If you think of traditional wedding centerpieces these days you will no doubt consider floral displays, candle arrangements or perhaps balloon collections. These are extremely popular with brides to be and so here are some great ideas to ensure your wedding reception centerpieces are the talk of your guests.

Floral centerpieces

Floral wedding centerpieces are traditional but need not be run of the mill. Let your imagination run wild and you can create some diverse and stunning displays. The advantages of flowers are that they come in so many colors and styles, you can keep them long stemmed or short and you can even just use the petals. If you are on a budget do not restrict yourself to fresh flowers – consider silk or paper wedding flower centerpieces. These also have the upside of being ready a while before the big day. Whatever color and theme your wedding is following, there will always be flowers to match.

When you have decided on wedding floral centerpieces you need to come up with a design. Will you use them with wire to create fancy shapes such as cones or use a vase? Will the vase be a traditional tall shape or a more modern low cube? You could consider single flowers in tall, thin vases, colorful sprays in small, white watering cans or just use thick string to tie together tight bunches. How about just sprinkling flower petals in shallow bowls of water or around your vase display? Simple, single flower options can be a good choice to keep costs down and can still look stunning when part of an already full table laid with cutlery, crockery and all the other paraphernalia.

Photos by couragextoxlive, cking and Jennifer E Smith.

Plants are also worth considering for a variation on the wedding floral centerpieces theme. Flowering spring bulbs such as daffodils or tulips would be perfect if you are getting married at the right time of year. To improve the look of the pots, why not cover them in tissue paper or paint them, perhaps in metallic colors. Pot plants will be a lot cheaper if you trying to stick to an already overstretched budget.

Candle centerpieces

There is something very romantic about candle wedding centerpieces which is obviously perfect for the celebration of your marriage. They also add a bit of mood lighting to the wedding breakfast. As with floral centerpieces, candles come in all shapes, color and sizes so the arrangements you can create with them are very varied. You can have single candles or work your way up to full candelabras. Tea lights can be used in many different styles of holder offering endless choices for your perusal. The containers you use to hold your candles can give different effects to classic candles – try wine or perfume bottles or single stem vases for something a bit unusual. Consider the color of your candles – pastels offer subtle options or for a more striking wedding centerpiece go for bold colored candles. Do not forget the fire implications if using candles so keep them away from other decorations and keep a spare box of matches on each table in case the flame goes out.

Balloon centerpieces

Wedding table centerpieces made using balloons are a great option for those on a budget. You can get balloons that will look far more classy than those you might find at a childrens party – they are called metallic or pearlised. Choose ones that can be filled with helium gas so they will stay floating over the table and tie them down with pretty ribbons fastened to small weights such as fancy stones. If you aim for three balloons over each table anchored with different lengths of ribbon, the resulting tiered effect will be very attractive.

With the recent explosion in people sharing their photos on the internet, you should not be stuck for inspiration for your wedding centerpieces ideas. Have a look at what other people have used – you are sure to find something to match your style, color and budget.

Wedding flower arrangements centerpieces set the mood for your reception. Whether you like a lot of color, or want to stick with more traditional whites, golds and silvers, you’re sure to have something already in mind. But if not, please see below for a few flower arrangement pictures to inspire your wedding centerpiece ideas.

Before you spend money on your reception table centerpieces, be sure you are getting your money’s worth. Here are five common wedding flower mistakes to avoid:

Mistake 1: Lack Of Planning

Many of the loveliest flowers come from exotic locations, and they can be expensive for floral designers to keep in stock. Find a florist well in advance of your wedding reception, and plan your wedding centerpieces. A week or two is not enough! Many floral designers need six to eight weeks to get exotic flowers, so if you want something unusual be sure you give the florist enough time. Don’t settle for wedding centerpieces that are less lovely than those you really want!

Mistake 2: What’s That Smell?

Although you may love the way certain flowers smell, keep in mind that many people suffer from allergies that can be brought on by smelling the same flowers you enjoy. Some of the worst offenders are in the daisy family. While wedding flower centerpieces may look perfect, your guests’ comfort and well-being should be of greater importance. Consider using a blend of realistic silk flowers and real flowers if you absolutely must have a certain species!

