Crafts for Wedding Centerpieces

After the ceremonial "I do's," you will be ready to celebrate with all your guests at your wedding reception. Be sure your table centerpieces reflect you and your fiance's style and that they help set the type of mood you are aiming for, whether it be romantic and formal, or whimsical and light. Many brides cut costs by making their reception centerpieces themselves, which gives a personal touch to each table, too.

Filled Containers

One of the most versatile and simple centerpiece crafts is to find containers you like and fill them with something. You can choose vases, bowls, candy dishes, Mason jars, or whatever you have on hand. Options for filling the containers include natural items like pine cones, autumn leaves or twigs; try edible items such as candy or fruit, or decorative items like baubles or Christmas ornaments. Fill a container with water and add fake jewels and glitter; add a real goldfish and a plastic wedding arch cake topper for an unusual conversation-starting centerpiece.

Candle Crafts

Candles can provide a pleasant ambiance to a wedding reception and make lovely centerpieces. Make your own candles from wax or gels, or use store-bought candles. Decoupage baby food jars and drop tea lights inside or glue them to the tops of the jars; these can double as wedding favors for your guests to take home. Or buy candles of many different shapes and sizes and some thin-gauge wire and beads. Thread the beads onto the wire and wrap it around the candles in a spiral, turning the end into a curlicue.

Floral Crafts

Floral centerpieces are a traditional favorite, but even if you don't want to rely on a florist, you can still use plants in your centerpiece crafts. Buy small plastic planters or pots from the dollar store and fill them with soil. If the time of year is right, plant a marigold or pansy in each pot, wrap it in tissue paper with a ribbon, and use them for the centerpieces and wedding favors. If there aren't flowers available, make tissue paper or felt roses to place on top of the planters and include a bulb or seed packet for guests to plant later. Other flower-related crafts that can be incorporated into centerpieces are felt roses or origami flowers.

Birdhouse Centerpieces

For a centerpiece you probably won't see on anyone else's reception table, make small birdhouses. Buy unpainted birdhouses from the craft store or nursery, or build them yourself. Paint them in your wedding colors or make each house different, and make small signs reading, "Love nest" or "Just married" to place next to the houses. If you're feeling ambitious, add fake moss and fake birds to the houses. If you don't want to build a whole birdhouse, you can still use the basic idea, but use only the front face of the house, with the hole/doorway, and prop it upright on the table.