Centerpiece ideas

For the past couple of weeks, my mind has been centered around centerpieces for the receptions. I've been looking at pictures and pictures and videos and more pictures. I initially wanted a vase with blue rocks on the bottom. I would fill up the vase with blue water (made blue with food coloring) and then either place a flower (live or silk) inside the water or place a floating candle on top. I would end it off with some blue and brown rose petals surrounding the vase. I would do different variations at each table; sizes of the vases, candles or flowers and go about it like that. I tried it once and thought okay cool. Then I started worrying about the water in vase. First off we're going to have white linens that are coming with the venue. I can see it now: Someone bumps the table and blue water everywhere and a charge for each water drop. I kept thinking about it and thinking about it and thought let's try something else. So then I found a picture of a centerpiece that I didn't think would be too hard to duplicate. I thought okay I can still have the vase but a lot taller and instead of the white, find brown branches. Now whenever I said branches, I would get looks like "Branches? Do you want us to grab branches from outside and stick them in these elegant looking vases?" Then I thought instead of the blue water, find brown rocks or marbles, fill up the tall vases, still get the branches but spray paint them with the blue. So like the picture to the left, also taking out the white and green flowers. As you can see, both have tall vases. Let me tell you---tall vases are expensive! I saw one for $20 and had to stop there. I have close to 20 tables. That's 20 bucks times 20. I'm cool on that---$400 for some vases! Oh no. We are not rolling like that and even if I was, I still wouldn't pay that much. So I have decided on and this decision is still a good one because it involves something I love and have always loved-CANDLES! I've always loved candles. In my apartment, I had them everywhere; the bathroom, the kitchen, bedroom, living room-everywhere. Candles can set a mood. So I thought let's find some candles that match my colors, find some candles holders that match my colors, all shapes and sizes, have some skinny vases from Dollar Tree (please do not sleep on Dollar Tree! You can find a lot of great things there if you just look!) and fill them with either brown and blue sand and/or blue rocks and then surround them with the blue and brown rose petals. Awesome idea, right? I still love it but I ran into the problem of finding turquoise/Tiffany blue and brown candles. I've found three. Then a co-worker of mine suggested buying white candles, all shapes and sizes and painting them the colors!!! Super awesome! I can find white candles everywhere--mainly the Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar! Check me out ladies. I am trying to save money.