Who doesn’t love a wedding? We all enjoy the traditional cake, punch, mints and nuts of an informal reception. I have been to many celebrations in which the couple have chosen tasty confections to serve as favors.
If you have a sweet tooth, why stop there? Turn your favorite candies, nuts and fruit into delectable centerpieces for your reception. Some of these designs use the beauty of these treats to create a unique look… and some are both centerpieces and appetizers!
The way to my heart is through my stomach. And I know you’ll feel the same when you share these easy, beautiful centerpieces with your guests.
Simply Delicious
Everyone loves chocolate. And what could be more decadent than an entire centerpiece devoted to delectable sweets? Take pictures early in the evening, before they disappear.
Supplies:
Cake stands (one per table)
Silver or gold plates (2-4 per table)
Mini cupcake liners
Petit fours, bonbons, marzipan fruit, or other decorative edibles
Edible glitter
Center each cake stand on a table. Surround with the metallic plates. Place candy on the stands and plates, arranging them in concentric circles, star bursts, or other patterns. Nest additional candies in cupcake liners and place down the length of the table. Sprinkle with edible glitter.
Make it Easy:
Purchase large boxes of assorted chocolates to get variety at a reasonable price.
Make it Easy:
Add a splash of color to your candy. Melt white candy coating and stir in food coloring until you have the desired shade. Arrange candy on waxed paper. Drizzle with the colored coating and let harden. This is a great way to incorporate your wedding colors!
Best Friends Forever
Evoke a bit of nostalgia with these simple, sweet centerpieces. The candy is an added bonus that even grown-ups will love.
Supplies:
Penny-candy jars or canning jars (1-3 per table)
Old-time candy such as jelly beans, gum balls, and cinnamon bears Classic toys such as jump ropes, Kewpie dolls, and red wagons (miniature, of course)
Antique pictures of children
Fill the jars with candy. Try a using several kinds of candy for an eclectic look. Place the jars and toys on the tables. If you’d like, sprinkle the table with additional candy or printed pictures of children from days gone by.
Make it Easy: Search the Internet to find the perfect toys and pictures for your centerpieces without paying too much.
Orange You In Love
Centerpieces don’t have to be floral, as we’ve already seen. Sometimes, the best focal point really does grow on trees! This idea works best if your wedding colors correspond well to one kind of fruit.
Supplies:
Large glass bowls (1-3 per table)
Fruit in an appropriate color
Long strips of tulle (2 per table)
Iridescent glitter or confetti
Clear/white glitter glue or edible glitter, optional
If you’d like a lot of sparkle, paint some of the fruit with the glitter glue. When it dries, it will be iridescent without affecting the color. If your guests may be tempted to taste, use edible glitter instead. Lightly mist the fruit with water and sprinkle the glitter lightly. Pile the fruit into bowls and arrange on tables. Run two strips of tulle along each table, crossing them on either side of each bowl. Set a few pieces of fruit on the table. Finish with glitter or confetti.
Make it Easy:
Run out of fruit? No problem. Use a foam ball to take up space in the center of the bowls, where it won’t be seen. Stretch the last few decorative lemons by quartering them and placing the quarters on the tables.
Mint for Each Other
Floating candles are intrinsically romantic, and mints are cute and comforting. It’s a combination to make a great marriage. Substitute other candies according to your color scheme.
Supplies:
Large glass containers (2-4 per table)
Medium glass containers (1 per large container)
Red and white mints
Red and white floating candles
Make sure that the smaller containers will fit into the larger ones without an overly noticeable lip. Fit two containers together and carefully tuck mints between them. Fill the smaller container with water. Add the candles and light. Surround the containers with additional mints.
Make it Easy:
Add more sparkle with edible glitter! Use a brand new, clean paintbrush to paint the mints with water, then sprinkle with the glitter. When they dry, spread them on the table.
Nuts About You
You’ve seen flowers. You’ve seen candles. You’ve seen fruit. But what about nuts? No, not the family! These little treasures add texture to a centerpiece while stepping away from the ordinary filler.
Supplies:
Tall, geometric vases with wide mouths (2-3 per table)
Mixed, in-shell nuts Cinnamon sticks
Pomegranates
Tangerines Vanilla beans
Raffia
In each vase, place a layer of nuts, topped with one or two pieces of fruit, a few Cinnamon sticks and a vanilla bean. Tie remaining cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans in groups of 2 or 3, using the raffia and a little glue, if necessary. Scatter the cinnamon bundles and remaining nuts on the tables.
Make it Easy:
Drop round nuts into the vases and leave flatter nuts, like almonds and Brazil nuts, for the table. If you’d really like some round nuts on the table, make them more stable with three small dots of hot glue. The nut will sit on the dots like feet.
Zest for Life
These showy citrus are an offbeat take on a fruit centerpiece. Use a design that connects with your theme, such as hearts, spirals, or even stars.
Supplies:
Large baskets or wooden bowls (2-3 per table)
Large citrus, such as grapefruit and oranges
Smaller citrus, such as lemons and limes
Very small citrus, such as kumquats
Coordinating ribbon
Tie the ribbon into bows on the baskets. Using a zester, remove the peel from the large citrus fruit in designs. Repeat the process with half of the smaller fruit. Pile large and small fruit into each basket and arrange on each table. Place extra lemons and limes on the table near the baskets. Tuck kumquats into spaces in the basket and sprinkle along the table.
Make it Easy:
Because the peel isn’t completely broken, these fruits can keep for up to two weeks, and still give off a delicious scent. Make them ahead and keep them in an uncovered container until the big day.
An Evening in the Vineyard
Wow your guests without making them feel outclassed with this centerpiece that is cozy and warm as well as sophisticated. The frozen grapes have a frosted look and are delicious.
Supplies:
Wooden cutting boards (1-3 per table) Wine glasses (1 per board)
Grapes (1 small bunch per board)
Assorted cheeses, cut into bite-size pieces
Baguettes or hard French rolls (1 per board)
Small glass containers, such as votive holders (2-4 per table)
Picks
Separate each bunch of grapes into 4-5 small clusters. Freeze them for several hours or overnight. Arrange the cutting boards on each table. In the center of each cutting board, place a wine glass with a cluster of grapes perched on its rim. Place the baguette on the board and surround with cheese. Fill the small containers with picks and place along the length of each table. Invite guests to sample the treats.
Make it Easy: Save yourself the cutting and preserve your guests’ appetite by using a few large blocks of cheese per board. Instead of picks, fill the small containers with additional grapes and greenery.
