Traditional Wedding Table Centerpiece: Alternatives to Flowers

Some people are allergic to flowers, some people just don't really like them, and some do not like wasting the money on something that only lasts one day. Some people want to set up reception décor the night before so they want to choose something they can leave out for a day. Here are some options to flowers that can save you money or do double duty at your wedding.

Some people give a favor that when grouped together in the center of the table makes the centerpiece. This can be a pile of favor boxes stacked neatly and wrapped in pretty paper and ribbon for example. There are commercial preparations of this, one great option for this is from Wanderful Arrangements. From a distance, these arrangements look like standard color coordinated floral centerpieces on your table, as you see in the photo, but they are actually candy filled wands with a color coordinated pom pom topper and ribbon that are the guests' favors. You pick the colors and the candy fillings of your choice like sugar Jordan almonds, kisses, mints, etc. These arrangements can be flower free or have a dome of flowers for a more traditional look.

Visit wanderfuls.com to see the colors and choices.

Topiaries can be purchased or cultivated with an ivy plant and some wire. You can add fairy lights or tiny flowers or leave it bare. Topiaries can line a mantelpiece after the wedding and also be used as centerpieces as the shower. Coordinated pots will make them stand out in the room. An English look is achieved with a copper pot. Get a less formal look with terracotta pot with a pastel or celadon paint finish.

Votive candles in multiples are pretty to look at, photograph well and everyone looks good in candlelight. This is advantageous to allow guest to see around the arrangement. Check with your reception site in advance if they allow open flames or if you need to use LED light votives or have a special sort of votive holder. Also consider if food is likely to be passed around the table and if guests might accidently knock over a candle when passing food. Iridescent clear glass votive holders have more intensity to the glow of the candles. Group in bunches of 10 - 25 per table to have enough impact. Odd numbers work best in groupings. Some add rose petals strewn about the votives as well. Remember to have matches or a lighter and arrangement for someone to light them before guests arrive at the reception. Also make sure your votives will last long enough - typical burn time is 4 - 6 hours on full votives and only 1 ½ hours on tiny button votives.
Martha Stewart recently featured lemons on a pretty cake stand as a wedding centerpiece. Consider some silly putty or play-doh or similar medium to hold the bottom lemons in place. Conceal the medium with lemon or other leaves or greens. Best for weddings that coordinate with yellow, such as if you have cobalt blue or royal blue as the color of your bridesmaids' gowns and you can't find a blue flower you like for a centerpiece.

Another similar option is displaying a sugared fruit arrangement. Mix 8 TBLS powdered egg whites and 2 cups of water. Dip assorted fruits like pears, apples, lemons, and grapes into the egg white mixture and then dip into granulated sugar. Set aside and allow to dry before laying on a color coordinated or silver platter. This works well for a fall wedding especially if grouped with some pretty fall foliage and nuts or acorns. It is also nice at a wedding at a vineyard and would coordinate with sugared fruit on a simple wedding cake.

Another option is to have a lush flowering plant or an interesting plant like an ivy plant or bonsai or bamboo. You will have the plants after the wedding so there is no waste of money. Try to coordinate the pots by purchasing matching containers to place the plant in, preferably a nice ceramic or get terracotta pots and paint them with a shiny paint that coordinates to your color theme.

A mini wedding cake as a table centerpiece. Some brides opt for having a mini two or three tier wedding cake on each table, enough for those tables' guests, instead of or in addition to a big cake. This can be an option considerate of various health needs - such as diabetics or those with allergies to nuts or gluten or wheat - and can accommodate flavor choices. The wedding cake, if it is able to withstand being at room temperature, is placed on the table. A plain cake with really floral decorations is suitable, or fruit such as strawberries or blueberries make for a colorful but simple decoration for table cakes. These can be done by a baker, often a supermarket bakery can do a pretty smaller cake, or since it is just two tiers, it might be something you or a friend can do.