Rustic but Classy Centerpieces...

Can't ever go wrong with short flower arrangements...they don't have to be big...just small and short in a nice straight line right down a long table...or 2-4 arranged in the middle of the table?

Good Luck!

My brother's reception was in a similar situation and we collected a lot of antique milk bottles (easy to find around here) and put wildflowers and dalhias in them (my mom has a big garden-- would depend on what time of year you do it). We then tied satan ribbons around the neck of the bottles and they looked really cute. I think Mason jars would be similar look. If you want to go a little more chic (than shabby) try milk glass vases and roses. If it is June, peonies would by far be my first choice.

What about older lanterns or antique cannisters as your centerpieces? (watering cans, lanterns, jars...that kind of thing) filled with flowers (I'm thinking sunflowers) and some decorative sticks (you find them at Michael's or Hobby Lobby)... I would say use greens instead, if it's warmer. Or, pussywillows with the sticks, if you don't want to use flowers.

You mention lots of windows, so I am assuming it is during the day and you expect the sunlight to light the room. What about some sort of crystals? I love crystals added to shabby chic to give a little charm.

Try incorporating fruits and vegetables into your centerpieces, such as apples or lemons, artichokes and herbs.

Our wedding centerpieces had fresh flowers, dried flowers, moss, twigs, wheat stalks, artichokes, and dried berries. They were amazing. I wish I had a photo on hand to send to you!

Check out Petalpark on facebook. My friend has a flower boutique and she has photos of several of her arrangements. Mabey you could get some ideas from her photos. Sometimes a picture can inspire exactly what you want!
Good luck!

Our centerpieces were clay pots with flowers in foam (and a plastic bin at the bottom to hold water). Ours was at a more formal environment, so we sprayed our pots gold, but you could just go with the pots plain (perhaps use sunflowers as the flower?). We had a lot of compliments on our centerpieces.

Kind of tough. The "rustic" charm of the place sounds fun, but put that with linen tablecloths, and it has become more of a cross between rustic and elegant. (not that you can't do both).

My first thought was to get small, metal buckets and put some very "spring" flowers in it. Not sure how that would look with the linens and if that would be too rustic.

I think I would head to a Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Joann's, etc. to check out what they have. Look for small containers such as baskets or buckets. There might be some wire baskets or rod iron pots, etc that would make for a unique flower setting. With terra cotta pots, you could paint them any color you wanted - or tie a wide ribbon around it, that goes with the decor a little better. Fill it with any type of plant or flower - something the guests could take or you could eventually replant later.

I say, the simpler, the better when it comes to centerpieces. Too tall and elaborate and the guests have a hard time conversing with one another over and around the centerpiece. Anything glass or fancy, clashes with the decor.

What about those wicker balls of various sizes, sitting on a decorative plate? Stick in a few sprigs of leaves or green and it's a centerpiece. Not sure on the prices of things like that, either. Simple, yes, but possibly too pricey.

Sorry I don't have a home run idea. Haven't even been to a wedding in years :(

Good luck and congratulations!!!!!!

Go to the bookstore and pick up Romantic Homes magazine
http://www.romantichomes.com/current.html
they have alot of great ideas that are shabby chic/country. I think you'll like it!

Potted flowers. Get small terra cotta pots, put a ribbon around it & a potted, flowering plant inside. The center pieces for my outdoor wedding were potted flowers in baskets. My mother's hobby is basket making, hence the baskets. The center pieces were well received.

I'm not sure if this link will work for you, but I got square baskets at the dollar store (with little pegs to stand on, and no strap or handle on them) that stood about 3-1/2" high, and about 6"x6" wide. I filled them with greens (to keep my flower budget low, did the whole wedding for $500) and poked one or two gerberas in each one. Our wedding was at 12pm, the reception was 1pm-5pm. It was all very light and casual (the groomsmen didn't wear jackets, for example). The location was a 200yo 'mansion' with floor to ceiling windows, with tons of light and ancient architecture. Not the same look as yours, but I still think these would work, they're also easy and affordable. GOOD LUCK!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b5d801b3127ccecb3dca1d9...

(If the picture doesn't work, shoot me a message and I'll email it to you.)

I say terra cota pots(small ones), and place some gravel in it with some fake flowers or a candel stick. Keep in mind, some of your guests will want to take those home. :)

Sounds crazy, but one of the most striking centerpieces I ever saw was in our friend's wedding...the reception was in a barn and they alternated bowls of lemons and limes! It was GORGEOUS...not too tall to bother guests talking, but colorful enough to add to the white and brown decor. Plus, you can't mess them up - whoever sets up for you will have an easy job, and guests can take them home for cooking/drinks! If you get glass bowls with facets, it will "glitter" like crystal with all the windows. And whatever your color scheme is, you could adapt.

