A key element to any event is the mood and ambiance, which is often set by a combination of lighting, decor and music.  While I can’t help you with the music in this post, I can offer some great ideas for centerpieces and lighting that were sent to me by one of our very own staff members!

Rachel, a talented designer here at Wedding Paper Divas, found this gorgeous photo of candle centerpieces that were made simply by wrapping lace around various sized votive candles.  Placed atop a mirror to reflect light and surrounded by small details like these decorative rocks, this make a stunning centerpiece.

Inspired, Rachel adapted this idea into her very own outdoor lighting.  Using scalloped scissors, lacy doilies, and some tea lights, she turned these ordinary white paper bags into gorgeous lighting accessories.  You can also use flameless battery-operated tea lights to avoid any fire danger.

Here are her creations in action, lining the walkway up to the airy gazebo.

If you’re feeling even more crafty, follow in the footsteps of one of Rachel’s friends and etch your very own glass votive candle holders.  Although a much more intricate process, the end result is dazzling!

When I got married, I am pretty sure I had one of the best maid of honors ever.  Not only was she a great friend, but also an amazing party planner with keen attention to detail.

A few weeks ago, my MOH and I threw her brother an engagement party.  After perusing the Wedding Paper Divas website, we chose the Zebra Stripes Bachelorette Party Invitation, but had it personalized to fit an Engagement party.

Taking the color and design from this invitation, my friend developed the entire theme of the party, carrying the small details through to the centerpieces, decorations, desserts and more.  She managed to transform not only her living room but her garage into a festive, zebra-print atmosphere!

The zebra lanterns above were a great find at World Market and can be purchased online.  The centerpieces were handmade by us and came out so chic!

The bride-to-be even got in on the action with her gorgeous zebra-print heels!

This party is a great example of how any invitation can set the theme, tone, or colors for an event.  Check out the amazing selection on Wedding Paper Divas and find new, innovative color combinations and themes for your wedding or party.

Outfitting your wedding with gorgeous centerpieces can bite a huge chunk out of your budget, but it doesn’t have to.  DIY centerpieces are not nearly as hard as they might sound, and you can usually produce something beautiful on a small budget.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to do centerpieces is to purchase curly willow or even long, tall branches.  If you live in a wooded area, you can gather your OWN branches, leaves, pine cones, etc.  Once you have enough, take some silver or white spray paint and cover all of the branches and leaves, then arrange them in vases.  Too add some extra glamour, glue or hang small crystals from the branches, and arrange tea light candles around the base of the arrangement.

As another option, you can forgo the spray painting and just use bare branches, but drop a few flowers in for some color, as shown in the photo below. Gorgeous!