Creating Memorable and Personal Wedding Centerpieces

Table centerpieces are an important component of any wedding. Not only do they impact the overall décor, but they can enhance or detract from the overall mood that you are trying to set. Just like all other aspects of a wedding, the more personal that you can make the centerpieces the more meaningful they will be to you and your guests.

Photos memories - Use candles as your centerpieces, consider creating personalized votive holders. Find sets of three glass candle surrounds of various heights. Choose photos of your courtship or of things and places that are special to you and your future spouse. Size and print the picture on vellum paper that will wrap around the surround without extending above the top edge. Use either vellum tape or spray tack to adhere the photos to the surrounds. To make the pictures more cohesive, consider printing them in black and white or sepia tones. Place traditional candles, electric candles, or white lights in the surrounds. Consider putting candles on a round of mirror or surrounding them with greens.

Selective memories - Spend some time with your fiancé to brainstorm some of your favorite times together consider places or activities that you love to do with each other and plan your centerpieces around it. For example, my now husband and I have made several trips to the Notchland Inn in Bartlett, NH. These trips have been some of our favorite memories. During our trip, we love to use their hot tub. At the copula that the hot tub is in there are two punched tin stars. This would be a perfect idea for centerpiece. Two punched tin stars on each table with some flower heads or baby's breath intertwined would be beautiful.

Family History - Does your family have a strong ethnic background? Are you part of a family business? Perhaps you could draw from these for inspiration. My Irish background might encourage a small pot of Shamrocks as a centerpiece or our family business might allow us to use a fire fighting motif by placing a hose tip, helmet, or other truck part amongst the flowers.

Literary Obsession - If you and your future spouse have a favorite writer or genre, consider buying a few copies of books for each table. Stack the books and drape them with pearls, flowers, or lights. The books don't have to be new and may actually be better if you find them at thrift stores or antique shops. You can use the same concept with movies or music.

Edible Arrangements - Centerpieces don't have to be traditional candles or flowers, you can think outside the box and use a favorite food. The centerpiece may be consumed during the reception, taken home by your guests, or maybe donated at the end of the event to a shelter. Food centerpieces can be as simple as parchment wrapped rustic breads or a complex fruit arrangement that reflects a favorite food i.e. apples, citrus. Maybe your favorite café makes something that you can incorporate.

The best thing about personalizing your centerpieces is that you will be sharing yet another part of yourselves with your guests. They will feel closer to you. Also, such special and personal centerpieces will encourage conversation with your guests and will inevitably add another reason that your day will be unforgettable in their minds.