Inexpensive Centerpieces

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Whether you’re decorating for a baptism luncheon, church activity, ladies lunch or any other event with lots of people, chances are you’re on a budget. I was asked by my sister to brainstorm some inexpensive centerpieces for her and thought I’d share the list I sent her with you. She was doing centerpieces for a large family lunch being held after a baptism and wanted something cute, but that wouldn’t break the bank either. Many of them double as favors for guests to take home, or have uses after the party is over!

20 Inexpensive Centerpieces:

House Plants

Potted flowers or a small pine tree (during the holidays) placed in a cute pot or wrapped in coordinating paper and tied with a ribbon are simple, and have a purpose after the event

Cowboy Boots

A cowboy boot filled with dried wheat or artificial daisies. If you want to use fresh flowers, just buy small vases that will fit inside the boots!

Balloon Bouquet

You can get this picked and filled at most dollar stores or you can buy a small helium tank at Walmart or Target and fill it yourself.

Gift Bag

Place mini foil balloons in a gift bag with tissue paper.

Tissue Paper Pom Poms

Place a large Tissue Paper Pom Pom in the center with confetti scattered around

Tissue Paper Flowers

A vase filled with Tissue Paper Flowers (like these I made for Mother’s Day) 

Filled Vases

A cylindar vase filled with wrapped candies, fruit or ornaments

Cake Stands

Serve the desserts on the table – a cake stand piled high with donuts or cupcakes looks cute and tastes great!

Party Hats

Giant homemade party cone hats that have fun and crafty decorations (glitter, pom poms, tassels)

Pinwheels

Make or buy cute pinwheels and place in vases along with fresh or artificial flowers. Invite guests to help themselves to the fun!

Wheat Grass

Grow wheat grass in tinfoil containers and wrap the base in streamers to hid the tin foil (like these I made for a Butterfly Themed Birthday Party)

11 – Purchase candlesticks from a thrift store and spray paint them a solid color. Add a small tissue paper pom pom to the top. Put two on each table.

Glittered Vases

Add Mod Podge to the bottom half of a clear glass canning jar or vase and roll it in glitter or dip in craft paint. Add candies, flowers…whatever your heart desires.

Small Cake

Make a small double or triple layer cake for each table and add a pennant banner on sticks for a cake topper

Empty Presents

Wrap empty boxes in wrapping paper and top with lots of cute ribbon (like these from this Jungle Party)

Branches

Thin tree branches (like willow tree) spray painted and displayed in a cylinder vase

Candy Display

Use a bouquet of suckers, candy sticks or a bamboo skewer of treats all displayed in a vase (you could do something like these Mustache Suckers I made for this shower)

Paper Bag or Tin Can Luminaries

Use flameless tea candles.

String Balloons or Paper Lanterns From Ceiling

Balloons, 3D Snowflakes or tissue paper pom poms all make great “centerpieces”. Hang them from the ceiling in a small cluster in the center of each table. I like to hang mine with fishing line and use a glue dot to adhere the string to a thumb tack that is pushed into the ceiling. Here is one example I did from a Barney Themed party.

Here is another example of hanging decor from the celling.

Herbs

Grow your own herbs in small terracotta pots and display a few on each table. (Like these featured in Good Housekeeping)

Books

Stack a few books on each table and add a teacup or two on saucers at the top of the stack. Add a single large bloom flower (like a peony) to each teacup.

More Ideas

Here are a few other ideas that are specific to weddings, but would also work really great!