Our centerpieces (waterfront in Maine reception) were glass "jars" that were shaped like the top of a lighthouse. Filled with sand and shells, and tied ribbons to match our blue scheme onto the top. They traveled to the 2nd reception we had in Philly.

Good luck - have fun!

I'm a huge fan of Mason jars in this setting. They fit the antique theme of the room, but you can dress them up with an elegant ribbon around each one. You can put some fresh flowers inside or a small votive candle (I think these are very decorative even if the room is already bright). Another option is to use a jar of flowers (clear marbles help to stabilize flower stems if you need to do that) surrounded by a few votives in simple votive cups.

Depending on the timing of your wedding, you can use flowers that are in season (much cheaper but requires more last minute effort on your part). My SIL spent the day before her wedding driving around the countryside to find hydrangeas - she knocked on strangers' doors to ask if she could clip some blooms from their shrubs!?! The whole place looked lovely with the elegance that comes from using the same element on all the tables, cake, etc.

What about pots of mums or tulips or mini-rose bushes or Gerbera daisies(whatever is seasonal) and cover the pots with fabric and raffia?

I did candle holders for my wedding with candles and some wooden flowers. Mine were black with a swirl pattern that made them look like hearts from each angle(from Ross), and I used glass grapes from a Christmas store... but I could picture like a shabby chic rustic white looking candle holder or even a lantern for yours.

Check out these pictures-
http://www.shabbychictips.com/shabby-chic-lighting/shabby...
http://www.shabbychictips.com/shabby-chic-lighting/metal-...

Between the silverware, place cards, folded napkins.......and wedding favor, it was plenty... I believe I had a few votive candles, the candle holder, and a few wooden flowers (that looked pretty real from a craft store). Also I couldn't afford the expensive table cloths, so my Grandmom helped me make a little square for the center of each table out of fancy fabric w/ beads on the ends. (about the size of a cloth napkin) Candles helped create a good ambience without a huge expense. I just loaded up every week on candles at Ross...

Here's a pic from my wedding-
http://tinypic.com/r/a28bo0/7
I was going for a rustic Italian theme...

Fabric covered balls in big bowls are rustic and can be cute depending on the fabric used and they are super easy to make. Alternatively you could stick flowers (fake or real...I don't like fake personally) into foam balls (either a big one or several small ones). Once again, good luck!

Mason jars with flowers in them. You can dress them up or down. My niece's dad passed away and wasn't able to walk her down the aisle so she took one of his old shirts (he always wore flannel) she tore it into strips and tied it around her bouquet and the jars. Another friend used her mom's wedding dress to do the same thing. It was very cute! Another idea could be sticks tied together (I know they sell them already made but you could make them yourself). You can tie the together with ribbon to match your color/s! Best of luck to you!

Potted flowers is a great idea...then it's not a waste of money because you can either give them away and have the guests plant them or you can take them home and plant them in your garden! I also have seen some nice glass bowls with a large cut flower floating in them. Simple but very pretty.

Good luck...sounds like it will be beautiful whichever centerpiece you choose!

I love weddings and doing flowers, so I'll chime in here! There's no one at work today, so NO motivation!

My favorite centerpiece that I've done was for a dinner party at our home. We used our long rectangle wooden table with wooden chairs, china and the "good crystal" so a little "shabby-chic" theme.

Small square glass containers (3" or 4" cube) that ran down the center of the table about a foot apart. Each container had a single white hydrangea blossom clipped so that it just fit into the container and no "stem" was peeking out of the top". I then used 2 "clipped" Irises in each to add color and a little dimension and height. Between each container were two votives so that there were a series of containers and candles down the table.

Sometimes less is really more. The crispness of the hydrangea and elegance of the iris worked really well together!

This may or may not be the direction you were looking for, but I like to use vases, different sizes, styles and shapes filled with lemons and limes. Sometimes, I will fill a shallow, large, round vase with a layer of limes, then a layer of lemons and another of limes. I then fill it with water and add some floating tea candles on top. I' also used lillies instead of candles for a day time affair. Simple and beautiful.
Congrats and good luck!

I just remembered, my Mother also used Flowering Kale. It is a beautiful purple or green color. I sometimes use it around a room as an accent. Check it out in the supermarket. Again, simple, but pretty.