Bride on a Budget: DIY Centerpieces Under $50

I'll let you in on a little secret: wedding flowers don't have to be insanely expensive. I almost threw up when I learned that many NYC florists charge upwards of $200 per centerpiece for each dinner table. Sure, there are some awesome florists who cater to budget-minded brides, but you can also definitely swing it yourself. It sounds like a big undertaking, but it wasn't so bad. I didn't stab anyone with pinking shears. (I promise.) Don't worry, fellow penny-pinchers: you can create a whimsical tablescape for way, way less. Let's do this!

The task: Centerpieces for seven 72" round tables

The budget: $400

The tools:

• 7 102" white linen tablecloths (approx. $8 each to rent; azpartyrentals.biz)
• 6 6" wooden embroidery hoops ($1.19 each; hobbylobby.com) 
• Fabric (buy a pre-cut bundle from Jo Ann or other craft shop, or splurge on the gorgeous Liberty prints, $55 at purlsoho.com)
• Fabric paint (FolkArt paint, $1.37 for 2 oz.; joann.com)
• Foam brush (approx. $0.50 at hardware stores)
• Painter's tape ($5.49 for 60 yards; staples.com)
• Number stencils ($4.79; createforless.com)
• Jute ($11 for 10 yards; save-on-crafts.com)
• Milk glass vases ($28 for 7; etsy.com)
• Ribbon ($0.98/yard; mjtrim.com)
• Fabric glue (4.78; amazon.com)
• Flowers ($160 for flowers picked from the farm and Whole Foods, including my bouquet and flowers to line the aisle and window sills in the reception room)

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Total: $335 (yep, under budget!)

Make the table numbers:

1. Use painters' tape to adhere fabric to a piece of cardboard or other sturdy surface. Pull it taut.
2. Center stencil on the fabric and affix with painters' tape.
3. Using the foam brush, apply fabric paint with gentle dabs.
4. Allow to dry fully, then remove stencil and tape. 
5. Place fabric in the embroidery hoop.
6. Trim edges. 

A few quick tips for pulling it off:

1. Use what you've got. Do you have the world's largest collection of teacups? Great! Stick some flowers in 'em. If, like me, you're a bit of a flea market hoarder, you should only need to fill out your collection of vessels, not go wild stocking up. Our spread included vintage milk glass scores from Etsy, plus our own collection of spray-painted hobnail jars, salt shakers, and egg cups, and one plain flower vase wrapped in polka-dot scalloped ribbon from M&J Trimming. 
2. Buy what's in season. It's cheaper, and more likely to be locally-grown, cutting down on the carbon footprint and timeline from ground to vase. You might have your heart set on peonies, but if you're having an autumn wedding, dahlias and sunflowers will be cheaper blooms. 
3. Pay attention to scale. Basic physics: a large sunflower will topple over in a small vase. (Also, dainty flowers will get lost in bulky jars.) To maximize visual interest, aim for a mix of tall, squat, opaque, and colorful vessels and blooms. 
4. Mix it up. Don't bother sticking to a single type of flower, or even a color scheme. We vetoed anything super high on drama or flourescent colors (sorry, coxcombs). Other than that, we scouted for stems that felt airy and wild--ultimately, a mix of sunflowers, baby's breath, marigolds, daisies, asters, dahlias, dusty miller, and others. 

The finished product was cheerful, bright, and had a just-plucked, wild quality--because many of the stems were freshly harvested that morning! And one of my favorite memories of the day? Sprawling out on the floor assembling vases with my bridesmaids, with a donut in one hand and a dahlia in the other. Those moments of connection and creativity are the ones I want to remember.