Centerpieces - each table with a different fairy tale

[librarygeek]

Hello all! I thought I would share my centerpiece ideas as I am coming up with them in case they might be helpful to you or if you have some ideas you could contribute! I know at least one other couple on here is doing something similar so we can help each other out.

I am having my wedding not in Disney World, but with a fairy tale/Disney theme. I want it to be elegant and understated - so I'm focusing on fairy tales with Disney elements instead of plastering pictures of Mickey and Minnie everywhere. I want to make each table at the reception a different movie/story. I found some really great storage boxes at Michael's that I am going to use as a base for the centerpieces. Stacked, they look like this:

Seeing one from the front here is what it looks like (there are all different styles and designs):

I then want to put something on top of the books at each table that goes with that table's story. Here are some of the ideas that I've had:


Cinderella
Glass slipper, on pillow

Beauty and the Beast
Red rose, candelabra

Sleeping Beauty
castle, dragon

Snow White
basket of apples

Alice in Wonderland
playing cards, tea cups

The Sword in the Stone
sword in stone

The Little Mermaid
seashells, sand

Aladdin
magic lamp

The Lion King

The Princess and the Frog (The Frog Prince)
Frog

Rapunzel

Pocahontas

Peter Pan
Big Ben?

I would love some input on other items that would work for each movie. And if you know of any websites or places to buy them (preferably fairly inexpensive) that would be super helpful too!

 

[pixie921]

I don't have any suggestions off the top of my head, but I had to post and say how much I love your idea! Those boxes are perfect!

 

[jtanddolly]

I LOVE the books! Those are a great base to your centerpieces! If you want to go above and beyond you could decoupage the front of them with covers from the different fairytales, but since you are going to put things on top of them...it isn't necessary.

Here are a few things that I can add:


First consider buying Robert Sabuda Pop Up Books...they are simply AMAZING!!! I own the Peter Pan book and LOVE IT! I believe he has a book for all of the fairy tales. You could have one at each table sitting open to a special page with the other decorations. Here is an example of a page from the Alice book:

OTHER IDEAS:

Cinderella
Glass slipper, on pillow
Cinderella's Carriage or White Pumpkin
Make the 3-d model of Cinderella's castle to add with this. All it will cost you is paper and ink. Here is a link: http://www.seite42.de/78_46e.htm
3-d Model of the carriage: http://paperinside.com/cinderella-coach/

Here is a link to another bride that has made some of the 3-d models if you want to see pictures of her finished products:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2238430&page=3

Beauty and the Beast
Red rose, candelabra
Miniature Grandfather Clock, Mop and Pail, Tea Pot and tea cup (for Chip)
Ice Skates

Sleeping Beauty
castle, dragon
3-d Model Sleeping Beauty's Castle:
http://www.disneyexperience.com/models/castle_model.php

Snow White
basket of apples
Something to represent the dwarfs...maybe some figurines
Snow White's Wishing Well:
http://www.disneyexperience.com/models/well_model.php
3-d Model of the Wicked Queen's Heart Box:
http://www.disneyexperience.com/models/heartbox_model.php


Alice in Wonderland
playing cards, tea cups
white roses, paint bucket and paint brushes
Glass jar with "eat me" and Glass Bottle with "drink me"
Mad Hatter's Hat
Pocket Watch (maybe in a miniature glass cake stand)
a white rabbit figurine
3-d Model of bread and butterfly, catterpillar and pipe, hammer bird, horn duck, rocking horsefly, mirror bird, or pencil bird: http://paperinside.com/characters/alice/
Cheshire Cat (I don't know if this one is that great): http://alice2010.blogspot.com/2010/02/exclusive-cheshire-cat-papercaft.html
Robert Sabuda Pop Up Book:
http://www.squidoo.com/robert-sabuda


The Sword in the Stone
sword in stone
Something to represent Merlin...maybe his hat

The Little Mermaid
seashells, sand
lobster
King Tritan's Spear
Large Clam Shell
Shipwreck
Things she collected from shipwrecks (fork, etc.)
You could have Ariel sitting on the rock

Aladdin
magic lamp
magic carpet
3-d model of Jafar's lamp:
http://tektonten.blogspot.com/2010/09/kingdom-hearts-papercraft-jafars-black.html

The Lion King
Models of the different animals


The Princess and the Frog (The Frog Prince)
Frog
a crown
lillypad and cattails


Rapunzel
Tower with a braid of golden hair falling out of the window


Pocahontas
Indian Costume
Replica of her necklace
Miniature Canoe
Bird and/or Raccoon

Peter Pan
Big Ben?
Pirate Ship - I always think of it bringing the Lost Boys to Wendy's Home
Lost Boys Hide Out
Miniature Teepee for the Indians
Something to represent Mermaid Lagoon

Hope that helps! Post more pictures as you have more things...and consider starting a thread...if you don't already have one.

