You Can't Elope But You CANTALOPE! Summer Weddings

Looking for a fabulous and inexpensive "WOW" factor for your wedding? So simple. So uniqe. I found this in the Southern Living Magazine; July 2009 Issue. This is great for the beach, summer or even spring wedding.

The cantalope sailboat. A wonderful spring/summer place setting. Take a wedge of melon which is basically a simple boat shape. (you can use honeydew or even watermelon if you prefer.) Then take a wooden skewer, some twine and thick card stock for a sail. Cut your paper into a curve triangle and use a pen to personalize. Cut a hole at the top and bottom of the paper and feed it onto a wood skewer. Afix a small piece of knotted twine at each end and stick into cantalope. Voila! A wonderful place setting that your guests will talk about. Take it a step further and purchase wedding stock with a light pattern or color coordinate to your wedding. You can also add other sailboat or nautical themes to the reception.

Source: Page 18, Southern Maryland Magazine (July, 2009); Photo by Ralph Anderson; Styling by Buffy Hargett

Beautiful, Affordable Beach Garden Centerpiece

Looking for a VERY unique centerpiece for your beach themed wedding? This is it. AND, it's affordable. What better centerpiece than shells and candles. I love this! And, it makes a nice gift for some lucky guest at your table!

Beaches Candle & Rock Garden ONLY $24.99! A sophisticated centerpiece for a dinner or buffet table. The antique bronze finish wrought iron tray has a champagne bubble glass tray. The included pearlized candles coordinate with the seashells and sand.

Fish Bowl as a Table Centerpiece! Quite nice really!

wedding, party
Summer Wedding? Summer Party. Member of the party a fisherman or love the water? There is so much you can do with this fish vase. One option that is rater beautiful is to use it as a centerpiece. You can fill it with colored water and water plants or if you dare... beta fish. A lucky guest at the table gets to take it home. It's quite striking and beautiful. Your guests will be sure to be talking about this centerpiece! Or, if you go to the carnival and get at gold fish -- this makes a plain ol' nice fish bowl!

Handblown Glass Fish Bowl A definite conversation starter! This beautifully detailed Handblown Glass Fish Bowl can be filled with a colorful beta or decorative rocks and plants. The bowl can also be used as a candy jar. Hand wash recommended

Crab Wine Bottle Holder Wedding Favor & Decoration

For the beach-themed wedding, the highly realistic Crab Wine Bottle Holder is quite the favor. The 2 lb. Crab Wine Bottle Holder is made of resin and would be ideal decoration for your bar tables, but will also work well as guest favors.
Crab Wine Bottle Holder

Spring and Summer Centerpieces ...Unique & Inexpensive

Here are some great ideas for your spring and summer table centerpieces:

I am using Waterford Crystal products as examples, which is great if you love crystal - but simple glass containers work as well:

Fill a jar with lemons or lime (or apples in the fall) or you can make a mix of lemons and limes. You can remove the top and place hydrangeas (as your flowers) inside. Hydrangeas are inexpensive, can be cut from your yard (if you have them : ) ) or purchased. (See hydrangea picture below). Hydrangeas are gorgeous and this makes a beautiful and colorful centerpiece.

Marquis By Waterford Vintage Garden Apothecary Jar, Medium

Below is another simple, yet elegant idea. Fill hurricane lamps with your favorite things. Here they use seashells with sand or a simple candle. Other options you can use to fill with are candies, i.e., almonds, M&M, skittles, or mints. Candles work great in any centerpiece arrangement. They are inexpensive and beautiful.

Marquis By Waterford Vintage Garden Hurricane, 12"

Marquis By Waterford Vintage Garden Vase, 14"

Last but not least, fill a garden vase with a vine flower; i.e., sweet peas, clemantis or any other pretty vine flower. Or, you can go the old fashioned way... fill the vase with marbles or pretty rocks, or pretty colored water and place a bouquet of flowers inside.