For many couples, wedding centerpieces created by a florist are way out of their price range. Even a simple arrangement could cost you your first-born child if you have many tables that need a centerpiece.

Luckily, a bit of creativity could save you a small fortune. Check out these twenty creative ideas for wedding centerpieces.

1. Fake flowers. Before you start cringing at the idea of fake flowers, go to a store and check out the fake flowers that are available. The quality has greatly improved in recent years. Using fake flowers will significantly reduce the cost.
2. Floating candles. These look elegant when lit up, providing a romantic atmosphere. Floating candles come in many different shapes and you should be able to find something that matches the theme of your wedding.
3. Small fruit or ice sculptures. Check with local culinary schools. There may be a budding young chef who would be happy to create beautiful sculptures for a modest price.
4. Small cakes. Instead of having one large wedding cake, buy several small ones in different flavors. You can even encourage guests to travel to other tables to sample the flavors. By doing this, you’ll save on both centerpiece and wedding cake costs.
5. Children’s crafts. If your family has a lot of children and children will be welcome at your wedding, have them do a craft to use as your centerpiece. They will be delighted to help out.
6. Mailbox with paper and pens. Ask your guests to write a short piece of advice for the newly married couple. They can put their letters in the mailbox.
7. Games. If your family is not the type to dance wildly into the night, a few travel-sized games may be enough to keep people entertained.
8. Photos of the couple. Have a lot of photos from your many adventures? Now’s the time to show them off. Put pictures of the two of you together on each of the tables.
9. Many candles. Using candles of varying heights can create a dramatic effect. Scented candles may be overbearing and interfere with the taste of the meal, so be sure to use unscented ones.
10. Fruit. A bowl of fresh fruit can be inexpensive and give a “homey” feel to your tables. Plus, guests can eat them later!
11. Lucky bamboo plants. These work best with an Asian themed wedding, but they can look elegant in other settings as well.
12. Baskets. Fill your baskets with whatever you like. Fake flowers, ornaments, or candy all make great choices.
13. Glass beads. A bowl filled with colorful glass beads is simple but stylish. These can be purchased in many craft stores and you can choose colors that match the theme of your wedding.
14. Cupcakes. These are another wedding cake alternative. There are many cupcake trees available that can spruce up your table.
15. Something related to your hobbies. If the two of you are avid bookworms, use a stack of your favorite books as a centerpiece. Wine lovers? How about a bottle of wine with a custom label? Choose something that matches your personality.
16. Photos of other weddings. If you have a lot of older married couples that will be attending your wedding, why not celebrate their love and commitment as well by showing pictures of their weddings?
17. Seasonal items. In spring and summer, you may be able to collect wildflowers. In autumn colorful leaves are plentiful. And in winter, you can dress the table with evergreen.
18. Polaroid cameras and scrapbooking supplies. If your guests are crafty, let them create a special message for you by taking their pictures and creating a scrapbook page.
19. Fortune cookies. A bowl of fortune cookies is fun for everyone…in bed. You can even have fortunes custom made for you wedding.
20. Fishbowls with fish. You can go a step further and put the kissing gourami in the fishbowls. These are fish whose lips are extra puckered for kissing. Just make sure the fish all have a home when the wedding’s over.

Your wedding centerpieces should reflect who you are as a couple. It doesn’t have to be an expensive floral arrangement! These ideas should help you get started in finding the right centerpiece for your wedding.