Alternatives to Floral Centerpieces

I helped out at a wedding yesterday for the daughter of one of my favorite people from when I worked at Gordon. Dan and his wife Andrea (pictured) hosted a beautiful wedding for their daughter:

 

 

 Here is Sarah, her handsome groom Chris (in his navy outfit), and their wedding party, I've just zoomed in on the girls side because I want you to look at the dresses. Sarah chose a hue from J. Crew and let the girls choose what ever dress they wanted... I would have happily taken the dresses off the girls' hands. :)

 

 

But it was their centerpiece that has inspired this post. Why? Well, Sarah isn't like me and isn't obsessed with event planning. She and Chris found the flowers to be stressful and expensive (they definitely are!) and just decided to can them. Instead, she created a little chalkboard and placed mason jars and candles on top of it. It was simple and adorable.

 

I was not the creative force behind this centerpiece, that was all Sarah.

I've only labeled this "Migonis Home" so people could know where to find other floral alternative ideas.

 

And it got me thinking... what other ideas are there out there to save money on flowers? I did some "research" (AJ always teases me for using that term, as if I'm a real academic. :)) and it led to this:

 

 

 

One of the first ones I found were similar to Sarah's and involved candles but it had a different base... I just love the natural tree base for a rustic wedding.

 

Fall Wedding Ideas from Chanel Photography

 

 This second one wouldn't be exactly cheap but if you have a smaller wedding it could be something that could work gorgeously... I've seen wholesale flower websites sell garland; you could just artfully arrange some fruit on top of that for a unique centerpieces down a long table. 

 

Oh Happy Day

 

Are you planning a whimsical gathering? Something like these adorable pinwheels could look fabulous on your table. 

Adelyn Stone

 

 Martha Stewart calls this next one "Vivid yellow paper loop-de-loop centerpieces"... I'm not sure I would have known that technical name. :) Aren't they fun though? I love the little vases of tulips but if you were looking to save money that is definitely not a necessity to have on the table.

 

 

 

These flowering branches are fabulous, but I could even picture it without the flowers and using interesting branches you find in the woods (no flowers or leaves). I think that would look elegant for a fall wedding with some old books.

 

Martha Stewart

 

Fruit is such an easy way to bring color to a table without worrying if it's going to wilt.

I've used lemons before here, oranges here.

 

 

Don't the apples, peaches and cherries look so cute and "picnic-y" here? 

 

Martha Stewart

 

Or, even veggies work well, aren't those bread sticks great? I love how they add height to the table.

 

Martha Stewart

 

 Another all natural way to get some texture into your table, especially in fall, is to incorporate some dried grasses into your centerpiece. Martha Stewart suggested that they could just be picked up at your local craft store (if you can't find any around you, of course).

 

Martha Stewart

  

 Balloons or lanterns are a great way to add some whimsical fun to either your aisle or your tables:

 

Indulgy

 

Who would have thought that balloons could look so fab?

 

Martha Stewart

 

What are your great ideas for alternatives to floral centerpieces?

JUST A REMINDER:
 
Please don't forget to vote today (and every day until September 17) here for Migonis Home to win the best decorating blog over at Country Living magazine. It doesn't take more than 30 seconds to vote.