23 Non-Floral Wedding Centerpiece Ideas (2024)

Consider other motifs (not just blooms!) when designing your tabletops.

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23 Non-Floral Wedding Centerpiece Ideas (1)

Flowers are undoubtedly a wedding-day staple, but that doesn't mean that they have to be everywhere. Whether pretty petals have already taking over the bulk of your décor and you're looking for a fresh source of inspiration or you're just not that into an abundance of blooms (or any blooms at all!), you may want to consider a brand-new design idea: centerpieces without a flower in sight.

As the following ideas prove, there are so many ways to think beyond just flowers when it comes to your wedding centerpieces. Books, branches, and even sculptures are some of the pretty options we've seen recently, but they certainly aren't your only choices for truly beautiful tabletop décor. You can also use balloons, candlesticks, garlands, fruits and veggies, or even spray-painted leaves, as seen on this tabletop, which was designed by D'amour et de Déco. In fact, with a non-floral centerpiece, the sky (or reception venue ceiling) is essentially your only limit. You can get as sweet and simple or big and bold as you like.

With that in mind, we've rounded up a few more creative and modern centerpiece alternatives that are perfect for traditional and classic celebrations, alike. No matter your wedding's style, theme, or color palette, these ideas serve as the ultimate inspiration for didn't-see-that-coming décor. From candles and greenery to seashells and pineapples, the opportunities for flowerless centerpiece accents are virtually endless (and endlessly chic!). Click through to discover all of these imagined options—and prepare to be amazed by the possibilities that abound for your bloomless big-day arrangements.

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Modern Clusters

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A bloomless, minimalist tablescape can be just as beautiful as its lusher counterparts. Take this curated vignette by Duet Weddings, for example—just a few décor elements, including leaves, geodes, and modern candles, brought the moody scene to life.

More Cluster Wedding Centerpieces We Love

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The New Nautical

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Who needs knots and sailboats when you can connote a nautical wedding theme with various creatures of the deep, like coral, conch shells, and sea glass? Jet Set Wed did just that with these oceanic-inspired tablescapes, which also featured on-theme aquamarine goblets, anemones, and driftwood.

Nautical Wedding Invitations for a Waterfront Party

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Modern Bohemian

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Contemporary décor meets bohemian design in this tabletop, which was arraged by Brita Olsen Creative. The juxtaposition of the golden branch candelabra against the mid-century modern candle sticks and goblets made for a dynamic aesthetic. Small jars of greens and books completed the look.

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Potted Plants

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Green-filled planters that are typically placed on the ground make an unexpected statement when placed onto the tabletop. Matthew Robbins Design included different vessel styles, shapes, and sizes (these arrangements were created by Bellafare) when bringing together this rustic display, which also featured wire lanterns, a striped farm runner, and metallic table numbers.

Wedding Ceremony Aisles Lined with Potted Plants

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Cloches

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If there's anything this Greenlion Design centerpiece proves, it's that unexpected objects often make for the most interesting table displays. The designers used a dramatic cloche to house a floral frog supporting a selection of feathers—the small vignette added an artistic moment to the tablescape on the grand scale.

Ways to Use Cloches Throughout Your Wedding

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Velvet

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The star of this emerald green scene is undoubtedly its luxe velvet runner. But we were just as intrigued by the candle-less candle sticks, which make an unusual (but fun!) statement, too.

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Stacks of Books

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If you're intrigued by the idea of replacing standard floral centerpieces with stacks of books, get strategic with your choices. Pull novels, travel guides, dictionaries, and memoirs that speak to who you are—that's exactly what East West Vintage Rentals and Classic Event Rentals did here. Top your stacks with candles and table numbers and finish off with subtle eucalyptus sprigs, like the ones here by Flora Asheville).

Affording Wedding Cetnerpieces that Still Look Elevated

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Burning Lantern

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Geometric lanterns like these, which were curated by Jamie Leigh Events, don't just add contemporary flair to your tabletops—they also protect your party from burning flames, should you choose to actually light your candles.