 

[leonix8238]

Your idea sounds wonderful : ) I especially love the Beauty and the Beast idea.

For Pocahontas what about a Grandmother Willow figurine? You could also opt for leafy flowers with lots of red and orange and maybe a blue necklace like Pocahontas' tied around it or draped next to it?

For The Lion King the only thing I can think of is a wooden Lion. Perhaps a mask like the ones you can buy at Disney may look best? Disney also has those painted Ostrich eggs which would look great but they are quite expensive.

For Peter Pan you could also have a little jar or bottle filled with glitter with pixie dust written on. There is also the option of an oil lamp like the one Tink gets trapped in.


Some other suggestions:

Cinderella - Castle, carriage, pumpkin

Princess and The Frog - Trumpet or ukelele, tarot cards or a hat like Dr. Facilier's.

Sorry these aren't great suggestions it's a little late on this end. I hope they help get some creative juices flowing. Good luck!

 

[Pumbaa7287]

I think I'm the other couple she's referring to in the original post. We've actually been PMing a lot of ideas back and forth. I even picked up the same storage boxes. We're doing all Disney movies with ours, and just wanted to say thanks for all these awesome ideas!

 

[sw33t_angel]

Love this idea!

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

What a great idea! Please post pictures when you are all finished, I would love to see how they all turn out! Oh and also, I just made my own table signs of Disney couples, and was thinking in addition to your centerpieces maybe you could "name" each table a character or couple from the movie

 

[jtanddolly]

I saw where you already have an invitation picked out...but had you seen Larissa's announcement, STD and invitation? She had a wedding at home with a "fairytale" theme and her invitation was AMAZING!

announcement pics:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1906224&highlight=larissa

save the date pics:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1906224&highlight=larissa&page=8

Invitation:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1906224&highlight=larissa&page=9

Here is a poem she wrote for her STD:
I wrote the poem inside, and in case you can't read it in the photo, its:

The year was nineteen
ninety nine
when their paths crossed
it was divine.

Now ten years later
vows will be spoken
joining them in love
eternally unbroken.

They hope to see you
on that day
when the glowing bride
is given away.

Her handsome groom
awaiting her hand
not a more joyous occasion
in all of the land.

So please save the date
for it has been set.
The eighteenth of July
you best not forget!

Enclosed please find details
for accommodations
and this will be followed
by a formal invitation.

What started as friendship
and grew into love
they pray will be blessed
by the Lord up above.

Larisa and Nicholas
a tale of love, hope and laughter
but how will it end? (You guessed it ...)
Happily ever after!

 

[Mindyjoy]

I love the poem! I love getting inspiration from this board, since I don't have a creative bone in my body, lol

 

[librarygeek]

For Peter Pan you could also have a little jar or bottle filled with glitter with pixie dust written on.

I really love this idea! It's so simple but I think it would be really cute.

And Dolly, thank you so much for all of your ideas and the links you gave me! I can't wait to try out some of those paper crafts - if I can pull them off, they'll look amazing. Do you have a certain type of paper that you recommend using? Just regular cardstock?

And those invitations from the other bride are gorgeous. I don't think I could afford anything that fancy (and I definitely don't think I have the skills to do it myself), but they are certainly some of the prettiest stationery items I have seen.

 

[librarygeek]

I think I'm the other couple she's referring to in the original post. We've actually been PMing a lot of ideas back and forth. I even picked up the same storage boxes. We're doing all Disney movies with ours, and just wanted to say thanks for all these awesome ideas!

Yes! I wanted to make sure I gave you some credit too, since I know we sort of pooled our ideas

 

[jtanddolly]

And Dolly, thank you so much for all of your ideas and the links you gave me! I can't wait to try out some of those paper crafts - if I can pull them off, they'll look amazing. Do you have a certain type of paper that you recommend using? Just regular cardstock?

And those invitations from the other bride are gorgeous. I don't think I could afford anything that fancy (and I definitely don't think I have the skills to do it myself), but they are certainly some of the prettiest stationery items I have seen.

