Non-Floral Wedding Centerpieces

Flowers and candles are the stuff of wedding centerpieces. But if you spend as much time working on your wedding as you probably are, you should have something creative and original on your tables that is an expression of you, or something that gets people talking. These two will do just that.

One Fish, Two Fish Centerpiece
A living centerpiece can put a shot of life into the decor of your wedding. Goldfish are a good way to add color and life because of their bright orange splashes of color. Besides, your guests could take home a pet at the end of the night!

Start by purchasing goldfish. Buy them two to three days before the wedding, because on the first day some may die and you'd rather they die at home than during the wedding, floating in their dishes. Goldfish are easy to take care of - they like to live in cool, clean water and they can be fed goldfish flakes.

Picking out their homes is the fun part of this centerpiece, and you should try several sources for inexpensive glass receptacles. Try IKEA, your local thrift store or even your mom's cabinets. Once you've got one for each table, make sure you vary the shapes and sizes on different tables.

Then, pick a friend to be your "goldfish captain" and have them make sure each vase or fish bowl gets 2-3 goldfish. After all is said and done, you can send the fish home with your guests or you can take them home with you to be pets that remind you of your wedding day.

Bowl of Wishes Centerpiece
Your guest are happy for you, but they don't often get to tell you that because there are so many of them and only two of you. Give them a chance to tell you and to decorate the party with a "bowl of wishes" on each table. To start, find a variety of glass bowls and vases. Then, get colored paper and cut it with a paper cutter into long strips. It's best to have at least two colors of paper to lend a contrast and make the bowls more visually interesting.

Since there aren't that many people at each table, it might help to get them started. Take blank strips of paper and fold them in half. Fill the bowl halfway up with two colors of paper, then put a sign nearby the bowl that says "Share your wishes with us!"

Make sure you have a couple of pens on each table so people have everything they need to wish you the best. Since your guests spend a lot of time sitting at their tables, they'll have a chance to write longer greetings than they would in your guest book. Besides, when you get home from your honeymoon you'll have a collection of wishes to sort through.