Post # 1
Member
1054 posts
Bumble bee
We are going to be moving 9 hours away about a week after our wedding. I’ve been struggling not only to come up with a centerpiece idea, but something that won’t make a bunch more stuff for us to move with us. I’m already planning on using mason jars for outdoor decorations, so we will have plenty of those to take with us. I don’t really know how to decorate the reception space in a way that will be simple and elegant, but that will use things that we can either reuse, recycle, etc.
Post # 3
Member
190 posts
Blushing bee
Potted flowers that guests can take home at the end of the night?
Post # 4
Member
1054 posts
Bumble bee
I thought about that, but about 90% of our guests are coming from out of town, so I don’t know that they could/would want to take those with them
Post # 5
Member
306 posts
Helper bee
I’ve been making these: http://www.thebrokeassbride.com/2012/04/decor-diy-a-step-by-step-how-to-guide-to-making-colorful-paper-rosettes/ and they’re a TON of fun! You could put one of those as a centerpiece, either up on a stick like it’s a flower, or flat on the table with the vase on it.
Post # 6
Member
424 posts
Helper bee
You could rent vases. Or you could buy some (used or new) and pre-sell them here on WB! If you guys drink, you could use wine bottles and recycle them afterwards. I also seen DIY tutorials for cutting the top off of a wine bottle to make it a shorter vase! I was thinking about using wine bottles and just buying the small bottles (and drinking them) for several months. Instead I went with milk glass (bought from garage sales and Craigslist) and I’m going to try to re-sell it after the wedding.
Post # 7
Member
518 posts
Busy bee
There are a lot of different ways to do this kind of thing, but I’ve seen a few centerpieces that were either made up of a dessert, like cupcakes or cookies, or an “arrangement” of favors. Not that either of those things are necessary, but it might be a fun way to present them and have them do double duty. A few mason jars with something in them might be a fun and simple option?
Myself, I’m doing a simple vase (yay for Dollar Tree vases!) with local flowers, on a mirror base the venue has but I would skip that if it wasn’t just available, and a few votive holders around it. I’ll probably encourage guests to take most of the vases, arrangements, and votives home (unless my venue wants any of them) and just take one or two arrangements home with us, though that doesn’t sound like its an option for you.
Post # 8
Member
1258 posts
Bumble bee
We wanted as much as possible from our wedding to be reusable, and something Out of Town guests could take home. We did very simple centerpieces: martini glasses filled with candy. Most of the candy was eaten, and all but 7 of the martini glasses went home with people (they could pack them in a suitcase). That meant we had one to keep for display with the ribbon tied around it, and the other 6 are in our liquor cabinet waiting for serve up some vodka 🙂
Post # 9
Member
1054 posts
Bumble bee
@LaurenKK: ooh, I love those!! I could definitely see me incorporating those into the centerpieces somehow..
@likelimeade: I have thought about milk glass, I LOVE the way it looks.. and after I posted this, I was thinking that I could probably sell things here on WB if I do end up with a bunch of different decorations..
@TankGirl: A few extra vases wouldn’t hurt for us to take home, but I’m just trying to avoid it if possible.. we won’t have a ton of tables, so it might be possible for people to take some of them home.. because I have kept the dollar tree idea in the back of my mind for a while, they have great stuff!
@ProfessorGirl: I love that idea too! Our venue doesn’t generally allow any inside food to be brought in though :o(
Post # 10
Member
424 posts
Helper bee
Also, if you want the milk glass look for cheaper, you can get clear glass vases at the dollar store or thrift stores and spray paint them white! There are a lot of DIY tutorials online.
Post # 11
Member
1054 posts
Bumble bee
@likelimeade: I’m definitely considering that, because I really love the milk glass..
Post # 12
Member
2073 posts
Buzzing bee
I’ve recently seen stemless wine glasses with a simple candle or floating flower in them. Small, easy to move, and you could gift them to people nearby!