Don’t get me wrong…I like flowers!  But I also like flowers when they are surrounded by non-floral pieces.  Wheatgrass, cabbage, fern, leaves…they all add extra depth and texture to bouquets and centerpieces.

Here are some fab examples of how to incorporate flora elements that are not flowers!

Other faves are succulents, curly willow, bamboo and berries!

Also, make sure you take advantage of whatever items are in season!  It will save you some bucks.

Have you found other great non-flower ideas?  Post your links in a comment!

It is always exciting when people decide to get creative and/or take the extra step that makes their centerpieces unique.  Recently, I assisted at a wedding where the bride had collected amber vases that had a motif similar to leopard print.  She had gone to every Ross (because that’s where she found the first ones!) and bought every piece she could find.  She had vases, bowls, hurricanes, candle holders, all kinds of matching amber pieces.  We used those for the centerpieces, the candy buffet, cocktail tables, we had one huge grand piece for the entryway…the entire concept was striking!  And the best part was that those vases are unique to her wedding.  People will always connect those pieces to her wedding!  And buying the pieces on her own was similarly priced to buying the vases from the florist.  It was more work on her part because she had to collect the pieces, but in the end it was a unifying element and helped to “brand” her wedding!

The Empty Pieces