Unique Wedding Reception Centerpieces?

Question

I am looking for ideas for centerpieces for my Wedding reception.
I don't want to do flowers, candles or fish in a bowl because they are overdone. I am also looking for ideas that the guests can later take home, so I am not stuck with 50 whatever.
I hope someone can help!

Answer 1

I was at Hobby Lobby last week and I saw that they have do it yourself ice sculpture kits - basically they're molds you freeze full of water. Pretty low cost - you'd have some prep time up front, but no problem with stuff afterward - they just melt! http://www.2.a-weddingday.com/weddingcrafts/makeyourownicecarvings.html

Answer 2

You don't say when your wedding is or what type of wedding it will be, but bowls of fresh, seasonal fruit (use one type; don't mix it up) seems like a nice idea--something like nectarines or mini pumpkins would be good.

If it's a fall wedding, a basket of gourds, where everyone can take one afterwards, would be cool.

Or, you could get inexpensive bottles of wine (buy by the case to save) and attach balloons of your wedding colors to the bottlenecks. These can also serve as your favors. Sparkling Cider would work just as well. Arrange them all in the center of the table. If it's near Christmas, you could do little Christmas trees covered in ornaments--and everyone can take an ornament afterwards.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I second Lydia's ideas. I really like the candy bowl idea (i.e. candy hearts or jelly beans in your wedding colours) or the idea of a guest book for people to write in. Although not a centrepiece per se, you could also put a disposable camera in the centre of each table for guests to snap pictures throughout the night. Then, have them leave the cameras for you to develop the pictures. It will be neat to have some candid shots of your wedding.

You could also print personalized wine bottle labels yourself, and simply have the personalized wine bottles as your centrepieces. Tie a ribbon at the top of each bottle. The wine will be gone before the night is over.

Answer 4

I think all centerpieces should light up in some way, since you don't want candles, what about battery operated lights? In most large craft stores you will find really large champagne glasses, about 12" tall. Place one on each table, fill with clear marbles, and intermingle the lights among the marbles. Run the cord to the outside of the glass, down the stem and place the battery pack on the table. Conceal the battery pack in some way of your choosing. It would be best to get lights with clear cord ( they are available) or white cords would do. I have done this for weddings before, and it looked quite impressive.

Answer 5

I really like the idea of doing a centerpeice with fruit and perhaps some greenery. My wedding is coming up soon, and one of my colors is a light green. I thought about putting Granny Smith apples (green) in a tall cylinder-shaped vase, with some leaves (like magnolia or eucalyptus) around the base of it. Herbs like rosemary would also be a good choice (and they smell great!) You could even use different colors, shapes, and sizes of fruit. Some other options would be limes, lemons, or another sturdy fruit. The guests can even take them home!

Answer 6

I remember seeing in a magazine once a couple that had a wedding cake on each table as a centerpiece - each of the cakes had stuff that was symbolic of their hobbies or their wedding, they were going to vegas for their honeymoon so one cake was decorated with gambling type stuff one was decorated like their college alma mater just fun stuff.

Answer 7

You don't leave many options, but i'll give it a go.

As far as something the guests can take home, that's what the favors are for.

I'll provide some links, because I can't think of anything of my own that is truly unique, but I hope that they'll help you.

Best of luck.

Answer 8

A lantern without a candle, since you don't want candles.
Lava lamps
Statuary of some form
A garden gnome
A bowl of candies
A framed engagement picture
A book to leave on the table so people can give advice

Answer 9

What about mini cakes (that look like your wedding cake) or decorative cheesecakes? They can be decorated to fit your theme and can also double as the cake at the end of the evening. So you're cutting costs that way. Good luck!

Answer 10

Dont do centerpieces. Put favors, like little boxes with candy, scrolls, programs, bookmarks in the center, enough for each place setting.