One issue with having a 16-month engagement: I have quite a bit of time to change my mind repeatedly. This is bad because I am veryvery indecisive about everything, from wedding stuff to what to eat for dinner.
Of course, this indecisiveness has manifested itself the most while choosing centerpieces. My venue provides centerpieces, which is a great option for some; however, I had (multiple) visions for my centerpieces, and none of them included hurricane-glass lanterns with a tapered candle.
All of my centerpiece ideas centered (hahaha) around flowers. We all know I’m not exactly a flower guru, but I still think they’re pretty. At first, I wanted to keep everything very simple. I thought having milk-glass bud vases everywhere would be clean, simple, and original. Clearly, this was before I had been inducted into the wedding world and saw that milk glass and vintage chic is “in” nowadays. I proceeded to buy around 60 bud vases via eBay (tip: search “milk glass bud vase lot”), using these photos as inspiration:
However, as my wedding planning progressed and my theme came to fruition, I realized that using teapots as my centerpieces would be so great!
I immediately started my eBay search and realized that, well, I didn’t want to blow $40 each (with shipping) on Victorian-style bone china teapots. My local Goodwill wasn’t much help, either. The teapots there just weren’t what I was looking for, though I did find an awesome pewter one.
After that disappointment, my vision changed again. I had all of this milk glass I wasn’t using, and I still really loved the vases I had bought. Perhaps I could use vintage teacups with some flowers in them beside a milk-glass bud vase. Vintage china teacups are still expensive but are often sold in sets, which reduces the shipping greatly.
Here’s an example of my current idea (with very poorly edited flowers…fail):
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| Sources: 1, 2 |
I’m also considering placing two candles on each side for symmetry’s sake. (Again: pretend the flowers and candles are actually on the coffee table and not in the interwebz.)
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| Sources: 1, 2, 3 |
I think they’ll look nice with real flowers, even though my photo-editing skills make them look like a hot mess!
How did you guys decide on your centerpieces? Are you just as indecisive as I am?
I love your drawings with this post! We are the same way!
I had to laugh at this post because I got engaged in September and we’re getting married in July…that’s a 9 month engagement and I’ve changed my mind on everything about 100x. Its terrible. I need 4 weddings to incorporate all of my fluxuating ideas!!
I love all of your centerpiece ideas though, and I’m sure whatever you end up with will look amazing!
[...] Tablescapes Part 1: The Centerpiece: One issue with having a 16-month engagement: I have quite a bit… weddingbee.com/2011/02/03/tablescapes-part-1-the-centerpiece/ – view page – cached [...]
the 3rd pic is done by my florist and shot by my photographer! good taste Biscuits!
I feel your frustrsation, we’re as bad as you guys (or worse if thats possible).
But thankfully we have finally decided.
Now i am in need of one or two other diy projects to keep my mind too busy to think of new ideas.
I think it will work out great if you have a few candles around the flowers, maybe you could use a sugarbowl in china or something to have the tea-light candles in? Or use the cup for flowers and the sauser for the light.. (that way you save money since you’ll get the sausers with the cups).
Good luck!
So cute, and teacups would be a lovely souvenir for you or your guests! When arranging things (especially faux-haphazardly), everything looks more balanced if its done in groups of three. I’d say ditch one candle and try a vase+teacup+candle trio.
ahahahah i’m the same way about food… i like all food! so usually i don’t care. if i do care, i’ll demand something 
the boy doesn’t believe me though, he thinks i’m just trying to be nice… but since he’s the nicest nicest guy in the world, it leaves us stumped sometimes! i think it’s good for him though mwahahah
I loved the drawings on this post. My favorite was the one where no one said anything and remained cheerful as the time passed. You would be a great wedding comic strip artist.
Your drawings totally cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh this morning. 
Just found this on the weddingbee shop: http://www.weddingbeefavors.com/product/teacups-and-tealights-miniature-porcelain.html
Maybe you could use them at your tables?
My boyfriend and I do the same thing almost every night… “what do you want for dinner” scene.. lol so I definitely know how you feel! lol
I changed my mind so many times too. But I decided the things I don’t use I can use for my garden party bridal shower, which makes me feel less guilty. PS I love teacups. I am going to use them at my bridal shower and turn them into candles as favors. Here is a tutorial:
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/11/diy-project-kates-teacup-candles.html
@Lizzie: Great idea! I originally wanted to do it that way, but I was afraid it would look too weird. Apparently not!
@canadianbacon: Aww thank you! If only there was a market for that. I think dentistry is still my best career bet haha.
@MrsPrince: I saw those! Unfortunately, they weren’t exactly what I was looking for. I want colored floral vintage cups that don’t match. I definitely pondered these suckers for awhile though.
In design you’re best to go for groups of three. I would suggest going with one additional element and if it could be mid height you’d be onto a real winner.
Ha! Your illustrations are hysterical! That is like every night at my house!
[...] you’ve seen my ideas for centerpieces and linens, but how will people know where to sit? Since I have had nightmares about some random [...]
Haha my FI saw you drawing as I was reading and he said that it was me exactly! Im glad im not the only person that does that. Wedding Bee>eating/cooking any day!
Mrs. Biscuit, Morgantown, WV Age and Occupation: 24, Dental Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Chemist at a pharmaceutical company Engagement Date: April 2010 Wedding Date: July 2011 Venue: Catholic Church, Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa About Me: I'm an engineer who decided to trek back to my hometown three years ago to become skilled in the arts of drilling and filling. I'm engaged to a pretty awesome guy who tests your assorted benzodiazepines by day and home brews by night. Together we have two fur children, Tsali and Tobias N. Fünkat. I'm a lazy perfectionist and eternal sorority girl who enjoys running, crafting, string cheese, good beer, and bad reality TV. We are planning a Big Fat Italian/Sicilian/Polish wedding filled with DIY details and are expecting 300 +/- 50 guests. Our whimsical summer affair is themed "Alice attends the Mad Hatter Vintage Garden Tea Party in a Ballroom. She Thinks That The Venue is Odd for a Vintage Garden Party, but is Tripping on LSD, so She Doesn't Really Care." Yes, I am the Dickens of themes.
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