5 Money Saving Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

Sitting down at a wedding reception, one of the first things a guest will notice is the beautiful centerpiece decorating the table. A centerpiece will help provide the ambiance and atmosphere to the entire reception hall. Inspirational Pinterest boards are filled with elaborate, over-the-top centerpieces, that when priced out, can be hundreds of dollars per table. So, how does a budget-savvy couple get their dream centerpiece without blowing the budget? Here are some great tips to bring down the cost!

Candles and other Flowerless Options

Before buying candles for centerpieces, verify the rules for open flames at the venue of choice. Most of the time, this can be found in the contract. If not, reach out to the venue directly. Candles bring an elegant upscale feel to any wedding reception without the elegant upscale cost. Candles can be bought at local craft stores, many of which have great sales, or offer great coupons weekly! Keep an eye out for candles on clearance after the winter holidays as well.

Other beautiful options for flowerless centerpieces include framed photos of the couple, lanterns, globes, or birdcages. Using these options in conjunction with flowers will help with budgeting as well. Fewer flowers will need to be used to fill the space.

Your Local Nursery

If florals are a must for your big day, consider visiting a local nursery. What flowers are in season at the time of the wedding? Look at those florals. Many beautiful blooms come in mini bushes that would bring a beautiful atmosphere to any reception without costing too much.

Look for mini roses, azaleas, or orchids. Succulents are also another great option at a local nursery. These plants can also be bought online, but being able to see the exact shades and number of blooms on these plants is very important, so staying local is probably best.

If the flowering bushes available do not match the wedding esthetic, try looking at the flowering annuals. These flowers are typically less expensive because they do not last past one season. Find a mix of these florals that match the color and vibe, and plant them yourself in a planter or pot that matches your wedding! Be creative when looking at planters. For a short time, anything that can hold dirt can be a planter. Try teapots, teacups, or pitchers, for example.

As a bonus, guests can take home these centerpieces after the wedding, or plant them at home after the wedding. Watch your love bloom as these flowers grow!

Mix and Match

If large, over-the-top, expensive centerpieces are a must-have at the reception, consider creating a few different centerpieces to save money. Try to come up with two different, less expensive, coordinating centerpieces that will match the look of the over-the-top centerpiece.

When spaced out correctly, guest’s eyes will be drawn to the larger centerpieces. The guests will appreciate the variety of centerpieces, and it will bring a more upscale feel to the reception while still saving you money!

This is a great time to look at some of the other tips in this article, especially candles.

Provide your own Vases

A large portion of the cost of a florist comes from vases. You will either have to rent or buy the vases from the florist. Ask your florist ifproviding your own vases will cut down the cost on florals. Nine times out of ten, the florist will agree to lower the cost when you provide the vases.

Looking for low-cost vase options can be a daunting task, but this will save you quite a bit of money (easily fifteen to twenty dollars per centerpiece). Try local Bride to Bride groups to find bulk sets of discounted vases. Check your local craft stores and watch for sales and coupons. Finally, try local dollar stores!

Repurpose Ceremony Flowers

Instruct the setup crew at the reception to place empty vases at a few tables. Instruct each bridesmaid (or whoever is carrying bouquets at the ceremony) to place their bouquet in one of the empty vases. If there are flowers decorating the aisles or the altar at the ceremony, bring those to the reception as well to decorate any space that needs it, like the cake table, gift table, or sign-in table.

With these tips listed above, any reception can look elegant and beautiful while still being budget-conscious. Use some of these tips to help bring down the cost of centerpieces.