How to Make a Big Centerpiece for a Wedding Ceremony

Create rustic centerpieces by gathering fruit into baskets or bowls.

A large part of wedding planning is choosing the centerpieces for the reception tables. While it is easiest to simply order already-made centerpieces, it is more and fun (and cost effective) to make them yourself. You do not need to follow traditional ideas when it comes to wedding decor and centerpieces. While a floral arrangement can be beautiful - and may be exactly the type of centerpiece that is perfect for your wedding - there are creative, different types of wedding centerpieces as well. Show your personality by putting a lot of thought into the type of large, oversized centerpiece you want to adorn the reception tables.

Things You'll Need

• Flowers
• Vases
• Peacock feathers
• Sculptures or statues
• Bamboo shoots
• Bowls
• Fruit or vegetables
• Pumpkins, orange and ghost
• Gourds
• Dried leaves
• Miniature Christmas tree
• Gift-wrapped boxes, small
• Candy
• Large glass jars
• Metal scoops
• Cellophane bag

Instructions

1. Choose large flowers for a floral centerpiece. For example, bunch together several yellow and black sunflowers if the wedding has a rustic theme. Or choose tall flowers with long stems and arrange them along with branches in a tall vase.

2. Think outside the box. Not every centerpiece has to be made from expensive florals. Large peacock feathers, tall sculptures or statues, long bamboo shoots or even oversized bowls of fruits or vegetables can create unique centerpieces.

3. Create a seasonal centerpiece. For an Autumn wedding, gather large orange and ghost white pumpkins, gourds of varying shapes, sizes and colors, and a scatter of dried leaves in the center of the table or down the table, as a runner. For a Christmas-time wedding, place a small Christmas tree - either real or fake - in the center of the table with small gift-wrapped boxes around its base.

4. Put together an edible wedding centerpiece by distributing a candy buffet amongst the reception tables. Pour colorful candies into large glass jars with removable tops and place a metal scooper into each one. This centerpiece can also double as guest favors - simply put a designed cellophane bag next to each place setting and let guests fill up before leaving the party.

Tips & Warnings

• Order all of the supplies to create just one centerpiece before ordering supplies in bulk. Test drive the centerpiece before deciding on it. It is possible that the centerpiece will not turn out as expected.

• Creating a candy buffet centerpiece can be fun, but make sure to choose the right types of candy. Colorful candies, like jellybeans and gumballs, are perfect, as are most wrapped, hard candies. Stay away from chocolate, which can melt, or unwrapped sticky candies, like caramels, which will only stick to each other.

• Make sure that centerpieces are shorter than 1 foot. Anything larger will obstruct view. Guests should not be forced to look over, around or through a centerpiece in order to talk across the table. Remember, a centerpiece is an accent and it should not block out anything.

References

• Wedding Channel.com: Do It Yourself
• Do It Yourself Weddings: Cheap Wedding Centerpiece Ideas - So Easy They Don't Need Instructions!
• Cheap Wedding Solutions: Cheap Wedding Centerpiece Ideas
• Big Wedding Tiny Budget: Ideas for Cheap Wedding Centerpieces: Creative, Crafty, Clever and Chic!