Wedding Blog
For brides on a budget, centerpieces can be kinda scary. It really doesn’t matter whether you want flowers or candles; it still adds up. But I don’t want to sacrifice elegance for cost.
I used to have a huge distaste for carnations, but I’m really starting to actually like them. They are really vintage looking, and can definitely be elegant.
See?
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I guess I could reconsider carnations.
How are you saving money on centerpieces?
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those are great!!! i am loving the look of carnations lately!!!
Our reception venue is a resturant that has oil lamps with floral wreaths around the base included as centerpieces. The floral wreaths are little white flowers, but I’m going to replace them with red berry garlands (score holiday sales) because I want a little more color. At 50 cents a pop, I can’t beat it.
Totally clipping the 2nd to last shot. Great inspiration!
Use the carnations. They look gorgeous. After you’re married, what your centerpieces were will matter much, much less to you than it does now. I was so excited about them beforehand and I barely even remember my centerpieces now (because there are so many other more awesome things to remember).
LOVE the purple arrangement.
I saved a ton of money with a “flowers are naturally pretty” approach. We used cut dahlias, which like carnations carry a lot of personality on their own. We used about seven in a simple vase, with about four vases per table (we had long tables). The end result was similar to above - basically balls of petals. They were nothing fancy, but they looked great and cost about $200.
I’ve started to like the look of carnations more in recent years too, especially in tight little clusters. My personal plan to save money on centerpieces involves cake plates (close-out purchases for a dollar apiece) and edible favors artfully arranged. Two birds with one stone.
I have never really liked carnations, but damn they look good in these pics!!!
LOOOOVE the last pic….i’m looking for something i can do with white and black, and that would be perfect….and could be adapted for higher CPs too….
I (heart) your posts. I never really liked them either but this post makes me reconsider…
I spent about $10/centerpiece and ended up with elegant orchilds floating in tall vases.
I bought 20″x6″ tall cylindrical online at $9 each and split the cost w/ 2 other brides in the area.
I bought light green dendrobian orchids at about $2.5/stem, have 2 stems per vase.
I bought some river rocks at ikea at about $1-$2/bag. One bag each in the vase.
Fill vase with water, voila 
Total: $3 vase + $5 flowers + $2 rocks = $10
As someone who did floral arrangements on the side, I always told people that carnations are not necessarily “filler flowers” as they have been deemed, but when used in a modern, monochromatic way, they live up to their true potential. These photos prove that point. I think people often discount them because of their cheap price and lack of “exoticness” or traditional “elegance” but they are minimalistic works of art!
Our florist is doing centerpieces for half of our tables, and we are doing non-floral arranagements on the other half. Ours will be floating candles in cylinder vases w/ flower petals scattered around, and hers are gladiolas in tall trumpet vases.
its all about the budget for the Dumplings! I happen to LOVE carnations, though. I think they’re so creamy looking.
I’m keeping my eye on non-holiday looking holiday decorations for centerpieces. We’re having a vintage theme, and I found these glittery little birds on sticks in the section where you find DIY wreath decor/filler. I pulled out the sticks, and will set two birds next to each other. The total cost, I believe, is around 80 cents a pair!
I also found these two glass birds at Target. They’re sort of silver and gold, but don’t necessarily scream “Christmas.” I bought them at $5 each.
Hoping to score some more items after the holidays.
We’re also using $2 vases and recycled glass jars for candle holders/flower vases. We’ll put one or two stems on each table.
I used carnation centerpieces with mirrors and candles and at $15 a table (which included set-up and tear down) I couldn’t beat it.
I have that first picture saved on my desktop because I wanted to use it for my husband’s doctoral graduation party.
It’s very pretty. And yea, I never would have thought carnations as a good flower choice either.
I plan on saving money on my centerpieces by using sunflowers/wildflowers that I find in the ditches and fields (I live in NE). I’ve gotten some pretty crazy looks and my grandma had to ask if I was serious, but hello, they’re *free*!
Half price sales at Hobby Lobby.
Giving up on major extravangance.
Using flowers from my family’s garden!
Gotta say I love those! Great finds!
These look great! I always think of carnations when they are a single stem, bunched together they look very different! Lovely.
For other brides like me on a budget, Im going to try and buy my bridesmaid dresses from the Gilt groupe sale being held today. They have Jill Stuart and Laila Azhar dresses and Im hoping to find something in the $150 category. Has anyone else shopped there before?
I just joined. Here is my invite for anyone that is interested in also checking it out-
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Mrs. Crab Cake, Columbus, GA
Age and Occupation: 25, Registered Nurse
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Director of Education and Living History for a museum
Engagement Date: April 6, 2008
Wedding Date: June, 2009
Blogging Since: November 26, 2008
Venue: Holy Family Catholic Church, reception: National Infantry Museum
About Me: I'm a perfectionist trying to balance two jobs, motherhood, my craft obsession, and wedding planning. I am obsessed with all things wedding, especially creative ideas for saving money and DIY projects. A Southern Belle at heart, I love anything southern, especially sweet tea, grits, afternoon thunder storms, crab cakes, and good old Southern hospitality. Mr. Crab Cake and I are planning a vintage inspired wedding with tons of Southern flare (can y'all say that with a thick Southern drawl?).
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