Cheap Centerpieces

Lets face it ladies, flowers are expensive and overrated, and who really wants to spend a huge chunk of the budget on centerpieces that people will probably not remember and might not even comment on.

Candles

(from:http://finkorswim.com/)

Visit your local dollar store to find beautiful pillar candles and glass bases to put them on for cheap but classy centerpieces. You can even find glass beads to add a little more glam to the middle. You can also go to your local craft store, (Michael's is my favorite because of their constant coupons!) And get a bag of tealights for about $5 which can be spread out throughout the reception site to give a romantic vibe. Let's say you're worried about wind or fire in general, the no flame tealights tend to be a little bit more expensive, but they save you the effort of keeping them lit throughout the night. You also can get floating candles and glass dishes from the dollar store, wrap them in ribbon matching your colors and you have an instant beautiful centerpiece

Picture Frames

(from:http://dollarstorecrafts.com/)

This one is my personal favorite because there is so much you can do with picture frames. You can have the picture frames contain baby pictures of you and your groom to designate the bride's or groom's tables, you can have pictures of yourself with the people who will be sitting at the table, or you can simply have pictures of you and your groom at the tables to create a personal gift someone will love to take home.

Glass Vases with Beads

Different sized vases filled with water and beads are cheap and easy way to make unique centerpieces. Another fun tip is to pick up some cheap food coloring and put a few drops into the vases to get varying hues of colors to match you color scheme. If you are really adventurous, I saw someone get clear gelatin mix and they mixed the mix with a little food color and glitter to create a more viscous glittering creation.



My biggest piece of advice with centerpieces (and with most things) is LESS IS MORE. No one wants to spend the night bobbing back and forth to talk to the people on the other side of the table or wants to feel like they are eating in a sardine tin. Make them small and personal and people will remember them forever.

Happy Crafting
--The Southside Bride