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Planning a budget-friendly wedding can seem overwhelming. There are so many things to consider: venues, photographers, flowers, and, most importantly, the dress. Centerpieces are probably the last thing on your mind. But like it or not, centerpieces are an essential part to any wedding planning.

Although some venues may offer complimentary centerpieces, that’s not always a guarantee. To save money, go the do-it-yourself route. You don’t have to be over-the-top to find your inner Martha Stewart. Get to know these centerpiece basics and create your own reception table decor for less.

Consider This

Think about where you want to display your centerpieces. Do you want the same centerpieces adorning every guest table? How about the table that houses your guest book or your head table? Do you want any to stand out from the rest?

Next, you need to think about the size of your tables. If your tables seat 20 people then you can put together larger arrangements. But if your tables seat five to eight people, keep your arrangements simpler and shorter so that seating remains intimate and so that everyone can see and converse with one another. 

Last and most importantly, don’t forget to consider how much you want to spend. Large bouquets at every table will start to add up. Save money by showcasing costly flowers on every other table and a budget-friendly alternative on the remaining tables. (Remember that you can save money by keeping your blossoms seasonal.)

The Fundamentals

Centerpiece fundamentals include candles, vases and flowers. Any combination of these will create a fabulous centerpiece. To get creative, incorporate pebbles, sand, ribbons, flowers, twigs and more.

7 Unique Ideas

Get creative: Use the following ideas as a jumping-off point for your original designs.

• The current trend—simplicity—is in the budget-weary bride’s favor. For a classic arrangement, add floral foam to the bottom of a beautiful, non-see-through vase. Then grab 10 to 50 flowers (depending on the size of your vase) from your garden, your local farmers’ market or another inexpensive provider and carefully arrange them. The floral foam will keep your flowers in place.  

• Fill a tall, cylindrical vase with sand. Then arrange beautiful (easy-to-find) branches from your backyard or a local park. The sand will keep your twigs in place.  

• Place a single flower in a tall, cylindrical vase, glass bottle or Mason jar.

• Fill a tall vase 1/4 full with smooth pebbles. Then trim a single flower stem so that only three to four inches remain and place snuggly in the pebbles. Pour water over your pebbles and flower until it fills your vase 3/4 full and top with a floating tea light candle.

• Find your favorite colorful fruit, such as clementine, lemons or limes, and beautifully assemble in a glass square vase. To spice up your arrangement, include slices of your chosen fruit and arrange around the vase, cut-side out.

• Collect various glass bottles, vases and beakers in similar hues. Group two to three small vases around two to three tall bottles. Decorate with one to two flower stems, such as large peonies or elegant orchids.

• Stack three to four different-sized books. (I suggest romantic classics or books of poetry.) Scatter tea lights around them. The trick here is to purchase vintage hardback books from an antique store so they have that worn-in feel. Either tie these books together with ribbon or top with flower petals.