Nature + Dollar Tree to the Rescue!

I'm so proud of this discovery, I feel like crowing. No joke. Chuck and I have decided that we are going to utilize the courtyard at the high school (a.k.a reception venue) not only as a decorative statement but also for seating. The school has about twenty wrought iron patio sets outside, similar to these, minus the umbrella:

While it will hardly be "summer cookout" weather, some people like myself who actually like the crisp weather will prefer to be outside when the inside starts getting full and stuffy. My first thought was to use the same centerpieces as the indoor tables, but then I started wanting something a little different, more woodsy since it will be outdoors. I didn't want to spend a lot more money since the main attraction will be inside, but I still want it to look nice. Here's what I came up with:

Outdoor centerpiece budget-

Vase- $1 at Dollar Tree

Flameless tealight - $.50 at Dollar Tree, two-packs, have a natural candle flicker, and last over 24 hours! You can't really see it in this picture, but it's buried under the filling and gives the whole ensemble a beautiful glow.

Natural vase filler - $1 per pack, about $.25 worth for one centerpiece

Pinecones - Free, collected by friends

Cost per table - Approx. $1.75

Total outdoor centerpiece cost - $35.00

BTW, pictured above are some of my larger pinecones. A friend of mine is collecting some smaller ones from a pine tree she has in her yard. I think they will look better.

A find like this has provided a "thrifty bride" euphoria that one cannot understand until they are there. My quest to have an awesome $2000 wedding is going off without a hitch. Yay for low-key weddings!