5 Easy Centerpieces

It's simple to create cost-conscious eye-catching arrangements for your reception

By Anna Sachse
CTW Features

Find affordable inspiration in these five expert tips for centerpieces that save pennies without sacrificing personality and style.

Sweet

Instead of one huge wedding cake and lots of elaborate floral arrangements, make a simple round cake the center of attention at each table, says Sarah Beth Smith, co-founder of the new online bridal magazine "It's All In The Details ...". Decorate the cakes with candles that represent the table number, colors and designs that match your wedding theme, and/or fresh flowers, and showcase the cakes on stands made with vintage glass plates and candlesticks.

Classy

For an exceedingly elegant look, submerge a single, striking calla lily or orchid blossom in a bowl-shaped vase, top it with a floating candle and surround the centerpiece with votives, says Andy Schmitz, an event coordinator at A New Leaf Studio & Garden, Chicago.

Crafty

Adorn recycled milk bottles with handmade table number tags made from paper, chipboard, wood or copper foil and garden twine or ribbon, and then fill them with seasonal blooms, suggests Smith. Instead of numbers, you could also write words like "Love" or "Joy," or include phrases or names of places that mean something to you.

Bountiful

For a lush, full feel, Schmitz recommends looking to affordable flowers with large heads, such as sunflowers and hydrangeas. Place a single stem in three cylindrical vases of varying heights to make a big impact.

Green

"A popular alternative to cut flowers, succulents are cheap and easy to care for," says Smith. She suggests placing them in individual containers (think small terra cotta pots or thrift-store tea cups), embellishing them with a simple ribbon and tag, and then arranging them in tiers (use cake stands), rows or a circle. Guests can then take them home as favors.

Copyright © CTW Features