Grand Wedding Centerpieces: Diy Guide To Wow Your Guests

Wedding centrepieces can be expensive, especially if you're hosting a large number of guests. But there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to make your wedding day look spectacular. One way to save money is to make your own centrepieces. This will add a personal, homemade touch to your wedding reception and is also a fun activity for you and your partner to do together in the run-up to your big day.

There are many DIY options to choose from, whether you're looking for something floral, rustic, colourful, or romantic. You can create a simple arrangement of flowers, incorporate candles, or even use fruit or vegetables. If you're feeling creative, you could paint or decorate vases, wine bottles, or jam jars. You could also use books, fairy lights, or lanterns to create a unique and eye-catching display.

Whatever you choose, give yourself plenty of time, be realistic about what you can achieve, and enjoy the process of making your own wedding centrepieces.

DIY floral centrepieces

Planning and Preparation:

Give yourself plenty of time and be realistic about how much you can achieve. Crafting takes time, so start your projects months in advance to avoid last-minute stress. Make sure you have all the equipment you need before you start and set a budget to ensure your DIY projects don't end up costing more than simply buying or hiring decor. Choose projects that match your skill level and keep it simple—a chic, elegant look is often easier to achieve than something complicated and intricate.

Floral Centrepiece Ideas:

• Source Your Favourite Flowers: Opt for a cost-effective, DIY-friendly option by purchasing your favourite flowers or a mix of up to four different kinds from a floral shop or grocery store. Arrange them simply, showcasing each bud. Save money by selecting in-season options, such as hydrangeas for summer.
• Ceramics and Vases: If you have ceramics or vases that fit your wedding colour scheme and theme, add them to your reception tablescape. This saves you from renting decor and brings a unique, artistic touch to your celebration.
• Foliage and Greenery: Foliage like eucalyptus and ivy is a great way to create a rustic look for your centrepieces. It's easier to make foliage look professional than flowers, and you can add a few blooms for a pop of colour.
• Single Stems: If full floral arrangements seem daunting, opt for single stems in bud vases. Anemones, tulips, and ranunculus add a vibrant splash of colour without being overwhelming.
• Mix and Match Vases: Combine multiple sizes and styles of vases for a bohemian feel. For a monochromatic look, use white blooms in white vases.
• Dried Foliage and Flowers: Use dried plants like hare's tail grass and dried palms to add texture and colour to your centrepieces. You can also use preserved blooms that match your aesthetic.
• Citrus Fruits: For a vibrant, boisterous celebration, use citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons as a colourful and affordable centrepiece.
• Wildflowers: For a garden-fresh look, opt for wildflowers instead of traditional blooms. Hand-pick your own arrangements from your garden or a wild meadow to save money and create a unique, natural centrepiece.

Centrepiece colour schemes

Colour is a key element when it comes to centrepieces, and there are many ways to incorporate it into your wedding decor. Here are some ideas for colour schemes to make a statement at your wedding:

Citrus Shades

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruit can add a pop of vibrant colour to your centrepieces. For a summer or destination wedding, consider using citrus fruits as part of a table runner or as a simple yet striking centrepiece with bell jars and cut flowers. You can also paint wine bottles in citrus shades or use them as vases for colourful flowers.

Romantic Pastels

For a romantic wedding, soft pastel shades are a perfect choice. Mix and match romantic flowers like roses and sunflowers with other blooms in smaller vases, such as lilacs, tulips, daffodils, and peonies. For a unique touch, dip clear flower vases in pink or other pastel-coloured dye and fill them with flowers that match your wedding colours.

Neutral Tones

Neutral colours like white, beige, and green create an elegant and timeless look. White orchids, baby's breath, and eucalyptus paired with crisp white table linens and gold accents will give your centrepieces a natural, elegant feel. For a rustic touch, incorporate wooden elements like slabs of wood, wooden lanterns, or pampas grass.

Bold and Vibrant

If you want your centrepieces to be a focal point, don't be afraid to use bold colours. Mix colourful kilner jars or vases with bright wildflowers, or opt for colourful runners to add a pop of colour to traditional neutral-toned tablescapes. For a modern twist, use colourful taper candles or spray-paint branches in metallic gold or silver.

Seasonal Shades

Incorporate the colours of the season into your centrepieces. For autumn, use autumnal flowers and leaves, or paint foliage in bold, autumnal shades. For a winter wedding, consider using pine boughs, pinecones, and candles to create a festive, cosy atmosphere.

Using candles

Candles are a great way to make your wedding centrepieces shine—both literally and metaphorically. They can be used to create a romantic, ethereal, modern, or vintage atmosphere.

Use Candlesticks and Taper Candles

Gold candlesticks and white taper candles are a classic combination that can add a touch of luxury to your wedding centrepiece. Pair them with a lush garland of greenery and fruit accents, and small white votive candles for a romantic and elegant display.

Dramatic Candelabras

For a truly dramatic statement, opt for tall candelabras. These can be used to create a formal and elegant look, or to add an old-world touch to a historic venue. Candelabras can be paired with simple floral arrangements or used as the focal point of the table setting.

Mix and Match Metallic Containers

Create a modern and simple display by mixing and matching metallic containers such as gold-rimmed vessels or sleek mini vessels. Fill these with votive candles or tea lights to add a warm glow to your centrepiece.

Lanterns

Lanterns are a great way to add a special touch to your wedding centrepiece, especially if you're having an outdoor wedding. You can place lanterns at the altar, line them along a staircase, or use them to light the way to the entrance of your venue.

Floating Candles

For a unique and romantic look, try using floating candles. These can be placed in glass vases or bowls filled with water and decorated with flowers or greenery.

