Jinah’s wedding is fast approaching, so I’m in prep mode. Just this week, I’ve set up time to go pick up some materials from my siblings to decorate with, I’m bugging a florist I’ve worked with before on the pricing of flowers and now I’m fretting a little over the candle arrangement plan we have for her guest tables. Right now, the plan is simply to place a 2×2 pillar candle in one of the vases that we picked up from Big Lots (really!) and surround it with four votives. However, now I’m fretting that this is too simple.

Flickr photo by DrGBB

So I began perusing Flickr for idea. There are a lot of people using candles nowadays for their centerpieces to cut down on costs. However, if you’re not careful, you could end up spending way more on a candle arrangement than on a flower arrangement if you go overboard. Plus, don’t forget that most people are not florists and don’t have access to real wholesale prices. So my thought is — how do you dress up one candle without breaking the bank?

The photo above has a nice example — it was done with one tealight placed in a glass bowl, surrounded by red glass pebbles, sitting on top of a shiny red tablecloth — although it could be plastic, I just can’t tell from this picture.. The effect is pretty nice, since the light is by itself and bounces off all the pebbles and the iridescence in the tablecloth.

Flickr photo by gina loves kitties

This arrangement has a similar effect. The outer vase looks heart shaped, holding petals surrounding a votive candle. Around the arrangement, however, are plastic chunks that are supposed to be diamonds and plastic rings. The Flickr photo page says this was from an engagement party. 🙂

Flickr photo by megnyc

I love this candle set up. It’s adorable! It looks like its a ball-shaped candle, sitting on top of what could be seeds or even chocolate sprinkles (although I don’t think that’s what it is), accented with two leaves, sitting in a paper cupcake wrapper. This is adorable. However, I don’t think you could use just one for an 8- or 10-person table. You might need 3 or 4, maybe sitting at different heights.

Flickr photo by cephyn

This is a gorgeous arrangement too. It’s a solid, smooth plate filled with some water, with a votive candle sitting in the middle, surrounded by red gerber daisy blooms. It’s so arty!

Flickr photo by The Great Claudini

This is a pretty arty arrangement too. Apparently, this was simply a cocktail table arrangement, but I think its nice enough to be a guest table centerpiece. It’s just a 3×3 pillar canlde in a glass bowl (but not entirely covered), along with a silk orchid and wooden chopsticks sitting on a palm leaf. Actually, the set that this photo belongs to has a lot of great Asian details you should check out.

Flickr photo by Colin Purrington

This photo I included as a lark. I can’t think of any bride that would make a skull her centerpiece….although it certainly is a conversation piece. I don’t even know where you would find a skull to use as a centerpiece! But the idea is interesting and can definitely be applied in other ways. Like, for example, if a couple really loves football — how about a helmet? Or, if the couple is a bunch of bookworms, maybe books. The possibilities are endless.