Creative Diy Wedding Centerpieces On A Budget

Wedding decorations can be expensive, especially if you're hosting a large wedding. One way to save money is to make your own centrepieces. DIY centrepieces are a fun activity for couples and their families and friends, and they're a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding. You can make beautiful, elegant centrepieces on a budget by using items you already own, such as books, vases, and ceramics, or by buying inexpensive items from thrift stores, like wicker baskets, wine bottles, and jars. You can also save money by choosing flowers that are in season or by using silk flowers or dried plants.

DIY your own flower arrangements

DIY-ing your own flower arrangements for your wedding can be a fun and budget-friendly option. Here are some tips to help you create beautiful floral centrepieces while saving costs:

Source Your Flowers

Instead of hiring a florist, consider sourcing your own flowers from a floral shop or grocery store. Buying wholesale flowers can help you avoid the premium added by florists. Look for wholesale flower markets in your area, or try stores like Sam's Club, which offers great deals on roses and baby's breath. You can also order flowers online from wholesale delivery services like FiftyFlowers, which ships directly to you a few days before your wedding. This option gives you more control over your budget and allows you to create arrangements that fit your unique vision.

Choose Seasonal Flowers

To save money, opt for in-season flowers. For example, hydrangeas are a beautiful and cost-effective choice for summer weddings. You can also fill your arrangements with more greenery, which is usually cheaper than flowers and adds a sophisticated touch to your centrepieces. Eucalyptus is a popular and affordable choice, adding a fragrant and versatile touch to your tablescape.

Keep it Simple

You don't need to create elaborate arrangements to make an impact. Sometimes, a simple bouquet of your favourite flower or a mix of up to four different kinds can be just as stunning. If you're not interested in full floral arrangements, you can opt for single stems in bud vases, adding a touch of elegance to your tables.

Get Creative with Containers

Vases, lanterns, and jars can all be used as containers for your floral arrangements. You can source these from your own home, thrift stores, or a local hardware store. Mixing multiple sizes and styles will give your tablescape a bohemian feel, while monochromatic containers and flowers create an elegant, sophisticated look. Don't be afraid to experiment and get creative!

Plan Ahead

Creating your own flower arrangements takes time and planning. Make sure to give yourself enough time to source the flowers, prepare the containers, and assemble the arrangements. It's also important to properly store and transport your flowers to ensure they stay fresh and beautiful for your big day.

By following these tips, you can create stunning DIY flower arrangements that will impress your guests and keep your wedding budget on track.

Repurpose home decor

If you have any decorative items at home that fit your wedding colour scheme or theme, consider using them as centrepieces. This could be anything from ceramic vases to books, lamps, or fairy lights.

For example, if you have some vases that fit your vision, add them to the centre of your tablescape. You could also repurpose hardback books by stacking them in the centre of the table, especially if you're a couple of bookworms. If you have any lamps that could work, add them to your tables for a homey feel. Fairy lights can also be used to create a magical, enchanting feel, especially if you put them in terrariums or lanterns.

You could also use home decor as a base for your centrepieces, and then add some extra decorations. For example, you could use a vase from home as a starting point, and then add some eucalyptus or other greenery, or some flowers.

Repurposing home decor is a great way to save money on centrepieces, and it will also add a personal touch to your wedding.

Use fruit as a centrepiece

Fruit is a great way to add colour, height, and texture to your wedding centrepieces. Here are some ideas for how to use fruit as a centrepiece at your wedding:

Choose Seasonal Fruits

The benefit of using fruit that is in season is that it will be cheaper and more readily available. For a spring wedding, you could use lemons, kumquats, avocados, or peaches. For a summer wedding, try papayas, pineapples, limes, or tropical palms and leaves. In the fall, opt for persimmons, figs, apples, or grapes. And for a winter wedding, consider artichokes, cranberries, pomegranates, or pears.

Combine Fruit with Flowers

You can create beautiful centrepieces by pairing fruit with flowers in complementary colours. For example, try pastel flowers with lemons, garden roses and peonies with peaches, or roses and wax flowers with bright yellow lemons. For a more rustic look, run a garland of apples down the centre of the table. Or, for a charming vintage look, combine grapefruit and blackberries in a vintage vase.

