In lieu of pricey floral arrangements, display sleek tapers that match your palette in a variety of shapely glass candlesticks.

Rather than an explosion of petals, consider a sculptural arrangement of veneer figure eight candleholders. Intersperse stemless wineglasses among them; these low-slung globes let the taper candles shine.

Rustic logs of white birch with hollowed-out holes get a sweet touch from arrangements of white hydrangea and tall vessels filled with water and floating candles.

Flowers and candlelight are nothing new, but together they create tabletop decorations fit for a spring or summer wedding. Place votive candles in tall glass vessels, and attach a flower (dahlias are shown here) outside each, trimming the stem to fit and tying with raffia that matches the flower. Set each display in a saucer of water to keep the flowers fresh.

When printed on translucent vellum in soothing colors, lace appears even dreamier and more ethereal than it already is. To make square luminarias beautiful enough to be centerpieces, we simply magnified the lace pattern. Placed in a row, with no extra flourishes, the presentation positively glows with sophistication.

This illuminating centerpiece can be created by securing a glass vase with floral adhesive inside another that is slightly larger and filled with tinted water. Pillar candles are best for this project; not only are they pretty, but their weight will further anchor the interior vase.

This centerpiece idea offers festive colors and ambience that will last for hours. Purchase brightly hued taper candles that coordinate with your wedding's palette, then spray-paint wooden candleholders of varying heights to match.

Tree branches decorated with orange orchids and dangling candles make a grand and beautiful centerpiece.

Just a few supplies -- vellum paper, scissors, and tape -- give simple glass votive candleholders height and an instant wow-factor.

Tall white taper candles and silver urns filled with dendrobium orchids kept the dinner tables at this black-tie Florida wedding spare and elegant.

Lanterns made of vintage Mason jars of different heights and sizes and clad in gold-trimmed ribbons exude homespun charm. 

Beware: Jars get very hot. To prevent sticking, fill vessels with 1/8 inch of water before setting votive candles inside.

Vintage candelabras make extravagent centepieces at a formal wedding reception when filled with simple white tapers. 

This modern take on luminarias -- paper bags with votives inside -- updates the look with chic stripes printed onto vellum and wrapped around straight-sided square glass vases.

Keep small candles from getting overpowered by lifting them up off the table. Slender glass hurricanes filled with water bring flames to the same height as the orchid, hydrangea, and rose flower arrangments.

Spring blooms get a romantic boost when you place in front of candles. Print our clip art featuring the flower of your choice -- rose, tulip, or ranunculus -- then cut the templates to fit various heights of square candleholders or vases.

When topped with shimmering votive candles, a mirror becomes a pool of reflective light that casts a glow onto the reception tables.

Let you and your groom's happy faces shine with a set of photo frame lanterns for your centerpieces. They consist of three hinged photo frames set around votive candles. The black-and-white photos are printed onto ecru-colored vellum paper, which is translucent enough for the images to be visible by candlelight.

For flames that will flicker long after wax votives get blown out, gather clear apothecary bottles and fill them with lamp oil and wicks. Arrange the bottles under a large hurricane for protection; we set these on a sturdy glass cake stand (make sure the bottles are evenly balanced on the stand).

Give your centerpiece a powerful punch with this simple striped addition: Use double-sided tape to attach streamers around glassholders.

Light up the night -- or day -- with this bright idea: By placing candles on upside-down glass tumblers in two sizes, we created a display that seems to float over the tabletop. In addition to being lovely, it won't block the view across the table.

Nothing conveys a sense of comfort and warmth like candlelight. The printed patterns on these candles glow when lit and are eye-catching enough to make a centerpiece all on their own.

Tall pillar candles the same height as the centerpieces cast a romantic glow to light the long tables at this Italian desintation wedding.

Give your tablescape a cheerful radiance by covering square glass vessels in sunset-hued tissue paper and placing votives inside.

Slender celebration candles with escort-card "cuffs" directed guests to their tables then become centerpieces at this elegant New York wedding.

