When a DIY Centerpiece is a Don’t

Many brides like to make things for their weddings as a way to save money. This can be a great way to give your wedding a unique look when on a budget, but it can also turn out to be a mess if not done well. This is how you know when a DIY centerpiece is a wedding don’t!

The thing about making your own centerpieces is that they should not look obviously homemade. Handcrafted, yes; homemade, no. What is the difference? When something is lovingly handcrafted by a talented artist, it will have a special and unique feeling, whether it is a centerpiece, bridesmaid gifts, or wedding favors. When something looks too obviously homemade, however, it can look unpolished, or non-professional. For your wedding, you definitely want all the elements to look polished and pulled together. It is the difference between something that looks clunky and something that looks elegant and well-crafted.

What else makes a diy centerpiece a don’t? Going overboard on a theme or color scheme. Sure red is dramatic and passionate, but when brides start pairing red flowers in red vases with red candles, it can all get too be way too much. This is where having a professional florist can be helpful, because after doing dozens of weddings, she will have an instinct for what will work and what will not. When she starts hearing that you are planning to have everything from the bridesmaid dresses and jewelry gifts to the napkins and centerpieces in the same shade of red, a florist will know to pull you back from the brink and to add some tonal variety into the mix.

Where brides really go wrong with DIY centerpieces is by using poor quality fake flowers. Even good quality artificial flowers can look fake when seen up close, and the cheap ones will be spotted the minute your guests walk into the reception space. Certainly, the fake flowers can be economical, but the reaction you want when people first see your diy centerpieces is, “Aren’t they beautiful? Can you believe she made them herself?”, not “Wow, check out the fake blue roses!”. If you prefer faux flowers to real, consider handcrafted paper flowers, which are much more appealing than poor quality fabric flowers.

Another time that a diy centerpiece is a don’t is when the bride does not have an innate sense of creativity, proportion, color, or balance. A good florist will walk into a reception venue and note the high ceilings which call for tall centerpieces, or the beautiful woodwork which would be enhanced by using blossoms in warm colors. Now, there are certainly plenty of brides who have an eye for these types of things, but if you do not happen to be one of them, you may be better off having a florist make your centerpieces, and turning your diy abilities to other projects.

The other thing that can turn even the best intentioned diy centerpiece into a definite wedding don’t is biting off more than you can chew. Think long and hard about the time commitment involved in handcrafting the table arrangements for ten, twelve, or fifteen tables. Also be careful not to get overly ambitious with your design if you are a novice. At some point, the stress of trying to make the perfect centerpieces can outweigh the money saved. If it’s not fun, don’t do it!

About the Author

Laura is interested in wedding planning and wedding trends including jewelry, receptions and bridesmaid gifts. Visit us at http://silverlandjewelry.com/ today and receive free shipping on your jewelry order over $99.

DIY Summer Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

If you are looking to add style to your wedding reception without paying a lot for a florist, think about making your own centerpieces. There are lots of beautiful designs which are easy enough to make yourself, and with all the money you save, you can splurge on something with long lasting value, like your wedding jewelry. These great ideas for DIY summer wedding centerpieces will provide all the inspiration you need to get started.

When you begin planning your reception centerpieces, think about the ways in which you can tie the arrangements in with both your wedding style and the season. If you are having a beach theme wedding, right down to the food and jewelry, incorporate that motif into your centerpieces. Or perhaps you are having a 4th of July wedding; DIY decorations with an Americana flavor would be ideal. Summer weddings tend to be brighter and more relaxed than winter events, so keep your design light and laid-back.

A gorgeous DIY centerpiece for a garden wedding would be a butterfly “bouquet”. Take a cute enamel watering can in your favorite color to use as the vessel. Then use a collection of butterflies on long stems to wire together into a unique and colorful centerpiece. Of course, you won’t use real butterflies, but rather ones created from beautiful paper, fabric, or feathers. They make a colorful and charming alternative to a floral table arrangement and are easy to assemble yourself. One of the best part about using non-floral elements for DIY centerpieces is that you can put them together a long time before the wedding.

Fresh fruit can make a striking wedding centerpiece. One of the simplest DIY table decorations you can create is to fill a tall clear vessel with sliced lemons and limes. Pack them tightly around the sides so that the round slices are pressed against the edges of the vessel for a great graphic design. The citrus fruit adds color and a summery feeling to the wedding. For a more modern effect, use a clear tall cylinder or choose a footed urn if your wedding style is more romantic. A lemon or lime flavored signature drink would be the perfect accompaniment to these centerpieces.

Beach theme centerpieces always fit in with summer weddings and are very easy for the DIY bride. Fill tall clear vases with a variety of seashells and surround them with low votive candles. Or go for a modern beach style by placing red faux coral into clear Lucite boxes and stacking them up. They will make very striking centerpieces for your reception, yet are a breeze to assemble.

Of course flowers are always popular for wedding decorations, and there are plenty of designs which do not require any experience to create. If you want to try your hand at DIY centerpieces but are not confident in your flower arranging abilities, gather a collection of pretty potted plants. For an Americana wedding, bright red geraniums would look fantastic in white wicker baskets. Best of all, after your wedding, the cheerful flowers can be planted outside your new home.

About the Author Guy Antonelli

Guy has been writing about society and weddings for a long time. If you have a topic you would like to know about, let us know at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. Let us help you select the perfect wedding jewelry for every member of the bridal party. All jewelry orders over $99 receive free shipping.