by M. Sparga

Created on: March 31, 2008

Perhaps you've been to a wedding reception where an opulent bouquet of roses and calla lilies has blocked you from the person sitting across from you. Or maybe a traditional floral arrangement just doesn't fit into your wedding theme or budget. Either way, you can wow your guests with creative centerpieces at your reception.

A centerpiece adds a decorative touch throughout the reception area, plus it provides a focal point for the guests sitting around it. No matter what your style or budget, you can have a creative centerpiece adorn the tables and bring a personal touch to your wedding reception. Consider the following ideas:

Floating Accents
With a wide bowl and a bit of water, you have the foundation for a beautiful centerpiece. Just add floating candles or rose petals. You could also create a mini lilypad pond on each table. If you have the budget for a splashier centerpiece, you could look into putting a small tabletop fountain on each table.

Sand and Stone
You can bring in the elements to make a striking centerpiece. You can use pretty rocks and stones arranged on a mirror plate, or you can layer different shades of colored sand in clear vases. If you want a crystalline look that won't scratch up glass or mirror surfaces, try water crystals. These just-add-water crystals look like rock salt at first, but once they absorb water they swell up into soft, clear, quartz-like "crystals."

Candles
Lots of stores nowadays carry candle gardens, those decorations that include a base, one or more candles, and colorful stones to surround the candles. You can use one of these kits or make your own. A square plate with rounded edges makes an elegant base. You can use pillar candles of different heights to create an interesting look. Between the candles and the stones, you've got lots of options for incorporating any special wedding colors into the design. Just make sure the reception location will allow lit candles!

Plants
If you don't want to banish plant life from your tables completely, you can opt for something simpler than the traditional flower arrangement. For example, you can put bamboo in the center, or a single orchid in a dish of water. You can also use branches, leaves, or potted herbs or ferns to bring an outdoor feel to the reception area.

Fruit
One popular trend is to dress up a table with vases and bowls filled with fruit. These bring a bit of color to the table for just a fraction of the cost of flowers. You can use pears for a hint of green or apples for a bold, lush red.

Candy
Have you ever considered using confections as decorations? Treats like mints, jelly beans, or rock candy are colorful and interesting, plus the guests can munch on them as the night progresses. You can put them in decorative candy dishes to make them extra fun or elegant. You wedding cake doesn't have to be the only impressive dessert at the reception.

These ideas are just a few of the many possibilities out there. Wedding couples have used everything from fish bowls to board games to dress up the tables at their receptions. With a bit of imagination, you can design and put together table centerpieces that will impress your guests and enhance the atmosphere on your special day.

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