Centerpieces of Goodness
January 17th, 2007 @ 10:25 am by Mrs. Kiwi
I finally snagged a vase from my aunt. She bought us fifteen of them, because we are having 15 tables. (Like that was so hard to figure out.) Anyway, at first, our idea was to use candy corn. Now, because our rustic themed wedding seems a bit different now, the candy corn (as much as I love it) seems a bit wrong. Now, I am all about mini-pine cones and pillar candles. I am still very much against flowers in my centerpieces.
This is our centerpiece vase. Sorry about the pink background.
With my hand holding it, so you get an idea of size.
These are the pine cones I’m considering.
Ideally, there would be acorns also interspersed amongst the pine cones, but acorns are hard to find! Even fake ones!
Mr. Kiwi was looking for a way to spruce up the centerpieces. We have mirrored rounds that we’ve been offered, but I don’t know if that will help or hurt the effect. I would like to use pillar candles possibly in a gold or ivory color, and I must spray pine cones with something inflammable. Perhaps a rust colored ribbon at the base and right under the lip. Would that be too busy?
Right now there are too many ideas running around my head, so nothing is set in stone yet, but I think we’re going to go with pine cones and maybe use candy corn for the kid’s table.
Does anyone know how long pine cones last? If I bought them now, would they still look (and smell) okay by November? Do any of you crafty-types know where I can get some decent pine cones?
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20 Responses to “Centerpieces of Goodness”
I LOVE the pine cones idea!!! They are going to look so gorgeous!!!!! And I don’t think a ribbon would be too much, as long as you don’t go over the top with everything else around it! 
Can’t wait to see one all assembled! Do a test run for us soon pleeeease!
not sure about the pine cones, but i do have a question about the vases ~ do you know where your aunt bought them? i have been looking for them or similar hurricane lamps for ages that weren’t expensive (we need 30!)
Thanks guys!
Maricris, my aunt bought them at Wal-Mart for either 1.99 or 2.99. A definite bargain, as far as I’m concerned!
Pine cones are cool. A little retro and feel like “autumn” without the Thanksgiving aura.
You could “mist” each vase with a touch of metallic gold or copper spraypaint (irregular texture being the objective) so they look like Italian/Murano glass?
Not sure what your colors are, but you could mix in some fresh cranberries or those little kumkwats for color and variety. If you live in the right region, some fresh green pineneedles (or even dried brown pineneedles) would provide more texture and variety and would be a “filler” foliage. They could be left in clumps or separated.
After you fill each vase, what if you top off each vase with water so the candle is safe? I think pinecones would be hugely flammable if they are not soaking wet. They pop and smell great in a backyard fire…. not what you’re going for, I’m sure.
For an evening wedding, mirrors are nice and will reflect candlelight for a cozy warmth.
hi miss kiwi,
i did a post awhile back on pinecones and where to buy them. check it out here:
Google is my hero. I found where you can buy acorns but not until August of 2007. But that appears to work for your wedding date. Hope it helps.
http://www.farmandfield.net/acorn.html
cute idea but it seems like a lot of brown to me.
Thanks Mrs. Bee and Valeqt!! Tiffany, I’m also planning on using candles that aren’t brown, on ivory tablecoths, with ivory napkins, and a rust or gold colored ribbon on the actual vase, too. I think it won’t be too much brown at all. Especially since the pinecones aren’t going to be closed, they’ll all be placed into the vase loosely, so there are pockets of air or whatever, gaps of light. By not packing the vase full of pinecones, it leaves it light and airy.
Aww you girls need to go for a walk in the woods, why are you buying pinecones? Or acorns? I guess they might be rotten on the ground this time of year, but there should be fresh ones on the ground by November… guess it depends where you live though.
Get yourself an old canvas tote and go find a park with pine trees. I took the dogs for a walk last weekend and found a ton of tiny pinecones under a tree. They were nice and dry and very cute! I wish I’d had a bag with me–I just stuffed them in my coat pockets.
Laura, I live in Los Angeles, and I WISH we had acorns here! I can’t seem to find any of the little open pinecones either, just those weird spiny ball things. Where do you live?
That’s going to look great! An idea…instead of a mirror under the vases, you could put some evergreen laid flat on the table. It would go well with the natural look, add a different color and make the centerpiece feel bigger.
Great suggestion, Beth!
I love the pinecones! What about adding pussy willows for height and texture? http://www.naturehills.com/new/product/shrubs_productdetails.aspx?proname=Pussy+Willow+-+Pink
Maybe do little tealights or votives around the vase instead of in it?
I like the pussywillows suggestion. Also pretty is natural cotton on the branch, or the chinese lantern plant.
If you can’t find acorns, maybe use nuts like walnuts, filberts, hazlenuts, etc.
These are all fantastic ideas, thank you everyone!
yay! I love pinecones… I might have to borrow that idea for my wedding next year.
also, you can find some pinecones on ebay in a large variety of sizes.
you can also buy them from joann…call them and they can order for you if large quantity…i purchased a lot during their 30% off sale and since i am having my wedding half-way US so couldn’t carry them so had to order and have someone pick them up over there…
fall decor, e.g., parchment leaves, on sale @ Wms Sonoma
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/fn336_1/index.cfm?pkey=csalnewi&cm%5Fsrc=None
Mrs. Kiwi, Los Angeles
Age and Occupation in 06: 27, Bookkeeper
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, P.E. Teach/Coach @ private schools in LA
Engagement Date: March 31, 2006
Wedding Date: November 3, 2007
Venue: Radisson Hotel
About Me: I'm a bookkeeper who failed high school algebra. I'm currently living in Los Angeles, literally a street over from where I grew up with Mr. Kiwi, my honey of three years. We have a jumbo mini-dachshund (seriously, he's huuuuge), and we're planning an autumn themed wedding on a shoestring, paid for by ourselves. The wedding date is my late grandma's birthday, I needed her there somehow, and that seemed like the best way for us. I can't believe I'm a Bee! I couldn't be more proud!
pine cones will definitely last that long. Just keep them in a dry place.