Affordable Table Centerpiece Tips for Weddings and Special Events

The high cost of many wedding table decorations can often break a carefully planned wedding budget. Brides get carried away when looking at designs on offer at florists and even if they consider alternatives to fresh flowers, table centerpieces can still cost a fortune.

This article looks at some cost effective alternatives to traditional floral table decorations using balloons, ribbons and metallic confetti as well as considering just one large display using ice sculptures

Wedding Balloons
Wedding balloon centerpieces start from around $25 and can be ordered in colors to suit any wedding theme. Use a specialty balloon supplier for the balloon decorations and consider using balloons as a theme; say “I do” under a balloon arch, send balloon invitations and have fun at the wedding reception playing silly games with balloons.

Creative brides can save money by ordering personalized balloons and making their own table decorations, tying balloons with ribbon secured to a glass vase filled with mints or chocolates.

Wedding Table Confetti
Metallic wedding confetti looks incredibly effective and is available in a wide variety of colors and shapes to suit any wedding theme. Prices start from around $1.50 per pack from stores like Confetti and a little goes a long way. Iridescent colors look especially effective on white tablecloths as they sparkle and catch the light and, as the metallic color won’t run, it is perfect for throwing over the bride and groom too.

Use confetti for simple but effective decoration around a plain candle in the center of the table, sprinkle it on the floor or put it into a cheap wine glass then scatter additional confetti around it; perfect for keeping costs down at a large wedding with lots of tables.

Wedding Ice Sculptures
Need something to wow guests and take their eyes away from the center of their own table? Why not consider wedding ice sculptures? Prices can be high for extravagant large ice sculptures but a 1m high single figure or shape starts from around $300 and can substitute for multiple expensive individual table decorations.

Ice sculptures last 6-8 hours and, if placed on the main table or perhaps next to a buffet, will attract admiring glances. Just put a single flower in a vase on each individual wedding table or even just a single tea-light in a glass. Wedding ice sculptures are great for indoor events or cool outdoor parties but remember not to leave them near a radiator!
Alternative Cheap Table Centerpiece Ideas

Here are some further suggestions to keep table centerpiece costs down:

• Put a plain white box tied with ribbon in the wedding theme color in the center of each table. Use matching ribbons to decorate the edges of each table.
• Create a fun wedding theme and place bottles of bubbles with a party popper on each plate and just put the wine or champagne in the center of the table.
• For an evening reception, just place three scented tea-lights in small glass jars and give each guest a sparkler to light when toasting the bride and groom.

Cheap Wedding Table Centerpieces
Save money on extravagant flower decorations by using wedding balloons, metallic confetti or even an ice sculpture as an alternative to individual wedding table centerpieces. Use these ideas as part of a wedding theme where appropriate and mix with a simple candle or individual flower in the center of each table for a cheap but effective display. suite101