Where would all of us wedding planning nuts be without Martha Stewart? She (or maybe more accurately her editorial staff) is just so full of cute ideas and creative projects. Who can resist? Her magazines and website have been one of the most useful resources through all of my planning… second only to Weddingbee, of course. 
Anyway, I came across this wonderful idea from an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings earlier this year and I fell in love with it immediately… tea tin centerpieces. Brilliant!
This idea fits really well with our venue and the overall feel of our wedding… very vintage and eclectic. I love mixing single flower arrangements, too. I imagine it would be really easy to do flower arrangements like that yourself and you could use whatever inexpensive flowers and/or greenery is in season. A bundle of baby’s breath would even look great or a cluster of red carnations.
I decided that I am going to use potted plants instead. Probably something cheap like African violets or maybe even just a green plant in the large tea tins and potted herbs in the small tins. Then I will ask guests to take them home if they would like, or we can just keep the potted plants ourselves or drop them off at a nursing home. Nothing will go to waste!
I’ve collected several tea tins from junk shops, eBay, and ones that people have given to me. Ever since I decided to do this (about 6 months ago) we switched to drinking loose tea and have been saving all the tins. Luckily, Mr. Radish is a BIG tea drinker, so we’ve gotten quite a few so far. Here are some that we are going to use:
I think we are also going to mix in some vintage colored-glass vases that I have, and we’ll probably put some fresh cut bouquets or some dried flowers in the taller vases. Pleas ignore how dusty these are.
So, is anyone else out there planning on using this idea? If so, what kind of flowers are you using and where did you get your tins?
LOL Miss Strawberry! I bet she has “people.” Maybe some connections from the inside.
I saw it and loved the idea. Can’t do it myself, but it will turn out beautifully - the green glass is a great addition
Tip: Make sure the tins don’t leak. Might need a plastic liner in each? Also they could rust, so only use tins you consider disposable.
I love that idea and can’t wait to see it in your wedding, especially wit the great vases!
barnes and noble cafes also have tins. if they are low on the tea bags, they’ll move those into a new tin and give it to you. just ask!
I LOVE this idea. I plan on using it too. My family (and fiance) isn’t too crazy with the tin cans, though.
We’re using it too, with peonies and wild flowers. I’m also wondering about the waterproof-ness of the containers now though, good thing to check! 
Thanks also for the tip about b & n!
Melanie & Nico — yeah, in that issue of MS Weddings it says something about making sure the tins are waterproof first, and if they aren’t lining them with some plastic bags or something like that.
We are doing potted plants inthem so just a little newspaper at the bottom should be fine I think.
The red tin on the far right is not a tea tin, the label says almond cookies in Chinese.
Ha, thanks P. I knew that though since I already ate all the delicous cookies that were in it. But it is still a tin so I’m going to use it.
Mrs. Radish, Chicago/Syracuse
Age and Occupation: 27, Executive Assistant/Journalism Student/Musician
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Anthropologist/Musician
Engagement Date: December 20, 2005
Wedding Date: August 18, 2007
Blogging Since: June 26, 2007
Venue: The Wellington House in Fayetteville, NY
About Me: Mr. Radish and I are both from upstate New York, so we are planning a wedding in Syracuse from about 700 miles away. When I’m not obsessing about our wedding I play the cello in my band (which Mr. Radish is in too), read as much as I can, sleep even more, travel whenever possible, and try to find time to have fun with my friends. I’m also working on finishing up my journalism degree with a concentration in environmental reporting and I’m the VP of my campus Amnesty International chapter… so I’m a pretty busy bee.
you watch your mouth when you talk about martha.
she’ll find you.