DIY Hydrangea Centerpieces :: Simple & Stylish

A recent client meeting inspired me to write this post about DIY centerpieces. In today's economy, brides all across the nation are looking for ways to save $$ in all areas of their budget. One area that can easily cause brides to go over budget is flowers, especially centerpieces. My mission this afternoon was to create a simple, yet stylish centerpiece for under $15. Mission Accomplished. I purchased this 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square vase at Michaels for $9.99 and then purchased two stems of blue hydrangea blooms for $4.33 at my local grocery store (Giant Eagle for all the Pittsburgh brides out there). Total cost with tax = $15.18/centerpiece. A few tips for making these centerpieces at home:

• Carefully unpackage hydrangea blooms and keep refrigerated until ready to use

• Remove leaves from hydrangea stems and cut stems until they are just barely touching the bottom of the vase

• Be sure to properly clean the vase before inserting the flowers into cold water

• Criss-cross stems & then tie together {directly underneath the bottom of the blooms} with a rubber band to ensure that the flowers stay put in the vase

Total time it took me to prep and design each centerpiece was under 5 minutes. Hydrangeas are available in a variety of shades - purple, pink, blue, white, and can even be artificially tinted in the color of your choice. These centerpieces would be perfect for an outdoor spring/summer wedding or bridal shower.

Personalized Tip :: Place a blue beta fish in each centerpiece for an added twist. At the end of the event, send the centerpieces home with your guests. These would be the perfect 'thank you' to all the little ones attending your wedding!

Photos courtesy of Simply Perfect Weddings.