Mistake 3: Overspending

One of the biggest mistakes some people make is forgetting to incorporate flowers from the ceremony into the wedding reception decor. As you order your wedding centerpieces, consider how flowers from the bride’s wedding bouquet or from one venue can be used at the next. Depending on the size of your wedding and reception, you could knock hundreds or even thousands of dollars off your budget by simply moving floral arrangements from one place to another. Many floral designers are happy to provide this service for you if asked.

Here you can see the bridal bouquet being re-used in a vase for a wedding table centerpiece:

Photo by jagwired.

Mistake 4: Wrong Size

Be sure the wedding centerpieces you use are to scale. Choose smaller centerpieces for smaller venues, shorter centerpieces for rooms with low ceilings, and larger, loftier centerpieces for very large reception halls or outdoor venues.

Mistake 5: Why Didn’t I Listen?

Let your florist do his or her job. Plan ahead, and communicate your desires to the designer. Look at examples of work done in the past, and listen carefully to what he or she has to say about the centerpieces you envision. This is one of the best ways to avoid a disaster.

You want the ultimate flower centerpieces for weddings to complement the reception, not overpower the occasion! By following these simple tips, you’re sure to have lovely decorations and enjoy your wedding day.

Wedding Flower Centerpieces Pictures

Photo by sailor_coruscant.

Photo by nanaz.

Photo by walkering.

Photo by 28157360@N08.

Feathers can be fun and chic, or they can be a little bit naughty, depending on how and where you use them. On the cute little clutch purse they’re chic and trendy, while on that racy little black negligee they can send out vibes that are anything but cute. So, feather centerpieces for weddings are what you think you might like to add some of that chic and fun and just a hint of something else to your big day?

Before you jump in with both feet, make sure you know a little something about the types of feathers typically used for this kind of application. And, then find out where you can get the product, either completely finished, or the components if you are a do-it-yourself kind of gal.

The most common types of feathers used for centerpieces are ostrich and peacock, with some coque feathers occasionally noted.

Ostrich feathers, or plumes, can be rather large, and can be dyed in a wide variety of colors. Imagine on old-fashioned quill pen, the kind that would have been used to sign the Declaration of Independence. That’s a plume, and very much like the ostrich feather that would be used in ostrich feather centerpieces.

Please click for prices on a case of 12 centerpieces complete with vases

Peacock feathers are very easily recognized by the iridescent green-hue they have and by the eye-like pattern that figures prominently in the center of each feather. These too may be dyed to match a particular color scheme, and amazingly the prominent details of the feathers remain intact despite the change in coloration.

Finally, are coque feathers. These are actually rooster tail feathers that can be dyed or bleached for an attractive feather option.

Feathers can be used as whole feathers, or plumes, as stripped plumes with all but the very top portion of the feather removed from the sheath or quill, or as strings of feathers grouped together.

Ostrich plumes come in a variety of lengths ranging from 8 inches to close to 30 inches. These make a lovely wedding centerpiece when simply placed with 5 or more plumes in a tall necked vase, called an Eiffel Tower vase. Eiffel Tower vases vary in height allowing for the use of even the longest of ostrich plumes on a table top. This slender necked vase, when filled with lush ostrich plumes creates a palm-like vision of feathery elegance.

Peacock feathers are also available in various lengths. These can be added to a traditional floral arrangement, or as with the ostrich plumes, placed in Eiffel Tower vases.

Coq feathers are perfect as accents on floral arrangements or when used with hurricane candle holders. A tall candle holder set inside a wider hurricane with feathers arranged around the outside of the tall holder will cast a lovely light when the candle inside the tall holder is lit. For the fire-safety conscience couple the use of glow lights will add a romantic glow that will last up to 48 hours after the wedding, without lighting a flame.

Online websites offer not only a wide selection of feather styles and colors for sale or rent, but a host of how-to instructions and kits for making your own wedding centerpieces. Feather plumes, boas and flowers are only a small sample of what you will find once you start looking for the perfect feathers to create the feather wedding centerpieces of your dreams.