Obviously flowers are the way to go for many of us, but here are some suggestions and variations.

• Visit the florist at your local grocery store. Because they don't often do weddings, the prices may better. (This obviously is not limited to centerpiece flowers.)
• Choose one flower that you particularly like and play it up. Use those flowers by themselves in clear glass vases, so that the whole flower and stem create a simple, elegant look.
• Rather than using cut flowers, buy something potted that you can then keep for yourself or give away to someone deserving. This is especially good with things like Poinsettas that can't be cut. Remember that Poinsettas are poisonous and don't let them touch the food!
• For a simple planter decoration, wrap some tulle around the pot and tie with a pretty bow. (There are lots of bow-making kits at craft stores and places like Wal-Mart.)
• You can also slip either a potted plant or a vase inside a plain paper bag. Fold down the bag's top, cut a few slits and lace ribbon through.
• Instead of one large arrangement, use several tiny ones clutered together with candles or by themselves.
• Use silk or dried flowers instead of real ones.

• Long, narrow candles sitting on top of mirror tiles can look quite pretty and simple. To decorate a little more, use ribbon, flowers or ivy around the candle and base.
• Floating candles in glass bowls of either clear or colored water creates a neat centerpiece. These bowls can be surrounded by flower wreaths too. Warning: The candle heat can crack many kinds of glass and can scorch silk flowers if they are too near the edge.

• An Italian Wedding Cookie Cake--which is basically a round pyramid of different types of cookies. To dress it up a little, top the pyramid with flowers and ribbon, and stick colorful Jordan almonds randomly in the cookie pile.
• For a christmas wedding, use wrapped packages, little evergreens, or ornaments for the centerpiece. These can be favors for the guests.
• Wrap each table with a big bow in the center and ribbon streamer going out from the center.
• Topiaries make lovely centerpieces. These can be living, dried or silk. Try grapevine balls and wind silk ivy through it, or dried hydrangea bunches. Don't forget to tie the base of the ball with a ribbon.

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