25 Budget-Friendly Simple Wedding Centerpiece Ideas with Candles

One of the most time-consuming parts of wedding planning is deciding what to do for the wedding centerpieces. Wedding centerpieces can range from elaborate neon light displays to classic floral arrangements. 

Candle centerpieces can be as elaborate as you like. They help present a clear focal point for the table. Simple wedding centerpieces can be cost-effective and look elegant when set up correctly. For example, you can add colorful taper candles to match your wedding theme. These centerpieces are a great way to help with the wedding budget. You won’t even need to consult a wedding designer. 

Plants are a great option for developing a visual interest in the center of your table with candle wedding centerpieces. You can use baby’s breath, blooms, single stems or similar vessels to open up more space.

But what’s the best way to save money and still present stunning centerpieces? If you are wondering where to start, we have curated a guide to help you with every type of wedding centerpiece. 

How to Make a Cheap Wedding Centerpiece?

Hosting a wedding reception that looks beautiful and unique is challenging. You want the wow factor when the guests enter the room, but wedding décor can be costly, especially if you have a large wedding. After all, the more visitors you include, the more decorations you will have around their seating.

Stay calm if you’re operating on a tight budget or have a negligible amount left in the wedding fund. You may want all the pretty details but there’s no need to panic if you have to cut back on some items. There is an abundance of budget-friendly practices to assemble a spectacular wedding day.

You can acquire colorful taper candles at flea markets relatively cheaply. Floating candles are also an intriguing option to consider for your wedding reception. Depending upon the time of the year, you could opt to cut down on floral arrangements. If you must have flowers, consider using baby’s breath, as it is relatively cheap to use as decoration. Plants can also double as party favors if you are crafty. 

A great way to keep centerpieces cheap is to embrace the DIY option. DIY wedding centerpieces are often easy to make, an excellent activity to enjoy together and an inexpensive way to decorate your wedding tables. Below are some tips.

Top Tips for Making Elegant and Eye-Catching DIY Wedding Centerpieces

1. Provide yourself plenty of time and be realistic about how much you can get done. Crafting takes time, so you can’t easily sew a table runner for 12 tables in a single evening. Forty rustic flower-filled mason jars in a week are nearly impossible to do alongside your full-time job. Develop a plan months in advance so the projects can be manageable.
2. Be prepared. Ensure you have all the necessary equipment before crafting. That way you will not waste time and ensure the project looks as professional as possible.
3. Set a budget. Only let DIY wedding projects cost as much as they would to buy or rent the decor. Working on a budget can be fun, but at the same time, you can quickly become enamored with the project and want to spend more. Stick to your budget. 
4. Understand your DIY limits. Choose projects you know you can do on your own. Simple is often best in many cases. Attempting something complicated could end up looking less professional.
5. If you need to, ask for help. If your maid of honor is creative, ask her to lend a hand. The bridal shower could be an excellent opportunity to have all hands on deck. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. Consider hosting a “crafternoon” bridal shower with your bridesmaids or anyone happy to get involved.

Tips For Budget-Friendly General Wedding Decor

It is no secret that bringing your dream wedding to reality can cost a fortune. But there is a way to make your dreams a reality without breaking. So are you looking for a way to stay on a tight budget and not sacrifice style and elegance? Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to add the wow effect in your wedding decor. 

Repurpose Items

Getting items that can serve many purposes will help you lower expenses on your wedding decor. Multipurpose items for wedding decor saves a bunch of cash on duplicate decor. You don’t have to go down the route of buying everything new. Yes, that temptation may surely arise, but you don’t have to fall for it.

Many things around the house can save you money on your wedding decor. For example, you can repurpose old window frames and picture frames as unique signage at your wedding. You can paint it and add your personal touch and style.

Also, you can save money on new vases by reusing the old ones already at home. All you have to do is wash and clean them thoroughly and then put your flowers. They can be used for centerpieces and other purposes.

You can do a lot by repurposing items for wedding decor; the possibilities are endless. It’s all little tweaks and changes here and there that make the difference. You will be surprised at how creative you can get and the brilliant ideas that come when you let your mind think outside the box.

Keep the Craftiness in Check

While planning a wedding on a tight budget, you may get tempted just to handle everything the do-it-yourself way. The hidden truth is that while it is generally believed that DIY can save you money, doing it on a much larger scale costs even more. Think about the cost of your supplies for the craft.

Aside from the cost of supplies, there is also the time factor; you will have to dedicate a lot of time to making your desired piece. So consider getting a professional to handle specific things to save time and cost. They have the experience and can advise you on how to go about specific items.

Don’t shoot beyond your strength trying to handle everything all by yourself. You may get too tired and overwhelmed even to enjoy the wedding itself.

Focus on the Things that Matter

You can often get caught up in tiny details that you forget to handle the things that matter in your decor. You may be busy trying to fix the small areas of the hall that are appealing to you, but I’m grand scheme of things, they go unnoticed by everyone. 

So to make everything count and maintain your budget, you should focus your energy on the most noticed part of the decor, the colorful areas everyone will see quickly. This could include table linen, floral arch choices, and colorful candles. They make a lasting impression on your guests.

How Much Should Centerpieces Cost for a Wedding?

The cost of a centerpiece is relative to what you want for the result. The more ornate the setup, the more money you will spend, even on a DIY creation. 

Head table centerpieces can cost between $65 to $150 per centerpiece, while guest table centerpieces can cost between $75 and $400. Taller wedding centerpieces, which are impressive but often require more flowers and filler, may be even more expensive

Do Wedding Centerpieces Have to Be the Same Colors?