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Peachy

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Pay homage to your wedding's time of year by putting in-season crops front and center. Grounded by a bed greenery branches and votive candles, this yummy fruit bowl of fresh summer peaches by Soirees Southern Events and Suwanee Towne Florist brought a pop of color to this sweetheart table.

Centerpieces Bursting with Fruits and Vegetables

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Succulents All in a Row

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Infuse your party's tablescapes with a touch of southwestern desert flair by queuing up pots of cacti, à la Best Day Ever.

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Tropical

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If you're throwing destination weddings, be sure to bookmark this tropical leaf idea, which involves utilizing your location's indigenous varieties. At this Cancun affair, Heirloom Catering & Event Design teamed up with Canteiro Weddings to create this minimal, colorful flower-free tabletop, which paid homage to the scenery.

Tropical Wedding Ideas We Love

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Pineapples

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Speaking of tropical, punctuate your centerpieces (like these from Salt + Poppies) with pineapple duos and monstera leaves for a fun, faraway touch.

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Foliage

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Foliage takes up more space than flowers do, which is something to keep in mind if you're searching for dramatic centerpieces sans lush blooms, like these by Ines & Marie.

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Split Open

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All fruit, whatever the type, immediately brings intrigue to a tabletop. You can take it one step further, though, by channeling Evergreen Flower Co. and cutting that fruit open. The insides of pomegranates and lemons only add dimension, especially if they're arranged thoughtfully, like in sliced rows or snackable quarters.

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Weaving Branches

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Scout Walker proves that a single, snaking tree branch brings rustic elegance to a wooden tabletop, especially if it's punctuated by small glasses of greens.

Rustic Wedding Centerpieces to Bookmark

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Natural Industrial

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Looking for a way to elevate a fern garland runner? Consider Sarah Winward's design aesthetic mash-up. Matte-black candle sticks spring up from the natural base, creating an unexpected industrial moment in a sea of green.

More Ways to Use Ferns Throughout Your Wedding

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Sky-High

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This tropical leaf centerpiece by Jardiniere Fine Flowers is reminiscent of actual palm trees—it's that tall.

Unique Wedding Bouquets Without Flowers

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Kumquat

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Bright pops of color from the kumquats provide just the right amount of color to these olive, skimmia, rosemary, and ruscus garlands by Lavender Green Flowers.

Go Inside Louise Roe and MacKenzie Hunkin's Wedding

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Olive Branch

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Looking to create a relaxed, at-home vibe at your wedding? Make like Laetitia C. Fleurs D'Atelier, who pulled items from around this venue (like these rosemary plants and olive branches) to make simple but stunning centerpieces. The result was laid-back, intimate, and refined.

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Vine

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Instead of opting for flowers, choose to adorn farm-style reception tables with long garlands of Jackson vine and rosemary. Add brass candleholders for an elegant touch.

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Flower-Free

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Now here's an eclectic spin on the non-floral centerpiece idea. Oh Fleurs! dropped dark green leaves and branches, including sword ferns, monster deliciosa leaves, and leaucadendron into clear and amber glass vases. They also added other unique elements like raw wood mousetraps and light bulbs to the display.

23 Non-Floral Wedding Centerpiece Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What can you put in a centerpiece without flowers? ›

You can also use balloons, candlesticks, garlands, fruits and veggies, or even spray-painted leaves, as seen on this tabletop, which was designed by D'amour et de Déco. In fact, with a non-floral centerpiece, the sky (or reception venue ceiling) is essentially your only limit.

What is the most popular form of centerpiece for weddings? ›

The most traditional centerpiece is the floral arrangement. Whether these are tall, short, wide, or narrow, fresh blooms in the middle of the table just say “wedding.” Keep your venue's structure and design in mind when determining the size of your arrangements, advises event designer Jove Meyer of Jove Meyer Events.

How many different centerpieces are needed for a wedding? ›

We recommend a mix of both tall and short centerpieces with 3 – 5 different centerpiece styles depending on how many tables are needed.

