Lyla Dejesus
Wedding centrepieces can be expensive, but making your own is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your big day. Whether you're crafty or not, there are plenty of DIY options to suit your style and skill level. From simple floral arrangements to creative displays using vintage knick-knacks, the possibilities are endless. You can even repurpose everyday items like books, wine bottles, and jars to create unique and budget-friendly centrepieces. With a bit of creativity and planning, you can make your wedding vision a reality without breaking the bank.
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What You'll Learn
Using fruit and flowers
Choose Your Fruits:
- Select fruits that are in season for your wedding. Not only will they be more affordable, but they will also add a natural, fresh touch to your decor.
- Consider the colours and sizes of the fruits. For example, vibrant oranges, lemons, and pineapples can bring a tropical vibe, while peaches and garden roses create a soft, romantic atmosphere.
- Don't be afraid to mix and match. Combining different fruits and flowers can add an element of surprise and create a dynamic visual effect.
Select Your Flowers:
- Choose flowers that complement the colours of your chosen fruits. For instance, pair red and fuchsia roses with pomegranates, berries, and cherries for a romantic vibe.
- Opt for flowers that are in season, as they will be more readily available and cost-effective.
- Consider the overall style of your wedding when selecting flowers. For a rustic wedding, wildflowers and peaches might be a perfect choice, while tropical flowers and pineapples can create a beachy atmosphere.
Create the Centrepiece:
- Start with a base. Use a rustic wooden crate, a vintage vase, or a clear glass bowl to hold your fruits and flowers.
- Arrange the fruits and flowers together. Play with different heights and textures to create a visually appealing display. For example, place flowers in vases filled with sliced oranges or lemons.
- Add some greenery. Foliage and leaves can add a natural, rustic touch to your centrepiece.
- Enhance with candles. Consider adding candlelit spreads around your centrepiece for a romantic, elegant atmosphere.
Spring:
- Pastel flowers with lemons
- Early spring kumquats with fresh blooms
- Garden roses and peonies with peaches
- Tulips, citrus slices, and tulips
Summer:
- Tropical fruits like pineapples, papayas, and limes with bright flowers
- Peaches, roses, and dahlias
- Sliced citrus fruits with floral centrepieces
- Bananas, starfruit, oranges, and grapes with bright flowers
Autumn:
- Red and green apples with fall foliage
- Potted herb plants with bowls of apples, cherries, and peaches
- Cherries and figs with lighter pink flowers
- Pomegranates, blackberries, purple grapes, and figs with lush greenery
Winter:
- Cranberries with floating candles in a large glass container
- Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons in a silver tray
- Pomegranates, blackberries, purple grapes, and figs with lush greenery
- Oranges, apples, and pears sprayed with a light coat of white paint for a frosted effect
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Creating a table runner
Choose the Right Fabric
The type of fabric you choose will depend on your wedding theme. For a rustic countryside wedding, consider using hessian or burlap fabric, which can be found at most craft stores. For a more elegant or glamorous affair, sequin or colourful fabrics can be stunning.
Measure and Cut the Fabric
Measure the length of your tables and add a few extra inches on each side to allow the runner to hang over the edges. Cut the fabric to size, making sure the edges are straight and even.
Embellish the Runner (Optional)
To add a personal touch, consider embellishing the runner with embroidery, lace, or other decorative elements. This could include sewing on beads, pearls, or other embellishments that match your wedding colours or theme.
Sew the Runner
If you have a sewing machine, this step will be much easier. Simply fold over the edges of the fabric and sew a straight line down each side to create a neat finish. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can hand-sew the runner using a needle and thread.
Iron the Runner
To ensure your table runner looks crisp and polished, iron out any wrinkles or creases before placing it on the tables.
Style the Tables
Once your table runners are complete, it's time to style your tables. Add candles, floral arrangements, or other centrepieces that complement the colour and style of your runners. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to complete this project and enjoy the process of creating something special for your big day!
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DIY lanterns
Choose the Right Lanterns
Lanterns come in various shapes, sizes, textures, and colors, so select the ones that fit your style and aesthetic. For a rustic wedding, consider iron or wooden lanterns, while glass and metallic square lanterns are perfect for a modern affair. You can also play with different shapes like spheres or orbs to add a unique touch.
Add Greenery and Flowers
To give your lanterns a botanical edge, fill them with greenery such as eucalyptus or other types of foliage. You can also add fresh flowers to your lanterns, either by placing small bouquets on top or stuffing the lanterns with blooms for a gorgeous overflowing design.
Play with Lighting
While candles are a conventional choice for lantern centerpieces, you can also use fairy lights or LED candles for a magical touch. If using candles, opt for small, dainty votives or tapers to complement the lanterns without overwhelming them.
Create a Cohesive Look
Match your lantern centerpieces with your glassware, napkins, or other table accents to create a cohesive look. For example, coordinate black lanterns with gold-rimmed black glassware, or go for an all-white display with white lanterns and vases of blooms for a light and airy feel.
Incorporate Other Decorations
Lanterns can be the star of your centerpieces, but they can also play a supporting role. Scatter them down the length of your tablescape along with other decorations like cherry blossoms in tall vases or colorful fruit accents. You can also suspend lanterns from the ceiling or create a hanging stand to make your centerpieces truly unique.