Your wedding centerpieces don’t have to match if you don’t want them to. The best way to make your mismatched look shine is adding a small element that is identical in each centerpiece. Depending on the centerpiece base, you may use the same candle or identical vessels. The rest may be unique to each table!

Are Candle Centerpieces Cheaper Than Flowers?

Yes, candles are much cheaper. A floral arrangement will run you at least $50 per table from a florist. You can get candles cheap from many box stores. Candle holders are affordable in similar stores and online. With table runners, mercury glass votive holders and candles, your centerpieces could cost as little as $10 per table.

Also check out these other exciting wedding ideas:

• Funny Wedding Entrance Ideas
• Alternatives to The Garter Toss

Top Tips for Wedding Candle Centerpieces

Candles are lovely in reception decoration, but candles can often be challenging to find. In addition, open flames have the potential to cause serious problems. Contacting your wedding planners, florists and vendors is vital before choosing your decorations and candles. Keep these suggestions in mind while planning your candle centerpieces.

1. Place Candles in Textured Glasses

Small votive candles can be placed in textured glasses. Set them out among the bouquets on dinner tables. The glowing effect is stunning.

2. Hang Votives

Hanging votive candles in geometric orbs can make a wedding venue feel oh-so-romantic. Additional pillar candles on the floor can help cinch in a fairytale look. 

3. Add Votive Candles to Side Tables

If you seek a discrete and elegant look, go with a glimmering accent with candles on side tables, especially if the side tables are made of glass. The light will complement the floral arrangements, especially if they’re made with light pink roses.

4. Hang Tea Lights from Trees

Imagine tiny sparkles of light hanging below the trees in your beautiful boho reception. Include plants such as ferns and your favorite flowers, and opt for tea candles hanging in little glass circles and taller pillar candles on the tables or ground.

5. Complement Vertical Structures with Pillar Candles

Skyscrapers can make a lovely backdrop for a wedding venue. Highlight the verticality of the skyscrapers and hanging light fixtures by adding pillar candles to the tables. 

6. Use Candlesticks and Taper Candles

A gold candlestick is an elegant option to use with white taper candles. You can dress it up with a lush garland of greenery and fruit accents.

7. Fill Open Spaces

Sometimes, it’s wise to fill open spaces with candlelight. Bonus points if the space has metallic décor for the candlelight to reflect off of. 

8. Use Dramatic Candelabras

Tall ornate candelabras develop a statement for your wedding centerpieces. If your venue is historic, why not add an old-world flicker that meshes perfectly with its surroundings? When working with a gorgeous venue, it’s best not to compete.

9. Mix and Match Metallic Containers

We are obsessed with sleek mini vessels that illuminate light. Mix and match metallic containers filled with tea lights. Incorporate a simple yet modern display on the cake table.

10. Line the Staircase

 While we cherish greenery-covered railings, lining a staircase with candles can be practical and magical. It’s wise to light up tricky areas after dark, and the candles create a dreamy space. You can also pose here for bridal portraits.

11. Create a Sky of Stars

Create the illusion of stars with a clear-top tent. Hang glass orbs filled with tea lights. The more, the merrier. Dress up the glass with a DIY metal project so the candle illuminates the holes in the metal.

12. Play With Height

When you spend months curating the perfect centerpieces, you best show off your handiwork. Mixing in candles of varying heights will help you conceive depth. Tall, black candles and mini tea lights make a perfect pair.

13. Make It Modern

When you envision candlelight, you often think of a very ethereal, romantic look. But you can make it modern by using sleek cylinder vases.

14. Use Taper Candles Above and Below

White taper candles are easy to showcase on the table and in a chandelier. Consider the placement of candles. Going high and low can present challenges, so it is essential to consider every possible issue that might pop up when you have a flame. 

15. Light the Way with Lanterns

Lanterns provide a special touch to a historic church’s entrance. We especially like to include a black rim if the venue has black railing.

16. Ditch the Flowers

In Italy, you might see a wedding with zero flowers. There’s no need when you have wedding centerpieces with candles.

17. Decorate a Fireplace

You normally see taper candles on wedding centerpieces. These spots are generally at the dining tables, but they could look great around a brick fireplace. You can use the idea to think outside of the box if you have extra supplies. 

18. Go Vintage

We are obsessed with gold candlesticks. Hand-select them from local vintage shops to create the perfect (or not-so-perfect) arrangement.

19. Hang Bistro Lights

Bistro lights are a type of outdoor light used to light up and enhance an outdoor space. Finding a balance of taper candle designs on tables and bistro lights above could be a perfect way to offset some of the decorating expenses. 

20. Place Lanterns at the Altar

You can utilize lanterns to line the altar, similar to a staircase. These are great ways to add romance at the altar. We especially like them clustered in asymmetrical groupings, using different sizes.

21. Do Something Unexpected

Forget candles on the table when you can put them below the table. We’re all about this unexpected idea.

22. Accent With Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossom branches and candles are great for a wedding in February. The pinks in the cherry blossoms with the candles present a fantastic and inexpensive look. 

23. Deck Out Dessert

Simple candle centerpieces are great on long tables, especially when they are accented by deserts. Mini votives can also help illuminate the dessert table. 

24. Pose Among Candles

Wedding photos with lit candles provide dramatic imagery. Any candle-loving bride will enjoy posing for a pic surrounded by numerous candles.

25. Use Small Candles in Mismatched Glasses

The bride and groom can opt for tiny candles in mismatched glassware. This is a great way to accent a stunning white wedding cake.

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