Flowers: Cocktail Party Centerpieces

Check out these great ideas for small centerpieces at a cocktail reception. The key is lower - stature and key - with a wink to the overall decor. And the addition of lots of small candles adds the cocktail vibe for sure. From The Knot.

Decor: The BlumeBox

Does the idea of buying a bunch of vases that you 1. will never use again, or 2. have to figure out how to get to your reception location and back make you rethink flowers as centerpieces? Here's a solution...the BlumeBox. It's a recyclable vase that can be customized for your event. They come in bud size to 10 inches. An affordable and green way to use flowers at your wedding.

Unique Boutennieres

Think different when it comes to boutennieres. They don't have to be flowers. In fact, there are options - like wheat, berries and mint here - that are just as beautiful and much more unique. And it's easy to tie these elements in to your bouquet or decor to make sure it all connects. From InStyle Weddings.

Flowers by Laurie Cinotto

We found some more gems by yesterday's featured post - Laurie Cinotto. Not only does she do beautiful faux corsages, she does the most gorgeous actual flower work too! Her use of leaves and textures is amazing. Lucky are those in Seattle...

Cool Corsages

How great is this corsage?! It's made from paper but looks so much richer. And it's a keepsake for after the wedding too. By Laurie Cinotto, you can find these and more on etsy.

Centerpiece ideas

Here are two centerpiece ideas. The lotus bowls from Pottery Barn are reasonable (on sale for $20/2), simple and beautiful with a floating orchid or other bloom. The orange tea pot is a quirky alternative, but the color and detailed features of it make it both useful (why not fill with green jasmine tea for guests) and beautiful. Especially for centerpieces, you can think super creatively - anything goes! As long as it feels like you and the style you are trying to establish.

Flowers: Red and not Roses

We LOVE these flowers from Nancy Birch in Rhode Island. Using simple garden flowers like dahlias and hydrangeas mixed with berries can look modern vs. english garden-like. Plus the color combination of warm tones in dahlias and cool tones in hydrangeas play off each other so well. If you're lucky enough to have a farmers market nearby and are getting married in the warmer months, you can put these together yourself.

Single Flower Bouquets

Simplify your bouquet by using just one type of flower. You can get some at the local farmers market and wrap the stems with a silk ribbon. Even if you have a floral designer do it, you can still save money by using one type of flower. And they are still beautiful and even more striking in their simplicity...like these (from the knot).