Floating Floral & Candle Centerpiece Ideas

• Candles are an atmospheric centerpiece idea.floating candle love memory bowl water red image by Paul Retherford from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  Centerpieces are common at weddings, but can be created for any special occasion, from baby showers to birthdays to dinner parties. If you are running short on time, a centerpiece with floating candles and flowers is a quick, simple solution and can often be made using items you already have at home or in the garden.
  
  

Simple Bowl

• Floating candles and flowers add color to a table.floating candles image by Florin Capilnean from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  For a really simple but effective centerpiece, fill a round glass bowl with water and arrange a few floating candles and flower heads on the water's surface. To add interest, place pebbles or different colored glass nuggets in the bottom of the bowl. If the centerpiece is to be used outside, avoid the risk of shattered glass by placing the candles in the center and flowers, petals or leaves around the edges of the bowl. Make sure the flowers lie flat on the water so that they won't rise between the candles and get burnt. Fresh flowers that float well include marigolds, pansies, asters and fully open roses.
  
  

Rainbow Glasses

• Martini glasses are the perfect shape for floating candles.martini glass close-up image by Stasys Eidiejus from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  A floating candle centerpiece with a difference requires large martini-style cocktail glasses. Use just one on a small table, or a group of three on larger tables. Fill the glass with water and a drop of food coloring; choose a color to complement or contrast with the existing color scheme. On a long banquet table, you can create a really dramatic, modern centerpiece running the entire length of the table by lining up martini glasses. Make a pattern by alternating the colors (e.g., pink, red, clear; pink, red, clear) or create a rainbow effect by making each glass a different color. Mixing red food coloring with yellow will make orange; mixing blue and yellow will make green. To finish, simply float a candle in each glass. To add a floral touch, use flower heads or petals instead of candles.
  
  

Tea Party

• Choose a teapot to complement the style of your party.Teapot image by Luca Borro from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  If you are throwing a tea party, or want to go for an antique or Victorian theme, use a teapot as your centerpiece instead of a bowl. If you don't have an old-fashioned tea set, try to find one in an antique store, yard sale or online auction site. A porcelain teapot with a floral design and matching teacups will look best. Fill the tea pot with water up to the top, and place a few flower heads on the water's surface (pink carnations look good with the antique floral design). Fill the teacups with water, arrange them around the teapot and place a floating candle in each one.