I love my craft time. I spray paint, wood burn, paint, and make jewelry and I am always looking for a new type of craft to get into. When my fiancé proposed and I had to begin planning my wedding, my first thoughts were on which aspects of my décor I would be able to do myself. I began wood burning my table numbers before I even knew how many guests I’d have, but now I’m stuck on creative centerpiece ideas. The options are limitless and my mind began to expand with ideas involving all of my favorite crafts and a few new ones I picked up along the way. Here are a few of my favorite budget-friendly DIY centerpiece ideas I’ve discovered.
Books and Candles
I haven’t quite decided on my centerpieces yet, but I’m leaning towards this option more than any other. Books are incredibly affordable, easily crafted to fit your wedding colors and style, and a unique option that steers away from the traditional bouquet angle. Go to the thrift store, used book store, or hit up some garage sales and find some hardback books of various sizes. You can paint the hardcovers to match your colors or leave them as is. You can also spray paint the edges of the pages gold if you wish. Put them on the center of the table, stagger them, and put some small candles on top and around them.
Cost: This option is super affordable at an estimated $3 per table depending on where you get your books and how many you choose to stack on each table.
Tip: The downside to this option is the weight and bulk of transporting the books. Be sure you know how difficult they can be to transport to your reception site.
Wine Bottles and Spray Paint
If you’re anything like me you enjoy having a glass of wine on occasion – or on a lot of occasions. This means that we have access to many wine bottles that are seemingly unlimited in the crafts that they could become. You can spray paint these bottles any color you wish to fit your wedding in any number of patterns. Tie a charm to the top, add some flowers, or place them on glass coasters to complete the look.
Cost: Depending on if you have wine bottles or not, this is still a very affordable option with your only costs being about $4 per can of spray paint.
Tip: Spray painting glass can be tricky in order to prevent dripping, so make sure you have extra bottles to practice with.
Mason Jars and Burlap
Mason jars are extremely popular in rustic décor both for weddings and for interior design. Creating a simple and classic centerpiece can be as simple as using hot glue to attach a band of burlap to a mason jar. You can attach a flower, charm, table number, etc. Adding rocks and a candle or a small bouquet of baby’s breath will be an easy finishing touch to an easy and classic centerpiece.
Cost: This project is about $4 per table depending on how many jars you decide to use and which extras you include.
Tip: Using off-brand mason jars is a way to save money on this centerpiece idea.
Glass Bottles and Pinwheels
Pinwheels are such fun and colorful options for centerpieces in weddings. Not only are they unique, they also offer movement, and an opportunity to easily match your wedding colors. You can use any cheap glass container and whichever pinwheel style suits your fancy and you’ve created an extremely simple and affordable centerpiece. Add some ribbon and a table number and your centerpiece are complete.
Cost: There are a lot of variables on cost here depending on the types of glass and pinwheel you choose, but the estimated cost per table is about $4.
Tip: If you don’t find the perfect pinwheel, you can also make your own if you’re willing to take on such a big project!
Remember Your Theme
When you’re creating your centerpieces, it’s best to keep your theme in mind if you have one. This is a great visual reminder of your theme on each table and might help to give you some direction if you are looking for a centerpiece that is unique. Using the rope for a nautical theme, seashells for a beach theme, apples for a country theme, old photos for a Victorian theme, or dreamcatchers for a bohemian theme are ways to get your theme across in a unique way. Don’t be afraid to utilize ideas for holiday crafts like glittered pumpkins or fall-colored mason jars for Halloween for a fall-themed wedding, or fill Christmas ornaments for a winter-themed wedding. Don’t limit yourself to searching for wedding centerpiece crafts and allow your creativity to turn any craft into one that might work for your theme.
Your creativity can span across all aspects of your wedding, consider unique ideas for wedding transportation, a themed cake topper, mixed CDs for wedding favors, or your own unique union ceremony with wax from two candles or braiding ropes. Even if you can’t do your own crafts, your own unique ideas can create a distinct look to your wedding even if DIY isn’t your thing. Sometimes just your creative ideas are enough to make your wedding emulate your and your other half’s personality.
I can’t wait to utilize my crafty nature to create the centerpieces at each table that all of my loved ones will be sitting at. I know that each table would look beautiful with a pre-made centerpiece, or just a vase with a bouquet, but I feel so much more connected to the planning process when I get to utilize one of my hobbies and create pieces of my décor on my own. Even if you aren’t the craftiest, each of these options can be created by anyone looking to create something on a budget. Which centerpiece I use is still to be decided, but I’m excited to use my craft time on my wedding crafts for the next few months no matter which idea I end up going with.