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Using candles
Candles are a great way to make a statement at your wedding, and they can be used in many different ways to create a romantic atmosphere. Here are some ideas for using candles as wedding centrepieces:
Candle Types
There are several types of candles that can be used for centrepieces, depending on the desired look and feel. Pillar candles, for example, are thick and column-like, and can stand on their own without a container. Tea lights are small candles that sit in a rounded dish, providing a cosy glow without overwhelming other decorations. Votive candles are slightly larger than tea lights and come in glass containers, often used in religious ceremonies. Tapered candles are long and narrow, perfect for romantic table settings. For safety and practicality, some couples opt for flameless candles, which use batteries and can be placed in areas where open flames are not suitable.
Candle Displays
When it comes to displaying candles, they can be the main focal point or used to accent and elevate floral arrangements. For round tables, candles are typically placed in the centre, while for rectangular tables, they can be arranged across the length. It's a good idea to do a mock-up of the display beforehand to experiment with different types of candles and placements until the desired look is achieved.
Creative Ideas
- Greenery-draped lanterns with floral accents: Glass-encased lanterns with arching greenery and romantic roses create a romantic and ambient atmosphere.
- Elegant tapers with repurposed stemware: Add height to your tables by using delicate tapered candles in stemmed glassware, customised to your colour scheme.
- Dusty rose and blush wreath with votives: A low-lying floral and candle arrangement fills the table, leaving space for conversation while creating a charming and romantic atmosphere.
- Rustic simplicity with bud vase accents: Minimalist bud vases filled with flowers, complemented by the warm glow of flanking pillar candles, create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
- Dramatic elegance with candelabras: Combining towering candelabras with abundant flowers creates a breathtaking and elegant display.
- Vineyard-inspired wine bottle decor: Transform leftover wine or champagne bottles into unique candle centrepieces by adding floral foam and flowers, with the bottle top serving as a perfect pillar candle holder.
- Floating candles: For a dreamy look, floating candles can be placed in plain glass vases or floral centrepieces filled with water.
- Lantern centrepieces: Adorn lanterns with flowers and candles for a rustic and enchanting display.
- Coral and oyster centrepiece: For a chic beach wedding, incorporate candles into a coral and oyster-studded display.
- Mercury glass containers: Mercury glass candleholders and vases create a soft, rustic look for a sophisticated tablescape.
- Succulent centrepiece: Mini succulents and tea candles make for a stylish and low-effort centrepiece for a backyard wedding.
Safety Considerations
When using candles, it is important to consider safety guidelines. Keep flowers and greenery away from direct flames, and never leave candles unattended. Utilise heat-resistant surfaces and always follow manufacturer guidelines for lighting. If your venue does not allow open flames, opt for battery-operated flameless candles to achieve the same romantic effect without the fire hazard.
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Repurposing books
If you're a bookworm couple, you can repurpose books as centrepieces at your wedding. Here are some ideas:
Stacking books
Stacking books is a simple way to repurpose them as centrepieces. You can source books that fit your wedding's aesthetic, or your favourite novels and non-fiction books to showcase your personalities. You can also use books to add height to a centrepiece, as a base for candelabras or floral arrangements.
Book page flowers
If you don't want to ruin a nice book, you can use old paperbacks and digest books to create book page flowers. You can mix these with real flowers in your bouquet, or use them as filler for vases. You can also create book page pomanders, wreaths, and table runners.
Book cake stand
For a book-themed wedding, a book cake stand is a fun idea. To create this, remove the pages from a book, drill holes in the covers, and zip-tie them together into a circle.
Book-themed table numbers
You can use books as table numbers, painting bold numbers on the covers. You can also use books to inspire your table numbers, designing them to match a library due date card.
Library-themed wedding
If you're obsessed with reading, you can lean into the literary theme by holding your wedding in a library. You can create stacks of books as centrepieces, adding small vases with florals, and use library cards as table numbers.
Book luminaries
Book pages can be used to create luminaries, adding a romantic touch to your wedding décor.
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Frequently asked questions
A DIY wedding centerpiece can be a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your wedding. You can use in-season flowers, or even fruit, to create a vibrant bouquet, or opt for greenery, which is easier to arrange and lasts longer. You can also repurpose items from your home, such as ceramics, books, or vintage teacups, and add candles or fairy lights for a romantic touch.
There are many ways to create unique DIY wedding centerpieces. You could fill glass cloches or terrariums with moss, succulents, or other decorative items. For a literary-themed wedding, stack vintage books or display flowers in antique teapots. If you're feeling crafty, make crepe paper wildflowers or tissue paper flowers, or wrap branches with fairy lights or fabric blooms.
To make a floral wedding centerpiece, choose your favourite flowers or opt for a single type of bloom. You can arrange them yourself or source them from a florist. Use a mix of vases or jars, or get creative with alternative containers like teapots or eggshells. For a rustic look, try wrapping jam jars with hessian and lace.
There are many options for non-floral wedding centerpieces. You can use candles of varying heights and colours, or surround a candle with greenery or branches. For a whimsical touch, use fairy lights in small glass vases or vintage birdcages. If you want to make a statement, try oversized balloons with DIY garland tails or stacked wooden blocks painted in bright colours.
