simple but elegant wedding centerpiece ideas?

Question

For my summer wedding, I am getting married in a beautiful historic barn, and the reception will start with a sit down dinner. The tables are long rectangular "farm tables". I wanted to decorate them with a long draping table runner, and with a thick row of all different heights of pillar candles. But, I can't use any candles in the barn, because of fire hazards. I want to keep the theme of a long streamed mix of one single item, over and over in a row down the entire center of the tables. Any ideas on what else I could use that would be as cheap as candles? I don't want flowers.

Answer 1

They make "flame-less" battery operated candles (also called flicker candles or everlasting candles) now, that would work well (especially if you use frosted holders).

You can get these for relatively inexpensive at Oriental trading
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=91/5125&mode=Searching&erec=6&D=battery&Ntt=battery&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=0&N=0&x=0&sd=BATTERY+OPERTD+WHITE+VOTIVE+CANDLES+S/12
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=91/5004&mode=Searching&erec=4&D=battery&Ntt=battery&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=0&N=0&x=0&sd=WHITE+BATTERY-OPERATED+TEALIGHT+CANDLES

or Bed Bath and Beyond
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14076980&RN=85
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=110147&RN=85

Answer 2

There are some fireless candles that some stores sell and they look like real candles but instead of a wick, they have a light bulb (the size of Christmass tree lights) in them. It has the same effect as a real candle...it even flickers like real candles. They come in many differnt shapes and sizes. The guest will not be able to tell that the "flames" are not real unless the look into the candle. i think the name of them is "Everlasting Candle" or something like that!

Congrats and Good Luck! Hopefully this helps.

Some of the stores I have seen them are Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Linens-n-things, Target, etc.

Answer 3

First of all Congrats! I have a really cute idea. The setting is in a barn right. So to make it classy yet fit with the scenery- I suggest getting old pails and filling them with wheat grass and putting three in a row-wheat grass is very cool right now- or if you want a classier look fill square vases(ikea and even walmart sometimes) with flat white rocks covered with fake moss(both available at pottery barn) then put the wheat grass on top of them. Or if you dont like that idea- find old wooden garden tools -stick them on sheet glass thats raised on painted cinderblocks. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

A friend of mine had a country wedding and she had SMALL potted plants- mostly herbs in various ceramic / glass containers that she got at Dollar Tree. The plants, which she grew from seeds. The barn had a wonderful fragrance - just like flowers.

BTW she let her guests take home the plants.

Answer 5

floating candles are a wonderful center piece all you do is take a candle light candle and some mounting clay in a small glass bowl and add some fish marbles at the bottom and add water just two of those maybe three and you will be set they are beautiful my sister and her husband did an old western one at Old Tucson Studios here in Arizona where i live

Answer 6

i agree with the wedding planner :) They do make flamelesss candles that look ALOT like real ones. I saw some at Bed Bath and Beyond. Try their website: www.bedbathandbeyond.com I think you could order some from there. Also try a party website. Good luck! and Congratulations!!!

Answer 7

I was to a wedding recently where they bought simple daisies at a wholesale florist and all they did was take the flowers off the stems and placed them on runners down the center of the tables. It was lovely, summery and quite simple.

I don't know it this helps...I hope it does

Congrats

Answer 8

I would do like two floral pieces on each end and a fruit bowl in the center..since its in a part I would have fresh whole fruits which would represent the farm style

Answer 9

Tell the story of your relationship with your husband in photographs. Frame them up and place them with captions all along the tables. Each table can have the same series.

Answer 10

To keep the rustic barn look this may look nice, assorted size silver or brass buckets, they are sometimes used as planters, and fill them with apples and tie twine around the buckets.

Answer 11

how about fruits and vegetables arranged to showcase all the different colors, textures and sizes? you can also infuse it with some barley, wheat, ears of corn, etc. to give it a bit of a thanksgiving feel, but it will still be in tune with th barn theme.