Anyone have a good idea for a wedding reception centerpiece that is both inexpensive and unusual?

Question

I am having a semi-formal wedding at the end of June. The reception hall has darkish sage colors. The tablecloths are white. I am wearing a light gold wedding dress and carrying calla lillies. I would like to incorporate the color ivory into the centerpiece. Any ideas would be much appreciated. I have 25 tables to decorate, and would like to do so for under $4/table. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Monogrammed Luminaries:
*Buy white paper lunch/craft bags. Get the ones without the handles, as you will be cutting the tops. Use peking shears with a pretty shape, cut the bag straight across the top to make it whatever height you wish.
*Using black ink, put a "porportioned" stamping of either just the last inital or monogram initials in the center of the bags.
(monogram=Grooms 1st initial-smaller size, Last name initial in middle-larger size, Brides 1st initial-smaller size)
You can do this just on one side or both.
*As far as the colors of bags/ink, you can customize it to whatever the wedding color--EXMPL--white bag/black or color ink...light colored bag/black ink...dark colored bag/white paint (Not sure if you can find white "ink"!)
*Pour a weight-base into the bag about 1-2" thick using anything like sand, salt, sugar..even kitty litter! Then place either 2 tealights or 1 small jar candle in each bag. (They make really nice scented jar candles found at dollar stores and it would provide a nice aroma to the reception area)
*Place in center of tables and around the base of the bag you can scatter a variety of things (based on the decor theme): Glitter, fake snow, flower petals, small river stones/pebbels, glass marbles (the flat ones used for crafts/flower vases)a long stemmed rose....or you could tie a wide tewell netting or organza bow loosly around the bottom.
**Plus, whether guests take them or you just toss them at the end-who cares!...what can you do with 30-40 glass bud vases or such afterwards anyway!
I did this for a wedding of 350 people and it was BEAUTIFUL, easy, and very inexpensive...maybe $60 for 35 tables.

~OR~
Easy floral vases:
*Get large clear vases (found at $ stores)
*Empty one bag of frozen peas in each vase (I know, sounds weird, but looks really pretty! And great for June!) You can use more or less of the peas, depends on your taste and size of vase.
*Fill the vase w/water
*Place a few loose flowers (the Callas would be nice, but you can always go w/tulips or even daisies for something really inexpensive!)
* Tie a gold organza ribbon around the middle of the vase.
* an optional step would be to place a votive on both sides of the vase for some mood lighting.

~OR~
Garden party theme:
for something a little more rustic and less formal.....
*Get some small tin, copper, bronze (or mix up your metals!) watering cans...I've seen them at our local dollar/discount stores.
* Plant some spring mix flowers in them. Being that time of year, you should be able to get some really pretty "wild flowers" in flats for a resonable price at your local greenhouse.
*Dress them up w/organza ribbons

I have TONS of other ideas......feel free to email me!

Answer 2

Wow! $4 a table - that's hard! I think you'd get the most bang for your buck by using some of the colored gems - I'll put a source link for a mixture that may work for you. Pour the gems down the center of the table and nest some votive holders with little candles in them. Most people think you won't notice candles when you have lights on, but they do still provide a soft glow. The clear gems will sparkle. You may even consider putting a little bit of sand in the bottom of the holder to give it a little punch. I'm sourcing the votives & holders for you as well.

Good luck & congratulations!

Answer 3

Small fish tanks and gold fishes. Sage and ivory pebbles, You can do this for 4 dollars a table and you can raffke them at the end of the party.

or

Square mirror or inexpensive clear glass dinner plate. 2-3 inexpensive ivory pillar candles tied up with sage organza ribbon.

or

Live plants on clay pots. Decorate with white flower petals (fake or real) and sage colored confetti

I hope this helps

Congratulations and good luck

Good luck

Answer 4

What I had was a see through vase with river rocks at the bottom. Then i had cream coloured vendella roses and tall bear grass coming out, and we had a beta fish (very inexpensive) in each of the vases swimming around. Then what we did was but a package of beta food, split in into minnie baggies and attached each baggie to a flower hidden in the grass, or can even attach it to the bottom of the vase, that way whoever wins the centerpiece, has the food for the beta as well.

Answer 5

Without Flowers? Maybe a candle floating centerpiece...you can just buy the vases at a doller store and add water and use cute candle floaters, maybe some Ivory and sage colored candles, that's an idea or maybe something like this...Just an idea...

http://www.towerwebsites.com/websites/view_image.php?image=http://www.towerwebsites.com/photos/ebshireoils/ShallowCandleRing.bmp

Answer 6

My fiance went to Wal-Mart and bought some of those glass holders that you put them little candles into. She then went to the dollar store and bought some nice artifical flower with vines and put this around the bottom of these glass holders. Also plans on painting a picture, she's an artist, and having them set at each place setting to identify where people are to sit. Good luck, and wish I could be more help but she is looking after that kind of stuff as I'm not that good with that type of thing.

Answer 7

For inexpensive flowers, Sam's Club offers bulk floral online. They ship to your home and are beautiful. You could do clusters of flowers in glass vases, or recycled pickle jars (just wrap ribbon around the lid threads. Each table could be a little different to keep things interesting.

good luck.

Answer 8

Put a pretty gold bowl at each table with four floating candles around a calla lily. That might be too expensive tho, I don't know.

Answer 9

I have seen some beautiful table decor made out of wheat and then you add the ivory ribbon.

Answer 10

At my cousins wedding they had fruit centerpieces, you could have ivory ribbon around the bowls they are in, and you can get ths bowls and ribbon at the dollar store, and the fruit in bulk.