How to Make Flower Centerpieces for a Bridal Table

The bridal table at a wedding reception should sparkle like the bride herself. It's the place where the couple will share their first meal as husband and wife, and where they will be the stars of the party accepting best wishes and love from their family and friends.
One of the best ways to decorate the bridal table is with flowers, but don't think you have to break the bank to make flower centerpieces. Instead of money, invest a little planning and some original ideas into this project.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flowers
• Vases
• Scissors
• Scotch tape
• Water
• Vase filler such as washed stones or colored marbles
• Spare leaves
• Baby's breath

Flower Centerpieces for a Bridal Table

1. Choose the type of vase you are going to use. Avoid choosing tall vases because this will block your view of the reception and the reception attendees view of you and the rest of the bridal party.

2. Choose the flowers you want to use for your centerpieces. You'll want to be sure these flowers have some similarity to the flowers that you will use in your wedding. The more flowers you have the fuller your vase will look.

3. Fill the bottom of the vase, about a third of the way up, with the filler stones or glass marbles. These stones will give the vase some weight so it's not easily turned over and will give a little extra interest to the centerpiece.

4. Make a grid on the top of your vase using scotch tape. This grid should go over the edge of the vase just enough to keep the tape secure when you begin putting in the flowers, but not so much that when the arrangement is done that you'll be able to see the tape. For most vases three rows across and three rows down should be enough. It will end up looking kind of like a tic-tac-toe board.

5. Begin your arrangement by placing one large flower in the center opening of the grid. This flower should be your tallest and fullest flower. All the flowers you place in the water should get fresh cuts. When cutting flowers, cut them in water at an angle with sharp succors or shears.

6. Cut four shorter flowers and put them in the four slots surrounding the middle flower. After you place these flowers you should be able to see the shape of the arrangement coming together. It should look like sort of like a ball.

7. Fill in the rest of the flowers, until the arrangement is as full as you like it. For a neat looking flower arrangement, symmetry is key so make sure that your arrangement is the same shape on each side.

8. Add leaves around the bottom of the arrangement to fill in any holes, and if desired add some baby's breath in between flowers to give added dimension.

Tips & Warnings

• Do a practice run before the wedding to make sure you like the way the flowers look together and get an idea about fine details such as stem length preferences. Drape faux pearls around the edges of the flowers after the arrangement is finished for a little extra drama. For a more minimal flower centerpiece, consider purchasing tall slender vases that won't block the view and filling them with crystals or even Christmas tinsel and putting a single orchid or rose in the top.