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32 Classic Wedding Centerpieces We Love

By Chloe Gorman

July 27, 2011

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Anna Delores Photography

If you're planning a traditional reception, these arrangements will definitely be of interest.

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Anna Delores Photography

When it comes to your wedding reception, centerpieces are a must-have. But because flowers come in many different shapes, sizes, and styles, choosing the right centerpieces is a task most brides and grooms find pretty difficult. Even with a great florist in your corner, it can be difficult to decide what you really want. If you're at a loss for which combination of blooms make the most sense for your celebration, consider the classics instead. Centerpieces made entirely of traditional wedding flowers—like roses, hydrangeas, and peonies—always look beautiful.

Whatever you do, don't confuse "classic" centerpieces for "boring" ones. If you're looking for arrangements with plenty of visual interest, you can still work with classic blooms. One of our favorite ways to make a traditional arrangement unique is by introducing a pop of color in the form of a bright pink peony or a pastel blue hydrangea, which will provide a little bit of color to an otherwise understated centerpiece. Here, Lark Farnum Design arranged a mix of pale pink peonies, garden roses, and hydrangeas to stunning effect. In all-white, the flowers would have felt incredibly formal, but the softer blush hue kept things feeling light and romantic.

The most important thing to take away is that the possibilities associated with using classic wedding flowers endless. If you're committed to working these long-favored blooms into your reception's décor, then you'll be happy to know that we pulled together some of our all-time favorite classic centerpieces, and each arrangement is somehow prettier than the last. Click through here to see the various ways you can manipulate them into the perfect table décor for your day.

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Rustic Element

Anya Kernes Photography

28 of the Prettiest Rustic Wedding Centerpieces

One of the benefits of classic florals (these were arranged by Karen O'Grady) is that they elevate rustic details, like the distressed lantern seen here, for a couple that's looking to combine two different styles.

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Traditional Topper

Alicia Mink Photography

When it comes to traditional wedding flowers, this spray by Gavita Floral has it all. By adding assorted greenery to the mix of roses and ranunculus, the pros made sure the pink tones didn't feel too current or feminine.

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Long-Stem Wonders

Tanya Salazar Photography

Give your all-white day a hint of color by keeping the lush green stems of your centerpieces exposed. Jardiniere Fine Flowers did just that by placing the arrangement in a tall, clear glass vase.

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A Regal Vessel

Amy Arrington Photography

Here are more gold wedding ideas

Treat your traditional blooms, like this mix of roses, seeded eucalyptus, and hypericum berries, like royalty by having them arranged in an ornate vessel.Out of the Garden designed this mix, then placed them in gilded vases.

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Compote Style

Luna de Mare Photography

21 Compote Centerpieces That'll Upgrade Your Reception Tables

White and blush roses were paired with white hydrangeas in this Flower Allie centerpiece, but it's the fact that they sat in a compote vase that really caught our eye. The textured, footed vessel effectively gave this wedding an Old-World feel.

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High and Low

Erin Wilson

If you love the look of tall centerpieces but don't want to hinder conversation among your guests, consider a mix. Here, Magnolia Belle Floral created an array of high and low arrangements using white roses and greenery.

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Two-Toned Array

Brianna Wilbur

Assorted greenery brought a pop of color to an otherwise classic display of white roses. Dropped in a distressed gold vase, this spray had a somewhat vintage vibe.

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Blush and Simple

Christina McNeill

20 Pretty Dahlia Wedding Centerpieces

Daniel James Design's pink dahlias and roses looked stunning in this simple, modern glass vase. The understated arrangements gave this reception a minimalist touch and prove that classic mixes can be used at any style event.

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Pink Accents

Lavender and Twine

Rose Rock Floral gave this otherwise all-white centerpiece a little pop of color in the form of a few well-placed blush ranunculus. Assorted greenery gave the spread a "just picked" feel.

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Hint of Orange

Dominique Bader Photography

Bloomingayles made sure this centerpiece of white roses and hydrangea had a decidedly airy feel thanks to the addition of trailing greenery.

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Varying Sizes

Faye Cornhill Photography

To make a mix of classic flowers feel a little less traditional, try to be playful with size. This combination of large-leafed hydrangeas and smaller blooms like blush roses balanced out the table.

