Martha Stewart Weddings

23 Ways to Arrange Red Wedding Centerpieces

July 27, 2011
Credit: Shannon Von Eschen

Get romantic inspiration for your reception decorations, featuring flowers like roses and peonies and colors like burgundy and crimson.

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Credit: Shannon Von Eschen

To many, red is the ultimate color of romance, which is why it's so frequently chosen to be used in weddings. Rich red shades are bold and vibrant, making them great for a strong color scheme. Meanwhile, pinker hues are soft and muted, lending themselves nicely to dreamier event designs. Whether it presents itself in regal jewel tones or in brighter, fiery palettes, red is incredibly versatile, which is another reason why it reigns as a wedding favorite.

One great way to use red in your wedding is to incorporate it into your reception's centerpieces. Tons of flowers, fruits, and foliage come in the color, and pretty accents—like candles and vases—also stun in shades of red. Red arrangements look especially saturated when placed on top of white linens, but can also be complemented by other vibrant or subtle colors on your tables. They also work well with metallics like silver and gold.

Before you dream up your own wedding centerpiece, look to these examples for inspiration. Using blooms ranging from roses to peonies and shades ranging from burgundy and berry to crimson and scarlet, each décor option embraces the color red. We've found floral arrangements from formal and casual weddings alike, and centerpieces that are modern, classic, rustic, and more. There are also selections for every season, because red shouldn't be limited to winter or fall. Browse through the complete roundup for great ideas for your own reception decorations, each of which beautifully and uniquely embraces the color of love.

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Saturated Centerpieces

Credit: Gia Canali

These colorful centerpieces included fresh blooms like dahlias and roses, and were decorated with fresh fruit scattered around them. The arrangements were designed by Among the Wildflowers.

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Wide Centerpieces

Credit: Jen Dillender Photography

Gold vases held white, red, and fuchsia flowers at this wedding. The centerpieces, which were created by Verbena Floral Design, popped against the black-and-white linens.

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Garland Centerpieces

Credit: Aria Studios

Tables at this wedding were lined with red and pink flowers, candles, and greenery, put together by Passion Roots.

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Candle Centerpieces

Credit: Nina and Wes Photography
Go Inside This Burgundy Wedding

Planner Jaclyn Journey used red taper candles to add a pop of color to this wedding's reception tables.

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Leafy Centerpieces

Credit: Clay Austin Photography

These unique arrangements, made by RiverOaks, contained red foliage.

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Overflowing Centerpieces

Credit: Peter & Veronika

Moruska Design used foliage, berries, and scabiosa to arrange these tall red-and-purple centerpieces.

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Unique Centerpieces

Credit: Lacie Hansen Photography

These interesting arrangements included ivy and other uncommon elements.

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Pink-and-Red Centerpieces

Credit: Michael Radford
Go Inside This Lyric-Inspired Wedding

Terra-cotta pots held garden roses, raspberry scabiosa, and dahlias on these fun, romantic tables.

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Muted Centerpieces

Credit: Kylee Yee Photography

Uncommon red hydrangeas made these Jardin Divers centerpieces memorable.

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Ranunculus Centerpieces

Credit: Lacie Hansen Photography
See More Ranunculus Centerpieces

These little Arena's for Life arrangements featured red ranunculus flowers.

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Berry Centerpieces

Credit: Corbin Gurkin
Exclusive: Go Inside Abby Elliott's Wedding to Bill Kennedy

At Abby Elliott and Bill Kennedy's wedding, the centerpieces included roses, assorted berries, chocolate and burgundy dahlias, andromeda, and seasonal foliage.

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Vibrant Centerpieces

Credit: Heather Waraksa
Go Inside This Bold Wedding

These artistic red centerpieces were designed by Saipua. Bold red blooms and plenty of foliage made a striking contrast against the navy linens.

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Lush Centerpieces

Credit: The De Jaureguis
Go Inside This Romantic Wedding

Pretty red flowers sat in vases on these reception tables. Pomegranates, figs, and lemons were scattered beneath them, driving the red theme home.

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Succulent Centerpieces

Credit: Pinkerton Photography
Get More Succulent Wedding Ideas

Green succulents, shown here, pair well with red and white flowers.

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Peony Centerpieces

Credit: Patrick Moyer
Go Inside This Floral Wedding

Big, blooming peonies took center stage in these red table decorations.

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Fruit Centerpieces

Credit: Lacie Hansen Photography
See More Wedding Centerpieces with Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits were added to these cascading arrangements for an extra pop of color.

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Small Centerpieces

Credit: Sarah Kate Photography

Pink berries looked lovely in these mostly-red centerpieces from La Gardenia.

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Rich Centerpieces

Credit: Charla Storey Photography
Go Inside This Intimate Wedding

The Southern Table created these deep-hued centerpieces using peonies, dahlias, and garden roses. They were complemented by pomegranates, artichokes, plums, and candles.

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Full Centerpieces

Credit: Tamara Grüner

Roses, berries, and more made up these whimsical centerpieces by European Flower Shop.

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Mismatched Centerpieces

Credit: Liz Banfield
Go Inside This Modern Wedding

"My big request to my florist was that no two arrangements on the tables look alike, and that they all be asymmetrical," this bride explained. Munster Rose delivered with these floral arrangements.

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Rustic Centerpieces

For these arrangements, mismatched silver vessels brimmed with poppies, peonies, bromeliads, allium, grasses, and ferns; butterflies and pheasant feathers added to the plucked-from-nature look.

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Mixed Centerpieces

Create a twist on a classic by bundling blooms together in every shade of red—from deep crimson to bright fuchsia—and displaying them on an all-white tablescape.

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Free-Form Centerpieces

Credit: JASON FRANK ROTHENBERG

A smattering of slim glass vases put loose, garden-style arrangements of dahlias, ranunculus, zinnias, nerines, scabiosa, and maiden-hair ferns on display.

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