Before I started this little blog, I got married. And when I got married, I had a certain budget to work within. And because of our location and all the expenses that went along with it, we figured out that we needed to keep our centerpieces down to around $8/each. Back then (all of a year and a half ago), I didn’t know about all the inspiration that could found in our blogosphere. At wedding shows, I saw centerpieces anywhere from $10 up to $100+ and I started to get a little intimidated with our per-table budget.
After talking it over with my mom, my hairdresser (who had the idea to use canning jars) and the crafty ladies in my family, we finally came up with something simple and budget-friendly.
The photo above is from our wedding. I think each centerpiece ended up costing about $8. Here is the breakdown:
- Ball jars- $1/each (pack of 12/$12.99 at Ace Hardware)
- Silk sunflower bunch- about $2/each (similar version here)
- Sand- $3/bag (I think we used 2 bags from Home Depot)
- Tulle- Not sure about the price
- Candle- about $0.50/each (pack of 12/$5.99 from Michaels)
I love the way they turned out, so simple, yet they added just enough color, along with the green chair sashes, to really stand out from all the white linens.
We had a decorating party with my mom, my long time family friend, my MIL & SIL, my aunt and grandma. We made all the centerpieces, filled the party favor jars and made the card basket as well. We decided to use sand to fill the jars instead of water or nothing at all, because we knew there was a chance the wind would knock the centerpieces over if they weren’t weighted down enough.
While we may not have any cutesy-posed pictures of the groom and I (grrr… long story, but I’m hoping to kind of fix that this summer), our photographers sure did get a few shots of the centerpieces. I actually love the pictures they got of our table set-ups. And the candles added a little bit of rustic romance to the atmosphere, especially as the sun went down.
It wasn’t until I started blogging that I found all the mason jar inspiration online. Some people are just too freaking creative! I started a board on Pinterest just for my mason jar craft finds.
My mason jar love started up again with this beautiful outdoor lighting that I found at The Lettered Cottage.
Source: theletteredcottage.net via Samantha on Pinterest
So I started searching for more, and there is tons of inspiration to be found. I love this idea of using the mason jars as place settings. You have all your utensils, your napkin and your glass all in one.
Source: asoftplace.net via Samantha on Pinterest
I really love the simplicity of this, but I can imagine all around the fence line. Great for a party, or just a romantic dinner for two.
Source: chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com via Samantha on Pinterest
Here are a few of my other favorites, in no particular order.
Source: realphotography.com via Samantha on Pinterest
Source: blogs.babble.com via Samantha on Pinterest
Source: etsy.com via Samantha on Pinterest
And I love this one, with 15 different mason jar desserts. I think I’ll be making some of these for the coaches after their games!
Source: babble.com via Samantha on Pinterest
Be sure to head on over to the board for more inspiration, and just Googling “mason jar crafts” brings all that inspiration right to your fingertips! Leave me a comment if you have done any mason jar projects with a link so I can add it to my pinboard!!
I would give credit to my wedding photographers for the pictures of our centerpieces, but to be honest, they deleted their e-mail account, disconnected their phone lines, shut down their website, sold their house, and are evidently living in Indonesia now. I think I was the last wedding they did, and I know I wasn’t that big of a Bridezilla! 
I have received several gifts over the years in mason jars – such as hot chocolate mix with marshmallows on top, cake/cookie mix in a jar, etc. They are great for inexpensive but thoughtful gifts.
I love your simple centerpieces! We’re getting married in just a few short weeks, and although our wedding budget isn’t the smallest, it starts to feel that way once you have to start paying for everything. Mason jars were definitely on our consideration list. Luckily we were gifted centerpiece glassware from friends & coworkers, and we also chose the route of silk flowers to save some cash.
Sorry to hear that your photography experience wasn’t what you had hoped it would be. Its sad that some vendors don’t live up to their promises. But, I am looking forward to your “fix”
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Love all the mason jar ideas. The pin cushion tops are adorbs and I am def going to make that one.
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I absolutely love the centerpieces but most of all, I love the love and caring shared by the family and friends that helped you put them together. I am not the craftiest person but my Aunt is and I always watch her when she is making something because she pays attention to detail and she is there for me every time I have a decorating dilemma!