For each of these centerpieces, use candle wax to attach a small floral frog to the center of a shallow bowl. Push a taper into the floral frog to secure. Pour water into the bowl. Clip amaryllis blooms (or other large flowers) from their stems, and arrange them in the bowl around the candle.

For an elegant spin on the straight and narrow, try these dimensional candle covers that complement a striped wedding theme.

If you're planning a destination wedding, your DIY decor will be spending some time in a suitcase. These simple candle covers are ideal for packing: They're made with honeycomb rice-paper daisies that start out flat as pancakes and only take shape when you're ready to assemble.

Flank a floral bouquet -- we used peonies, roses, tulips, dusty miller, and berries -- with matching candles. Long red candles placed in gray pillar holders accent the hues in our arrangement.

You'll be blazing a new design path with this clean and contemporary tablescape that takes its cues from the striking beauty of abstract art. A big pop of color in the form of bright candles you design yourself casts a warm glow over an otherwise clean, minimalist table. 

These informal, inexpensive lanterns are ideal for a garden wedding, as the jars protect the flame from breezes. Wrap a piece of flexible greenery around the jar just below the lip, and twist a piece of floral wire around the ends to secure. The jars here are decorated with ivy, willow, and myrtle.

The how-to for this centerpiece couldn't be easier -- just layer pieces of punched vellum around glass votives. It works with both round and square containers, and the candles can be arranged on tables of all shapes. When lit, the punched areas filter light beautifully and add an aura of romance.

Punches used: Nos. 6, 14, by Martha Stewart Crafts; Effervescence Border Punch, Diamond Border Punch, by Fiskars, widgetsupply.com.

Low centerpieces of jasmine, wax flower, Queen Anne's lace, lisianthus, and blush-hued garden roses are surrounded by tall tapers in holders of various heights that add demension to this elegant tablescape.

Colored bands of sand dress up votive candles to make flickering lights that are cheerful and fun. Sand is available in a variety of colors at art-supply stores.

To make a sand candle, fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim. Set the glass inside a clear glass vase or jar. With a funnel, fill the gap between the two containers with layers of colored sand, using enough to reach the rim of the drinking glass.

For a beach weddding, bring a bit of the shore to your tables with this sandy centerpeices. To recreate, use candle adhesive to secure slender tapers to the bottom of a clear glass vase. Carefully pour in a few inches of sand, then arrange shells on top. Besides refracting the candlelight for added ambience, the vase will protect the flames from breeze.

At a city chic wedding reception in Toronto, four long tables got a dramatic look when marked with extra-tall dogwood branches and mini votives.

The shells that the ocean cast at your feet last summer -- the ones you so fastidiously collected -- make lovely remembrances of the season with candles formed inside them. Deep shells like scallops, clams, and quahogs work best and burn longest.

You'll always be able to improvise a centerpiece with these candle blocks: Each face is drilled with a hole sized to fit a particular type of candle.

Use a set of graduated cookie cutters to make stars or other shapes in varying sizes. Arrange the candles on a platter, or place them in shallow dishes of water for a unique centerpiece.

Light up faces with candid candles as your centerpiece. Use photo corners to secure snapshots to the outside of glass candleholders.

Basic Epsom salts give these blue candles an icy charm. Turn them into centerpieces with pinecones and bits of winter greenery.

This gorgeous, sea-inspired centerpiece can be created from a manzanita branch, white drawing paper, and a Japanese hole punch.

Transform basic pillar candles into destination wedding-worthy centerpieces with strips of beeswax and a simple under-and-over weave.

Floating candles add instant atmosphere to a casual summer table. With our technique, you can create lots of them in only a couple of hours.

White candles adorned with beeswax evergreens create an enchanting winter landscape indoors.

Float flowers like these peonies in small bowls, and arrange them on a white cheese board with votive candles for a quick, modern centerpiece. On a long table, you can place a few platters down the middle.

Frosted glass candelholders can be customized to your wedding theme or season with a rubber stamp in the shape of your choice and white ink.

Grouped serenely on a bed of sugar-soft sand, sea urchins prop up skinny candles to light the way for guests at an evening beach wedding or cast a glow at their dinner table.