45 Classic Centerpieces From Real Weddings to Inspire Yours

classic centerpieces emily reiter — Photo:
Anna Delores Photography

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 couples find pretty difficult. Even with a great florist in your corner, it can be tough to decide what you really want. If you're at a loss for which combination of blooms makes the most sense for your celebration, consider the classics instead. Arrangements 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. For inspiration, we pulled together some of our all-time favorite classic centerpieces—and each arrangement, including this one by Lark Farnum Design, is somehow prettier than the last.

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Garden Party Florals

Perfect for a garden party-type wedding, this beautiful centerpiece by Nicolette Camille includes garden roses, spray roses, foxgloves, heuchera, and sweet peas.

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Nautical White Centerpieces

All-white centerpieces adorned the tables at this nautical-inspired wedding, which featured custom linens like the striped napkins seen here.

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Purple Mix

gold and white place settings with blue linens and floral centerpieces — Mike Cassimatis Photography

With this couple's purple-and-blue wedding color palette in mind, Festive Couture Floral created centerpieces with a base of creamy white hydrangeas, roses, and chrysanthemums and accented them with soft lavender-hued roses, crocus, and sweet peas.

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Variations in White

white, blue, and gold wedding reception place settings — Julie Kaptelova

A classic white centerpiece can easily feel one-note, but this arrangement from Miss Rose by Perrine created interest by mixing a variety of flowers—roses, ranunculus, anemones, clematis, and overflowing sprays—in whites and creams.

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Modern Romance

table setting with pink floral arrangement and blush napkins — Pinnel Photography

Romantic and airy flower arrangements (by Camellia Floral Design) in blush, cream, lavender, and green lightened up this tablescape's sand-and-gray tones and natural textures at this European-inspired, modern wedding in Santa Barbara, Calif.

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Blue Contrast

At a classic blue-and-white wedding in Switzerland, Tabea Maria-Lisa gave white roses, light-blue hydrangeas, and gorgeous greenery a jolt with sapphire-hued berry sprays.

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Fresh Fall Palette

Gold and Bloom executed this modern and elegant arrangement of large roses, chrysanthemums, and lisianthus flowers in stone urns with an elevated fall color palette. Instead of tapping into a typical autumn color scheme, the season's warmer tones of pink and gold were the highlight.

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Gorgeous Greenery

reception table with white floral centerpiece and stemmed glassware — Allen Tsai

Eucalyptus and jasmine vine added a fragrant, green backdrop to this white-and-cream centerpiece by Slow Darling. The classic white-and-green floral arrangement balanced nicely with this wedding's sculpture garden setting, full of modern and contemporary art, lush greenery, and mature trees.

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Summer Stunner

warm toned floral wedding centerpieces — Jennie Raff Photography

Stem & Thistle's centerpieces reflected warm and light seasonal colors at this al fresco summer wedding. Metallic compotes held bountiful roses, cosmos, dahlias, ranunculus, and hydrangeas in blush, white, peach, and gold with greenery peeking through.

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High and Low

wedding reception table with pink floral centerpiece and gold utensils — Oliver Fly

Drama can be achieved by using just two colors and playing with height. Spikes of mauve roses popped out from a base of white hydrangeas in this centerpiece by Vincenzo Dascanio.

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Pink, White, and Green

kelly pete wedding floral centerpiece in urn — D'Arcy Benincosa Photography

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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Hints of Hues

jessica and kris bryant centerpiece — J. Anne Photography

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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Black and White

This high-contrast centerpiece by Max Gill Design delivered on the black-and-white color scheme for a black-tie wedding. Roses, anemones, and grasses in dark and light tones were arranged to dramatic effect.

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European Elegance

wedding reception place setting with blue and white patterned plates and napkins — Oliver Fly

White, cream, and blush roses with a mix of greenery complemented this wedding's blue-and-white color scheme at a French chateau. One large pink rose was balanced by medium and small flowers in this arrangement by Sisters and B.

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Lush Variety

floral centerpieces at wedding reception — Anya Kernes Photography

Heavenly Blooms Floral Design created this lush arrangement full of color, texture, and variety with roses, clematis, delphinium, and greens in deep, pale, and saturated hues; the arrangement overflowed from a stone urn.

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Traditional Topper

classic centerpieces alicia mink — Alicia Mink Photography

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 cliché.

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A Regal Vessel

classic centerpieces amy arrington — Amy Arrington Photography

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

classic centerpieces beatrice howell — Luna de Mare Photography

White-and-blush roses were paired with white hydrangeas in this Flower Allie centerpiece—but it's the compote vase that really caught our eye. The textured, footed vessel gave this wedding an old-world feel.

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High and Low

classic centerpieces erin wilson — Erin Wilson

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

classic centerpieces brianna stevenson — Brianna Wilbur

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

classic centerpieces christina mcneill — Christina McNeill

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

classic centerpieces daniele rose — Lavender and Twine

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

classic centerpieces dominique bader — Dominique Bader Photography

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

classic centerpieces faye cornhill — Faye Cornhill Photography

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 this table.

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Pretty in Pink

classic centerpieces jose villa — Jose Villa

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

classic centerpieces matteo crescentini — Matteo Crescentini

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

classic centerpieces monique hessler — Monique Hessler Weddings

Terry Flaherty Designs gave this couple's wedding the ultimate vintage treatment by inserting blush roses and white hydrangeas into narrow, distressed vases.

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Vertical Vision

classic centerpieces barker evans — Barker Evans Photography

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

classic centerpieces tara bielecki — Tara Bielecki Photography

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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Contemporary Additions

melissa michael pink floral centerpiece — Rebecca Yale Photography

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

peony centerpieces the edges — The Edges

Jacin Fitzgerald spruced up an all-white mix of peonies, ranunculus, and tulips by adding large, leafy greenery.

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Pastel Blooms

kenisha wendall wedding centerpieces flowers candles — Terri Baskin Photography

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

peony centerpieces clane gessel — Clane Gessel

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

beautiful garden wedding reception tent, white tables with gold chairs and floral centerpieces — The Grovers

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

christine-dagan-wedding-centerpiece-4280_14-s113011-0616.jpg — Love, The Nelsons

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

classic centerpieces brandon kidd — Brandon Kidd Photography

This classic arrangement of hydrangea, coral charm peonies, garden roses, and dusty miller got a somewhat modern upgrade when Stella Bloom Designs housed the display in a sand-hued concrete vase.

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Yellow Bursts

cassandra jason wedding centerpiece — Katie Parra Photography

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

classic centerpieces laura gordon — Laura Gordon Photography

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 centerpieces david bradley — Dave Bradley Photography

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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Rose Gold

elegant blush and gold wedding place setting — Stetten Wilson

A this romantic and glamorous wedding, classic flowers were arranged in unexpected ways using color and size. Instead of mixing everything together, Victoria Clausen Floral Events created color-blocked clusters of roses, hydrangeas, and snapdragons in white, peach, and lavender with extended branches of variegated greenery.

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Rustic Element

classic centerpieces anya kernes — Anya Kernes Photography

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.

28 Rustic Wedding Centerpieces That Will Inspire Your Own

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Long-Stem Wonders

classic centerpieces tanya salazar — Tanya Salazar Photography

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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Lamb's Ear and Lavender

classic centerpieces we heart photography — We Heart Photography

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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