How many flowers should be in a centerpiece? ›

How Many Flowers Do I Need For Centerpieces?
ArrangementCenterpiece 4" by 4" by 4" Square Vase
Stem Count for Small Centerpiece10 Stems
Stem Count for Medium Centerpiece15-20 Stems
Stem Count for Large Centerpiece25-30 Stems

How do you display vases without flowers? ›

Vases can hold many other things besides fresh flowers. You can use a vase or jar to create a table decoration filled with marbles, stones, coins or dried beans. Top with fake or dried flowers, leaves or grasses.

How can I decorate without plants? ›

7 Ways to Add Greenery Indoors Without Actual Plants
  1. Cover the walls with flowers. ...
  2. Frame the view. ...
  3. Take a snapshot of the outdoors. ...
  4. Have fun with fabric. ...
  5. Add a splash of green. ...
  6. Borrow from the great outdoors. ...
  7. Fake it.

What is the number one rule in selecting centerpiece? ›

Compliment the Shape of the Table- Keep in mind that the most common shapes of table you will come across will be round, square or rectangle. Round tables best suit a single centerpiece and bodes well to tall centerpieces because its design makes it easier for the guests to look around and converse with other guests.

What makes a good centerpiece? ›

A good centerpiece is pleasing to the eye, doesn't block a guest's view, and is cohesive with the party's theme. If using flowers, make sure they are fresh and properly trimmed.

What is the rule with centerpieces? ›

Conversely, short centerpieces are great for accommodating conversation among guests. As a general guideline, you'll want to keep your tall pieces at 24” or higher and your short pieces at 12” or under.

How do I choose a wedding centerpiece? ›

The bigger your table, the bigger you'll want your centerpiece. Just be sure that your arrangement is also circular or square so it doesn't look out of place or compete with your place settings. Generally, you'll want wedding centerpieces that leaves plenty of room for candles, place cards, and other accouterments.

What shape of arrangement is best for centerpieces? ›

Round: For a round table, centerpieces should be round and look good from all angles. Guests will sit at every point around the centerpiece, so you don't want an empty spot in the arrangement. Square: Square tables are compatible with either round or square centerpieces.

What is a good size for a centerpiece? ›

A centerpiece is a classic arrangement that everyone knows and loves. They are used mostly during the holidays and events to place at the center of a dining room table or guest table. The size of a centerpiece can range from 12″ round to 30″ round depending on the environment it is placed in.

How many stems in a wedding centerpiece? ›

Guide to the number of Flowers to you can use or need to create and make a Wedding Centerpiece
Wedding or Special Occasion CenterpiecesNumber of stems for Small Centerpiece
Garden Roses Centerpiece5-7 Roses
Hydrangeas Centerpieces2-4 Hydrangeas
Rose Centerpieces8-15 Roses
Baby's Breath (Gypsophilia) Centerpieces3-5 stems
9 more rows

What is the rule of 3 in floral design? ›

In Floral Design, even numbers do not create a balanced look. Odd numbers, like 3, help create a balanced distribution of greens/flowers. Note: The brown numbers illustrate three branches. (Not a green, but important to note it also follows the rule of 3 for quantity).

What can I put in my vase if I don't have flower food? ›

DIY Flower Food Alternatives

Sugar: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sugar in a vase of lukewarm water. While sugar is found in many DIY flower food recipes along with other ingredients, sugar alone can also extend the life of a bouquet, says Ghitelman.

What can I decorate with instead of fake flowers? ›

alternatives to artificial flowers

One alternatives to artificial or real flowers is dried florals! They offer an organic, natural feel to a space without the upkeep of real flowers. Dried florals are naturally dried and preserved to last forever.

What can I put in an empty vase? ›

  • Rope vase. An amazing way to turn your old flower vase into a new one is to wrap it up with thick rope. ...
  • Empty vase for repotting plants. You can reuse an empty vase to re-pot your favorite plants, like succulents. ...
  • Air freshener. ...
  • Bathroom organizer. ...
  • Kitchen tool holder. ...
  • DIY lamp. ...
  • Candleholder. ...
  • Terrarium.
Oct 22, 2021

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