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I was quoted an average of $600 for 15 tables and budgeted $220 for favors. I instead have chosen to do favor centerpieces and kill 2 birds with one stone. I have 3" embossed paper mache boxes with a fake flower atop each one all smooshed together in the center of the table (idea compliments of Martha Stewart). So flowers and maple candies in boxes is costing me about $250 total as opposed to $720. You could also just tie each box with a ribbon (like a tiny present) and pile them on a footed platter in the center (also Martha Stewart).

Centerpieces per table for our upcoming wedding were $8 per table.. 12 round guest tables and the head table.

Set up like this on the guest tables

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tljones/2468135049/

But in the wine glass is a floating candle and in the shot glasses will be votive candles...and the petals will be shades of purple.

And on the head table like this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tljones/2477426401/in...

Except there will be candles in between the vases. (Like vase, votive candle, wine glass with candle, votive candle, vase, etc)

I'm not sure what you plan to do for a cake but you could do a small cake for you guys to cut then have a centerpiece cake on all the guest tables.

Sorry I can't be more help since I'm doing candles so I didn't have any other ideas. And I know you aren't into flowers but if you find everything else is too expensive, Sam's Club sells a bulk lot of 125 white roses for $86... so if you had for example 15 tables.. That would be less than $6 per table (about $7 per table by the time you get to a dollar store and buy a vase for each table)...and then each table could have 3-6 roses set up in the center of it. and the left over ones can be in vases lining up the center of the head table.

Good luck.

EDIT also, check out eBay for ideas and OrientalTrading.com

EDIT part 2... I came across this picture for you

http://www.etherealdecor.com/media/silverbranches2...

You could do that cheap enough...Go outside and cut some branches off a tree (or pick up off the ground if you don't want to cut them)...then after they are dry you could either keep them natural color or spray paint them to match your colors...and buy these

http://www.etherealdecor.com/crystals_swarovski_le...

You could have 10 strands of the crystals like this tree but it's more expensive (the crystal rope is $4 per foot strand) or you could get a few per centerpiece...I'm not sure how much your budget is.

Or you could do the whole tree branches and make copies of pictures of you guys...As kids, growing up, pictures of you together, and do a hole punch on the top, and with a string tie the pictures of you guys on the branches. And in the vases holding the branches have lights like these http://www.save-on-crafts.com/floralytes4.html

May sound a bit out of the ordinary but hey that would be an awesome centerpiece I think and it wouldn't cost a lot since you are using nature to help you.

well, I got my vases/silver buckets at Walmart $1 a piece...there are 19 tables, and then I am getting my flowers online which will come out aroun $300 or $400 that is for the bouquets, centerpieces and also the mens flower pin thingys. I am having a brain fart to what they are called. lol you can get fake candles also. They also have lots of neat stuff at dollar tree that you can buy in bulk at the store of online for $1 so pretty cheap.

I'm not into flowers either and wanted something unique, elegant, and matching our theme (lucky bamboo).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25699109@N03/26075175...

We had 16 centerpieces (13 tables, 3 leftover for decorating seating card and guestbook tables). Our total cost was approx. $11.15 each.

The breakdown is: $120.00 ceramic pigs (incl. shipping) + $38.00 bamboo stalks + $7.50 ribbon +$10 floral foam + $3.00 river rocks = $178.50 total

The ceramic pigs (symbol of luck and wealth. it was the Chinese Year of the Pig) were only $2.95 each but the shipping was a lot because they're so heavy.

We also had votive candles in holders, 4 per reception table and extras for the cake table, cocktail tabels, etc. The votive holders were 4/$1.00 and the votives came in a great big pack for less than $5.00.

I spent about $15 per table. We have 4 tables.

If you want candles, get "fake" candles. I found some at Canadian Tire. They look just like real candles, but they are battery operated. You can't tell that their fake unless you look down on the top of it while it's lit. That's what I got. They look gorgeous all lit up.

Mine cost about $1100.00. We are using a mirror, candle holders, candles, and petals in the color of the bridesmaid dresses on each table, we will have about 30 tables.

Good Luck on finding your centerpieces!

if you have some time to look search garage sales in good neighborhoods or craigslist. I found mine for $34 for 17 of them, and they are nice centerpieces not cheesy looking ones. they use pillar candles in them though.

a good idea that I almost did was to use two sided photo frames at each table and put pics of you and the groom at different ages in them. I haven't seen them at a good price though.

Nothing as our reception provides centrepieces. BUT balloon centrepieces are good (i'm the same, don;t want flowers/candles...want something different). You can get a really cute balloon arrangement for about $8 (AUS) which we might get if we have money left over.

Good luck

Our centre peices are included in the cost of the venue.. which is 89.95 per person (pretty decent I think)

Any type of flower arrangement that i would like, one of the staff is a florist who will help me with my design.

The only issue is that my guests don;t get to take the centre peices home with them, but they will get favours

$50 total for 8 centerpieces.

Used flowers and floating candles