Add Other Edible Pieces

If you want to go beyond fruit, you can add other edible pieces to your centrepieces, such as herbs, spices, and vegetables. For example, try combining fruits with carrots or tomatoes. You can also use edible flowers, like pansies or violas, to decorate your fruit displays.

Use Fruit as a Base

Fruit can be used as a base for your centrepiece, with other elements added on top. For example, you could fill a vase with lemons and add long grapevines or manzanita branches sticking out at the top. Or, for a tropical look, showcase an assortment of greenery, like banana or bird of paradise leaves, in various vessels alongside sliced oranges or mangoes.

Get Creative with Presentation

Think outside the box when it comes to how you present your fruit centrepieces. For example, you could use a vintage Art Deco-inspired gold tray, a silver gravy boat, or a wooden crate. For a tropical or beach wedding, present your fruit in a pineapple or coconut shell. Or, for a rustic look, display fruit on a wooden stump or slice of wood.

Candles and taper candles

Candles are a great way to add a whimsical, romantic, or elegant touch to your wedding centrepieces. Taper candles, in particular, are a good option as they are generally inexpensive and can be used to create a number of looks.

Colourful Tapers

If you're looking to add a playful pop of colour to your wedding tablescape, consider using colourful taper candles. For a fall wedding, warm seasonal shades like marigold, orange, or plum are a good choice. For winter, try frosted hues like dusty blue, black, or grey. Blush-coloured taper candles create a soft, romantic glow, while pastels add whimsy, and neutrals feel rustic. Dark hues like burgundy or black taper candles add a sultry, romantic vibe.

Candle Height

Play with the height of your taper candles to create a dramatic or whimsical effect. For a dramatic look, use extra-long taper candles. Suspending flowers from the ceiling and using shorter taper candles on the table will also add drama and give your tablescape an enchanted greenhouse vibe. For a whimsical look, use candles of varying heights.

Candle Holders

Candle holders can also be used to enhance the look of your taper candles. Gold or brass candle holders add a touch of elegance and sophistication, while black candle holders create a modern, cohesive look. For a rustic look, use wooden candle holders. Clear glass candle holders with a taper candle inside are a great way to add a pop of colour to an all-white table.

Combining with Other Elements

Combining taper candles with other elements, such as flowers, garlands, or fruit, can create a stunning visual effect. Floating candles placed in, above, or around a floral arrangement add a romantic feel. Taper candles can also be paired with other types of candles, such as pillar candles or votives, to create a dynamic display.

Use fairy lights

Fairy lights are a great way to light up your wedding reception and create a warm and romantic ambiance, especially if your venue does not allow candles. They can be a beautiful and budget-friendly option for your centerpieces, and there are many ways to incorporate them into your decor. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Lanterns or Terrariums

For a whimsical and enchanting look, collect some lanterns or terrariums, preferably with gold rims, and fill them with fairy lights. You can use battery-powered, cordless fairy lights to create a simple yet elegant centerpiece. This idea works well if you're going for a storybook-inspired theme.

Glass Vases or Cylinders

You can also use fairy lights to create lighted wedding centerpieces with glass vases or cylinders. Start by creating a base with a piece of foam board. Trace the vase's circumference onto the foam board and cut out a circle using a box cutter. Remove any excess foam from the rim and poke a hole in the center. Thread the fairy light through the hole until you reach the plastic end. Decorate the vase with flowers, fresh or fake, and fill the base with items such as white marble stones or acrylic crystal beads.

Combine with Greenery or Flowers

Fairy lights can be combined with greenery or flowers to add a whimsical touch to your centerpieces. You can use tall vases or terrariums and fill them with fairy lights and fresh flowers, or opt for a more rustic look by using smaller votive holders and mini vases. If you're feeling creative, you can even tie gold leaf ribbon to the vases and fill them with flowers. This idea is perfect if you're going for a boho or camp-inspired theme.

Add a Pop of Color

If you want to add a vibrant touch to your centerpieces, combine fairy lights with colorful accents. For example, you could use colored glassware or printed linens to create a colorful DIY centerpiece. Fairy lights will add a subtle glow to these colorful elements, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere.

Mix with Other Decorations

Fairy lights can also be mixed with other decorations to create unique centerpieces. For example, you could use wooden slabs, wine bottles, or heirloom china as a base for your fairy lights. This idea is perfect if you want to incorporate a rustic or vintage touch into your wedding decor.

Frequently asked questions