When looking for a way to trim the wedding decorating budget, it helps to find items that can do double-duty. One very clever idea is to arrange your wedding favors in a way that doubles as a centerpiece. There are many ways to do this, and the results can be as charming as they are thrifty.

Flowers are the most popular type of centerpiece, and a great option for wedding favors as well. The blossoms you select and form of display will depend on the style of your reception. Let’s say you were having an informal country celebration and wearing a very simple lace wedding dress and delicate jewelry – painted tin pails planted with sunny yellow daisies would be darling. Set an small wooden bushel basket (upended) in the center of the table and arrange the little pails of daisies around the basket. Cluster one group of three on top of the basket to add height to the centerpiece design.

Special vases with single stems can also work beautifully for favors that double as centerpieces. Choose a flower with a very large bloom, such as one full hydrangea stem or a lush garden rose in full bloom. Make it a unique favor by picking out vases with character, such as a mis-matched collection of white milk glass vases. This would be a sweet idea for a wedding with an old fashioned charm with the bride in a vintage inspired gown and wedding jewelry. Or opt for the clean look of chic narrow oval vases. Play up the modernity of the vase by using flowers in a vivid color like bright orange or fuchsia. Group the vases in the middle of the table to create the illusion of a large display of flowers.

Candles are always popular for both favors and centerpieces, so why not combine the two into one? The key is to display the candles in holders which are beautiful enough to be keepsakes. (After all, a half-melted candle in a plain glass votive holder is not much of a gift!) Tall etched glass candle holders will look beautiful with the flame flickering in them. When your guests see how pretty they look, they will be delighted to find out that they get to take them home! Or create an enchanted effect for an evening wedding by hanging small lanterns in jewel tones over the centers of each reception table. Put them on hooks which will make them easy for the guests to remove their lantern to take home at the end of the night. A unique favor and a unique centerpiece idea all rolled into one!

You can never go wrong with edible favors! The trick to using edible favors as centerpieces is in the presentation. A white tiered cake stand with a delicate cutwork border would be a lovely display for small gold boxes with satin ribbons. Stack the boxes of sweets artfully and tuck tiny spray roses between them to make the display as pretty as a picture. Another idea for edible favors as a centerpiece is to use a graceful tiered stand and put pastel petit fours on each layer. At each guests’ place, set a small candy box with a calligraphed tag instructing guests to help themselves to petit fours as a parting gift.

Potted trees are a great wedding favor for an eco-friendly wedding. Centerpieces which can be planted rather than discarded is also very much in keeping with the earth friendly ethics of a “green” wedding. Place small pine trees in pots and glue a pretty ribbon to the rim of the pot. Neatly arrange in the center of each reception table, and there you have it: beautiful centerpieces, eco-friendly favors, and a super easy diy wedding project to boot! Your guests will love it!

Author Bio: Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry with fresh new ideas and inspiration for brides. At http://silverlandjewelry.com/, we carry a wide selection of wedding jewelry for every member of the wedding party. Visit today and receive complimentary shipping on your jewelry order over $99.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: wedding jewelry, wedding centerpieces, wedding favors, favors as centerpieces