If you're planning a traditional reception, these arrangements will definitely be of interest.
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jacin Fitzgerald spruced up an all-white mix of peonies, ranunculus, and tulips by adding large, leafy greenery.
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Pastel Blooms
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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Tiny Pinks
Lily Greenthumbs took an otherwise classic arrangement of white hydrangeas and made it a little more whimsical by adding in a few pink roses. To make sure the look still evokes a classic vibe, use a tall vessel with gold pillars and drop a matching arrangement on the bottom.
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Beachy Hues
If you're planning a beach wedding but still love the allure of classic flowers, don't feel forced to go nautical. Instead, try selecting unexpected colors like purple and orange, which evoke a more tropical vibe. Twigg Botanicals curated a colorful mix of classic flowers, like acacia, freesia, amaryllis, stock, spirea, roses, and ranunculus, which looked almost like a sunset.
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Moody Colors
Classic doesn't have to mean neutral. This largely white-and-blush centerpiece was given a new life after Spruce Floral Design added in moody red and purple hues. The look would be perfect for a classic take on a winter wedding reception.
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Hints of Hues
Layers of Lovely made color feel classic by using an array of different roses and lots of fresh greenery in these compote centerpieces.
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