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Pretty in Pink

Jose Villa

38 Pink Wedding Centerpieces We Love

If you strive for uniformity, a centerpiece of similar-hued roses, like these by Katleen Deery Design, will suit your reception table. Placed on a slate gray tablecloth, these pink blooms popped.

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Purple Florals

Matteo Crescentini

Here's a fun way to make classic flowers your own: Use traditional blooms in unique colors. Jardin Divers employed unexpected purple roses as a way to break up the uniformity of this otherwise white centerpiece.

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Small but Tall

Monique Hessler Weddings

Elegant Ways to Decorate Your Wedding with Mercury Glass

Terry Flaherty Designs gave this couple's wedding the ultimate vintage treatment by inserting blush roses and white hydrangeas into this narrow, distressed vase.

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Vertical Vision

Barker Evans Photography

79 White Wedding Centerpieces

Joanna Carter Flowers arranged this tall mix of ivory hydrangeas, avalanche roses, peonies, and gypsophila. Remember that height will always bring dimension to an otherwise monochromatic centerpiece.

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Modern Marvel

Tara Bielecki Photography

Who said classic flowers don't belong at a modern wedding? Even among modern black chairs this arrangement by Prema, which contained white roses, didn't feel out of place.

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Lamb's Ear and Lavender

We Heart Photography

You can make classic blooms feel a little more unique with the right accents. This arrangement of white hydrangeas and roses got a somewhat whimsical upgrade in the form of soft sprays of lamb's ear and lavender.

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Pink, White, and Green

D'Arcy Benincosa Photography

At this Italian destination wedding, Rhiannon Bosse arranged centerpieces of pink and white flowers in distressed vessels. Plenty of greenery ensured the classic mixes felt like an extension of the surroundings.

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Contemporary Additions

Rebecca Yale Photography

You can stray from tradition and still get a look that's classic overall by adding a few unexpected colors and flowers to your centerpieces. Here, bright pink orchids and roses from Artistry in Flowers prove traditional blooms can still get a fresh treatment.

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Peony Power

The Edges

Jacin Fitzgerald spruced up an all-white mix of peonies, ranunculus, and tulips by adding large, leafy greenery.

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Pastel Blooms

Terri Baskin Photography

Pastels are a subtle way to introduce color into a classic centerpiece. Take the light-blue hydrangeas, seen here from Everlasting Flowers Wedding and Events, for example.

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Stand-Out Colors

Clane Gessel

We love how this centerpiece—packed with yellow peonies, dahlias, ranunculus, and cosmos—by A Bud & Beyond became the star of the table when paired with a muted tablecloth.

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Blush Against Blue

Heather Waraksa

These Statement Linens Will Take Your Wedding Reception to the Next Level

Classic blooms like roses, dahlias, and dusty miller (arranged here by Blossom and Branch) feel a little more unique when placed on a contrasting blue tablecloth.

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Pink Palette

The Grovers

20 Pink Wedding Ideas That Pack a Punch

Wynn Austin Events used pink garden roses to break up the otherwise white color palette seen at this couple's traditional reception.

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Large White Rose

Love, The Nelsons

Hey Gorgeous Events used oversized roses as statement flowers in this centerpiece composed of sweet peas, sweetheart roses, and olive leaves.

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Modern Vessel

Brandon Kidd Photography

This classic arrangement of hydrangea, coral charm peonies, garden roses, and dusty miller became got a somewhat modern upgrade when Stella Bloom Designs housed the display in a sand-hued concrete vase.

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Yellow Bursts

Katie Parra Photography

CJP&CO. decided to add yellow roses—an unexpected pop of color—to this romantic arrangement of purple and white blooms.

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32 Classic Wedding Centerpieces We Love

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Rustic Element

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Traditional Topper

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Long-Stem Wonders

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A Regal Vessel

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Compote Style

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High and Low

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Two-Toned Array

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Blush and Simple

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Pink Accents

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Hint of Orange

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Varying Sizes

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Pretty in Pink

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Purple Florals

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Small but Tall

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Vertical Vision

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Modern Marvel

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Lamb's Ear and Lavender

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Pink, White, and Green

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Contemporary Additions

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Peony Power

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Pastel Blooms

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Stand-Out Colors

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Blush Against Blue

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Pink Palette

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Large White Rose

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