I once attended a wedding reception in which huge vases stuffed full of flowers were the centerpiece of each table. Watching the guests try to talk to each other across the table was equal parts hilarious and frustrating as they craned their necks to make eye contact. Wedding reception centerpieces are a great way to add color and style to your event, provided that you chose adornments that are actually functional.

Should Your Wedding Reception Centerpiece Have a Theme?

Before you make any decisions about your wedding reception centerpieces, you need to decide if you want to incorporate your theme in the design. Remember, the wedding gods do not require you to have bags of seashells as your centerpieces just because you got married on the beach. Mix it up! If your ceremony had a Parisian theme, go the opposite direction and have Carnival centerpieces at your reception.

The Heart of the Centerpiece

Most wedding reception centerpieces revolve around an item or items that are meant to catch the eye of the guests who are seated at the table. There are several different directions you can go in creating this heart:

Fruity: Fruits, especially ones of the citrus variety, can make gorgeous wedding reception centerpieces.
Floral: Dried or living, floral arrangements work beautifully as the heart of your centerpieces. Stick with vibrant colors, like red, orange, and purple and classic flowers like roses, gerbers, and hydrangeas. For a more modern feel, consider using tropical or exotic blooms.
Candles: Whether floating in a vase or enclosed in hurricane cylinders, candles can really add some warmth to your reception tables. Before you get all fire happy, make sure to check with your wedding reception venue about all necessary permits and flame restrictions.

Wrap it Up

Whether you go fruity or floral, modern or classic, you'll most likely need a container or two to "wrap" the contents of your wedding reception centerpieces. Consider using vases from your own home or other glass containers. Mason jars are especially popular when creating centerpieces, and can be acquired from a local arts and crafts store. Whatever you choose, do a test run with your containers to ensure that they are leak proof.

Fill it In

If your containers are transparent, you'll want to make sure to add a splash of color as filler. Gel beads, marbles, citrus fruit, and coffee beans make great fillers. Avoid using cut citrus fruit as filler if you are having an outdoor wedding, as your gorgeous wedding reception centerpieces won't be so welcoming with a swarm of bugs circling your fresh-cut citrus.

Build An Altar

No, not literally. You'll definitely want to surround your wedding reception centerpieces with a little bit of love. Consider placing your centerpieces on bamboo mats, reflective tiles or bits of colored fabric. You can also surround your centerpieces with flower petals, candy, or bright confetti. Be careful not to extend your centerpieces too far from the middle of the table, as your guests will not appreciate the beauty of your artistry if they're swallowing forkfuls of confetti.

Get Off the Grid

Of course, you don't have to create any of these traditional wedding reception centerpieces. Go crazy and try something new and completely different. Use potted plants as your centerpieces and send them home with your guests. Dot the tables with digital photo frames that show a slideshow of pictures of your friends and family members. Add customized labels to wine bottles and surround them with bowls of grapes. Build a cookie tower using grandma's favorite recipes. Whatever you do, make sure it is an expression of you and what you consider special and stylish.