Pillar Candles

Pillar candles are thick, column-like candles that can stand on their own. They come in various heights, allowing you to create a visually interesting display by mixing and matching different sizes. Pillar candles can be used as part of a floral arrangement or to support other decorations, such as a rose gold table number.

Remember to keep safety in mind when using candles. Keep flammable materials away from the open flames, and never leave candles unattended.

Fruit and vegetable centrepieces

For a rustic vibe, run a garland of apples down the centre of the table. For a charming look, combine grapefruit and blackberries in a vintage vase. For a tropical destination wedding, a row of pineapples emits tropical vibes.

For a summer fête, fill a two-tiered bowl with decadent grapes, pears, and apples, along with bold blooms. For a moody, romantic look, try a wooden crate filled with gleaming green apples and delicate pink blossoms.

If you're looking for something a little more elegant, try a simple glass vase filled with cheerful yellow lemons. For a unique seating guide, add a handwritten tag to each pineapple.

For a farm-to-table vibe, combine asparagus stems, green apples, grapes, and farmer's market-style bouquets. For a colourful, vibrant look, add bananas, starfruit, oranges, and grapes to your centrepiece, and double down with bright flowers such as amaryllis, ranunculus, and pincushion proteas.

For a fall wedding, use sliced figs and their beautiful red, green, and pale yellow palette as the base of your centrepiece, building the rest of the display with greenery-filled arrangements and wooden accents.

For a winter wedding, fill a vase with cranberries to jazz up an ordinary glass vase. Complete the wintry look with burgundy orchids, seeded eucalyptus, and curly willow branches.

Lanterns and lamps

Lanterns are a great way to add light and beauty to your wedding reception. They come in a variety of styles, so you can find the perfect lanterns to complement your wedding theme. You can hang them from trees or ceilings, or set them on tables as centerpieces.

Elegant Lantern Centerpieces

Lantern centerpieces can add a whimsical, romantic touch to your wedding tablescape. For an elegant look, consider the following ideas:

• Use lanterns as table numbers by placing die-cut black vinyl sticker numbers on the lanterns.
• Place large gold lanterns beside the wedding table to anchor the design.
• Surround elegant gold lanterns with fresh roses and hydrangeas to create a beautiful, 360-degree centerpiece.
• Intersperse groupings of flower arrangements and lanterns along the length of wooden reception tables.
• Opt for ornate lanterns with stained glass panes that emit a pink hue, and surround them with rose petals.
• Use mercury glass lanterns to decorate coffee tables in a lounge seating area.

Rustic Lantern Centerpieces

If you're going for a rustic aesthetic, lanterns are a perfect choice. Here are some ideas:

• Create a bed of moss and ferns for a silver lantern to sit upon, infusing a rustic feel.
• Stack antique books and place a dark brown metal lantern on top for a literary-themed wedding.
• Suspend paper lanterns above the table and place metal lanterns on the table for a rustic yet ethereal look.
• Use a wood stump as a base for your lantern centerpiece to reinforce the rustic aesthetic.
• Surround a lantern with a rose and greenery halo, then place it on a slice of wood.
• Interweave vines around a metal lantern and use it to support wooden table numbers.

Fall Wedding Centerpieces with Lanterns

Lanterns and fall go hand in hand, with their warm candlelight and rustic charm. Try these ideas for a fall wedding:

• Opt for a vintage brown metal lantern with a unique fleur-de-lis pattern and a homey, oxidized finish.
• Choose gold lanterns and table number frames for a cohesive, striking combination.
• Surround a duo of copper lanterns with a lush burst of white flowers for a beautiful autumnal contrast.
• Fill a lattice-style metal lantern with a few sprigs of greenery for a cozy and welcoming fall vibe.
• Use oil camping lanterns as table numbers for a rustic, outdoorsy feel.

Simple Lantern Centerpieces

Lantern centerpieces don't have to be complicated. These simple ideas let the lanterns shine:

• Fill copper lanterns with vibrant flowers instead of candles for a unique twist.
• Place tall black metal lanterns on the ground beside a boho-style table with a gauze table runner.
• Set a small lantern on a bed of ferns to create a simple, woodsy vignette.
• Combine a small gold lantern with fresh pink roses for a pared-down yet impactful centerpiece.
• Use a gold terrarium lantern, either with or without candles, for a modern twist.

Wood Lantern Centerpieces

Wood lanterns add a cozy and welcoming vibe to your tablescape. Try these ideas:

• Fill a wood lantern with a cascade of fresh flowers instead of candles.
• Paint wooden lanterns to match your wedding color palette. White lanterns are also a versatile choice.
• For an outdoor wedding, protect candles from the wind by placing them inside wooden lanterns.
• Place a lantern inside a wood crate filled with flowers for a unique, rustic look.
• Set large wood-and-metal lanterns beside the sweetheart table to anchor the space.
• Decorate a wood lantern with greenery and faux butterfly figurines.

Other Lantern Centerpiece Ideas

• Hang mason jar lanterns filled with fairy lights or candles from trees or ceilings.
• Fill glass bottles with fairy lights to create unique, budget-friendly centerpieces.
• Use wood lanterns as aisle markers, or fill them with small flower arrangements, greenery, or other decorations.
• Fill clear vases with sand and seashells, and place a candle lantern inside for a beach-themed wedding.
• For a fall wedding, use mini pumpkins as lanterns, hollowing them out and placing small candles or LED lights inside.
• For a garden wedding, decorate lanterns with faux flowers and candles, hanging them from trees or placing them in the middle of tables.
• Drill a hole in large wood slices and insert small candles to create rustic wood slice lanterns.
• Make paper lantern centerpieces by adhering paper to square dowels and placing them in the middle of tables. Add votive candles or battery-operated tea lights for ambiance.

Frequently asked questions