Centerpieces that don't use flowers or candles

We are doing rustic lanterns and accenting them with branch resembling sprays

We're looking into doing something similar to this

I love the idea of empty wine bottles with branches in them. You could always spray paint the branches white and keep the bottles green, or paint the bottles a color and leave the branches au-natural

ETA: Succulents are not cheap, and depending on how many tables you have, eucalypts isn't either

Books or lanterns would probably be the easiest and I think books would be the cheapest! Go to your local goodwill and pick up a bunch of books and there you go!

My wedding for example we will have lanterns on pieces of wood, and running down the table runners will be branches.

This is one of my centrepieces - I spray painted wine bottles and the Vodka skull bottles. I have alternate floral and non floral centrepieces!

I love the branches Jennifer!

You could do those little wire picture frames, where you wedge the picture into the top part. Put a different picture of you and fh at each table. Or take pictures of yourselves holding up the number of each table and put those at the corresponding tables.

When my florist cancelled and I went and talked to another florist who could not take on my wedding but offered me options in silks. I decided to silk ivy and grapevine wreaths. Even if I did fresh flowers the ivy would have to be silk because ivy goes limp pretty quickly after it has been cut. You can do tons of different stuff with it and most people will not even notice it is fake. If you want to do real you can buy potted ivy really cheap and get whatever flowers and water picks. Place the water pick on the flower and place them in the ivy with a little bit of floral wire to hold them in. No professional florist needed. May I ask what are you doing for a bouquet and bouts? The bouquet and bouts may set the theme for what you want to do for the feel of your wedding.

I'm looking for the same thing, in large part because FH doesn't want flowers, on anything taller than a wine glass (we go back and forth on how high is too high). Sigh. So far we are considering globes (can you borrow them?) or large shoe boxes decorated as vintage suitcases. I love the book idea.

Also regarding candles - there are some centerpiece ideas that involve candles but don't rely on their glow (like in lanterns). Just something to keep in mind.

Because I'm looking too...I can't vouch for any (photos or links) of these but I've pinned them as ideas:

http://spirelloskrimskramserier.blogspot.com.co/2012/01/reprise-diy-lyslykt-av-gamle.html

Definitely look at pinterest for ideas. My friend texted me today showing me what she's doing for hers and she's using wine glasses. I'm going to be doing lanterns for my wedding to go with our Harry Potter themed reception.

We thought about doing birdcages and then tea pots but we went with lanterns. very cheap wholesale. if youre not worried about everything matching, you could always walk around an antique shop and collect random things.

I was also going to suggest pumpkins but youre having a may wedding-- so bowls of fruit?

This is my idea for mine.. but instead of the petals we have colored stones. The candles can be omitted if not needed.

I'm doing lanterns with LED candles and faux flowers. There's plenty of decent looking fake flowers out there.

Square vase with Christmas ornaments. Pick them up Boxing Day sales and you can find a plethora of colors that will work in May

@ JaimeLeigh - I love the skull!

Here's one of our centerpieces. It wasn't what I originally wanted but I love how it came out.

http://www.afloral.com/checkout/cart.ssp?sc=3#cart the flowers on here looks real and are enexpensive

My grandma is super artsy and came up with this. FH and I are huge book lovers!

You could do a gathering of mismatched colored bottles to bring in some color and a fun look. You just scour Goodwill for a few weeks - this can be done SUPER cheap! That way you can also put a candle in one, some branches/floral in another, but also leave them empty and they're still beautiful.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/564709240748863977/

Are you having a cake or dessert? Perhaps have each centerpiece be that table's own 6 or 8" round cake. Or have the centerpiece be a cake plate of super cute little deserts. Double duty for the job of the centerpiece!