For the models, look at the difficulty level (it is listed with each model) and pick one of the easier models for your first attempt. Don't start with a castle. Maybe try the Queen's heart box, one of the smaller Alice models for the fun little characters like bread and butterfly or maybe the wishing well. If you have luck with the smaller more simpler models then move up in difficulty.

There are lots of great tips for building the models on disney model site from types of scissors and cutting tools to glue and paper . Here is a link for building tips...read them all before you start as there are great tips for amounts of glue, spraying fixative on the paper so that the ink won't smear/run if it gets wet, etc.:
http://www.disneyexperience.com/models/model_tips.php

Here is what it says about paper:
Paper is also up to each individual. Most like to use a stiffer paper, usually an 80lb cardstock. Some prefer regular printer paper, which is what the models are actually designed for. You should also consider how much you will be handling the model once it's finished. Check with the other DISBride to see what type of paper she used to make her models. It says that using cardstock can leave white edges where the paper overlaps, but since you will be handling the models to move them to your reception a cardstock might be better.

The other tip I would highly suggest is purchasing a scoring board and bone folder. Or at least use the groove in a cutting board and bone folder to get good creases. Having a good crease can make all the difference in projects like these!

For the pixie dust...there is actually a glitter sold at Hobby Lobby called pixie dust that is a mixture of tiny round glitter and stars. I used it for an invitation to my son's "Peter Pan" birthday party. Also, I love the idea of finding an oil lamp like Hook kept Tinkerbell in. You might look at antique stores to see if you can find one reasonably priced.

For your invitations, you are correct there are few that could pull off those invitations, but maybe you could incorporate some things from them like a fun "fairytale" poem or a little crystal sparkle. Maybe you could send a "mad lib" RSVP like she did, or a STD using some of the ideas.

 

[jtanddolly]

A few more things that I have found:

Cinderella Carriage:
http://www.stumpsparty.com/party/Fairytale-Dreams-Centerpiece.cfm $16.99

Here is a place to get ideas from princess centerpiece design descriptions:
http://decorateyourevents.intuitwebsites.com/Princess-Centerpiece-Design-Descriptions.html

 

[librarygeek]

I'm definitely going to try some of the simpler models first. I actually think this might be a fun project for my fiance and I to do together, since this seems like the type of thing that he would love. He really likes building things and he's a super perfectionist, so you can bet that every fold would be perfectly creased!

 

[jtanddolly]

I'm definitely going to try some of the simpler models first. I actually think this might be a fun project for my fiance and I to do together, since this seems like the type of thing that he would love. He really likes building things and he's a super perfectionist, so you can bet that every fold would be perfectly creased!

If he is a perfectionist then they will turn out great! If he likes models, then this would be a good project for you both. Pick something to watch on TV that he would like and enjoy the time together! Post some pictures once you start making them. I would love to see how they turn out!

 

[tinkspark]

librarygeek, I just posted the centerpieces my mother made for our wedding shower. Something similar would work for your Cinderella table.

Here is the link...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39594382&postcount=48

 

[Pumbaa7287]

JT, thanks so much for that Disney Model site, we are planning on trying those out for some centerpieces now. I'll be sure to post pictures when we get going on them. I love the Alice in Wonderland creatures!

 

[Tale as old as Time]

I love Love LOVE THIS!!! The books things from Michaels plus the 3-D castles are AMAZING! I just may have to steal this idea... if its ok with you, of course!

 

[jtanddolly]

Here is a Cinderella Coach that one DISBride found at Ross for $12...it might work with the Cinderella table...it is the last pic on post #98:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2598173&page=7

 

[librarygeek]

Here is a Cinderella Coach that one DISBride found at Ross for $12...it might work with the Cinderella table...it is the last pic on post #98:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2598173&page=7

So today I went on a centerpiece related shopping spree! I'm pretty happy with some of the stuff I got. Here's a picture of all of my purchases today:

As you can see, I managed to get the same Cinderella coach from Ross. I think I'm going to try and decorate it a bit with flowers and ribbons. I also got a teapot for Beauty and the Beast, and a red rose. Then in TJ Maxx I found that perfect little dome to put the rose in! I still have to work on making it stand up but once I go it will be beautiful. I also got a frog for the Frog Prince, a white rabbit and a sparkly mushroom for Alice in Wonderland. And a really neat looking fake apple for Snow White - that was the best bargain of the day at 29 cents!

It was so much fun shopping for stuff and I'm really happy with a lot of the things I managed to find. I have a feeling a lot of the cashiers were confused about my purchases... how many people buy models of sparkly mushrooms?