Unique Ideas For Reception Centerpieces...?

I want something unique, I dont want a bunch of flowers, besides them being super expensive, they are only good for the one day, I just cant see myself spending that much $$ for just one day, so I've been looking for something else unique, I dont want the whole candle thing either, that's too overdone in my opinion. What I was thinking was having edible centerpieces, there's a place here in San Francisco called edible arrangements {www.ediblearrangements.com}; they are kinda pricey but I like the whole idea of having something different, keep in mind we havent found a reception venue yet, but we have got our guest list together {its still being refined}; but were having about roughly 140 people give or take a few more, hopefully the venue we pick will accomodate that many people, but I was thinking if we have at least 100 people show up and the tables are round and can accomodate at least 5 people comfortably per table we may just need 10 tables %26amp; 10 centerpieces what do you think?
Unique Ideas For Reception Centerpieces...?
Hi and congratulations!



You have done your math wrong. If you are having 100 guests and the tables seat 5 at each, you will need 20 centerpieces total .... not 10.



The edible arrangements ARE nice, but very expensive. You can buy flowers for that amount!



In any case....here are some ideas that I have given others:



~ A stacked favor centerpiece (Martha Stewart idea):

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site...



~ Another idea, going along with the previous one...is a centerpiece/favor that you can make: Hershey Kiss "rosebuds":

http://www.hersheys.com/kisses/crafts/de...



~ And, yet another one....although I don't know the price of this one...it may be expensive:

http://www.wanderfuls.com/



Now...you can always do a potted flowering plant with a few votives....a few roses in a bud vase with votives.....there are soooo many ideas!



Good luck!
Reply:What about branches.

http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/01/02/bra...

I've also seen some where they are spray painted and put in a vase.

You could use photos of you and your fiance, at different stages in your life. Together and separate.

You could fill vases with almost anything (coffee beans, sand, candy, etc)

Here's a site.

http://offbeatbride.com/2007/02/non-flor...
Reply:Why don't you get some small vases and fill them with really pretty big lollipops? If you have 5 people per table, but 5 lollipops per vase.
Reply:A mini version of the wedding cake on each table is pretty. For the main wedding cake you can have a couple faux layers so it will still look good but people would eat from the cake on their table. A candy or cookie bouquet/arrangement or a cupcake tree on each table.
Reply:You mentioned flowers being expensive and you couldn't see yourself spending that much money and that they would only be good for the one day, but then you menion the edible arrangements and say that they are kinda pricey...I would think edible arrangements would be more expensive than flowers and they too would only be good for the one day. You conflict yourself. :)



Most venues seat 8 or 10 people at a round table, so keep that in mind. Also, find your venue before you decide on centerpieces as there might be restrictions at your venue as to what you can use on the tables. Plus, some venues provide centerpieces - some are included in the rental price, some charge extra.



My cousins had small cakes as their centerpiece. They had a two tier cake at the wedding party table that they cut into and then invited people to cut into the cakes on their table. Each cake was a different flavor, so it got guests mingling to other tables deciding if they wanted carrot, chocolate, red velvet, strawberry, white, yellow, etc. They had about 500+ people at their wedding.



We had fish bowls as our centerpiece at our wedding. We bought small inexpensive bowls, put glass beads in the bottom (to match our wedding colors) and put a beta fish in each bowl. Guests got to take the fish home with them after the ceremony. Everyone loved it! Our wedding was about 150 people.
Reply:There are all kinds of options out there that aren't flowers. I have been in the search myself for something other than flowers.



What I have seen is multiple glass containers (that you can purchase pretty cheap at craft stores) with colored water and slices of or whole fruit. I've seen better ones than the link but you get the idea.



Also, fish... goldfish are pretty cheap and look pretty cool in the containers. The second link.



Also you can get glass bubbles that float at different levels in a hurricane style or tall container. The third one.



The first two links have other centerpieces you can look at, as well.



GOOD LUCK!
Reply:Having Edible Arrangements as centerpieces will cost you more than flowers. I've looked into it. I don't know why everyone thinks flowers are going to cost them thousands of dollars. Just don't get roses or any expensive flower. I'm doing my entire wedding with flowers for $1200.
Reply:Eddible arrangements are great! They're delish and unique. Yes they are pricey, but most tables at reception halls will accomodate 8-10 people comfortably...so that would cut your cost.
Reply:diy the fruit centerpieces. it's always sooo much cheaper to go buy the fruit yourself.

depending on what kind of base or basket you want to put them in - keep eyes out for sales at ac moore or other craft stores in the area!



we have a place kinda like the one you mentioned around where i live in delaware.

i just went to their website and copied what they did in the pictures for a party we had over the summer.



you can go as big or as little as you want. you can even go really big- make topiaries with fruit instead of flowers.

you can make cascades of grapes to drape down too.
Reply:I just saw a wedding where the bride made roses out of ribbon in shades of the wedding colors. They were arranged just like the real thing and it was gorgeous yet still unique. If you pick up the ribbon during a sale or using the 40% off coupons the craft stores like Michaels, Joanns, and Hobby Lobby run it can be amazingly affordable.



If you message me with your actual email I can send you a pic of the bridesmaid's boquet.
Reply:We are having the smaller chocolate fondue sets at each table, with little wicker baskets lined with fabric in the colors of the wedding at each place setting filled with some things to dip. They are doing double duty as both the centerpieces and favors.
Reply:We are theming our day around the beach because that is where we met and I love the beach. I went down and found some really unique gnarled pieces of driftwood. I am then intertwining them with some vines and flowers and sticking little shells, dried starfish and butterflies on them.

Might sound a little odd but they actually look really effective.

I like them anyways. And they are not costing me all that much at all.
skates