, but be sure you only have one per vase, as they are very territorial and will kill each other if placed in the same enclosure. If you would like multiple fish, small goldfish or other more social animals would probably be the way to go.

If you have a particular craft that could work in this context, feel free to use it. Glass work, picture collages, or even decorative arrangements of objects can look remarkably good. Try taking the theme and feel of your wedding into account when thinking of creative options. If you have a beach wedding, for example, a few shells, decorative lighthouses, or replica boats might be a nice touch.

There are many options when it comes to designing your perfect wedding centerpieces. The important thing is to find something that will suit your tastes and your wedding's style.