A Few More Non-Floral Centerpiece Alternatives

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A while back I did a post about non-floral centerpiece alternatives. With winter well on its way in the mountain south, and the trees bare and leafless, I am inspired again to post alternatives to floral centerpieces.

There are a number of things to love about the whole concept of eschewing flowers on your tables. Price comes immediately to mind. But so does the joy and satisfaction of designing a wedding that is completely different from what one's guests might expect to find. Maybe it's because I'm now in my thirties, but I think of a wedding as 1) an opportunity to explore the uniqueness of one's couple hood: who are we, what do we like, where do we come from, and where are we going? and 2) a fantastic occasion to throw a kick-ass party and be the ultimate hostess. I remember as a teenager my friends and I would joke about marrying each other just to throw a kick-ass party.Too shallow? Maybe. But we were kids. What did we know of love and marriage.

OK, I'll admit, wedding-industrial complex does indeed put too much emphasis on the party and not enough on the relationship and ensuing marriage. And from the bottom of my heart I believe that is very real and very valid criticism. The emphasis should be on the marriage–the relationships that are forged that day. And yes, it's different when you're married. Things change; the commitment deepens. But I don't believe the party and the marriage are mutually exclusive.

The party is the conduit, the entry point if you will. It really does bring families together. I wouldn't have given up the pride and joy my mother felt sharing her grandmother's recipe for Italian cookies with our guests. Nor would I have given up the opportunity for all of our respective friends and family members to get together and share stories about themselves and their backgrounds, finding commonality and enjoying the sense of family and community.

OK, now that I've had my little say, let's get onto the pretty party parts.

Whimsical and Sweet Yarn


Image from Sabine Scherer via Once Wed

Classic Branches


Image from Carden's Photography via The Wedding Chicks

 

Vintage Glass and China

Sometimes vintage glass and china are so pretty you really don't need anything else.


Image from Carl Zoch via Ruffled Blog

Potted Plants


Image from Daisy Varley via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Lanterns

Yesterday I posted about DIY projects from Gifted Magazine, one of which was a vellum lantern project. You can be a versatile and creative or as simple and minimalist as you want with lanterns.


Image from Cappy Hotchkiss via Snippet and Ink

 

Camping Gear


Image by Gabriel Ryan Photographers via Elizabeth Anne Designs