At a wedding reception, centerpieces are everything.  They're your primary way to decorate the tables and add just the right ambiance to the reception, giving your wedding the mood you want.  Elegant and chic wedding centerpieces are a huge trend right now, especially at very formal gatherings.  Here's how you can get top notch wedding reception centerpieces for your big day.

At a wedding reception, centerpieces are everything.  They're your primary way to decorate the tables and add just the right ambiance to the reception, giving your wedding the mood you want.  Elegant and chic wedding centerpieces are a huge trend right now, especially at very formal gatherings.  Here's how you can get top notch wedding reception centerpieces for your big day.

Add Height
The days of short, stocky wedding reception centerpieces are definitely over.  While some brides use them and they look good, the national trend is leaning much more towards taller, overhanging centerpieces.  Centerpieces that even rise above your guests' heads and draw the eye upward look fantastic at a formal reception and helps to create the one of a kind look and feel you've been searching for.

Use Simple, Streamlined Flowers
More brides are leaning towards taller, more elegant flowers than a big bushel of flowers with lots of petals.  Orchid sprays are incredibly hot right now, while simple calla lilies and other types of simple flowers are being used as well.  If you choose to use traditional flowers, such as roses, choose the long stemmed variety and have your florist trim them down so they appear more streamlined.

Incorporate Crystals, Pearls and More
A huge trend right now is to incorporate hanging crystals into your tall reception centerpiece, so they overhang and drape over your guests' heads.  Teardrop crystals and pearls look absolutely fabulous when paired with pristine orchids or calla lilies and you really don't even have to use that much to create the effect you want.  Some brides are even incorporating unique items such as seashells or even gorgeous, white feathers.

Asian Themes
Asian themes are making a big comeback, and brides are harnessing the beauty and simplicity of all things Asian.  Brides are definitely using more wood and reeds in their wedding reception centerpieces, as well as the ever popular cherry blossom branch.  Paper lanterns can be hung above the reception table for an even fuller look that draws the eyes upwards.

Use LED's Instead Of Candles
While the romantic, flickering light of candles is always romantic and works well for elegant wedding reception centerpieces, many more brides are favoring LED candles or other styles of LED lights to create the look they want.  LED's are much safer than candles and come in realistic candle styles or even solid colored light, allowing you to play around with the look and feel of your table setups.

Use Something Exotic
Whether it's a bird of paradise, a lemon, a lime or lemongrass, brides are definitely looking for alternatives to just flowers when thinking about their wedding reception centerpieces.  The hottest trends include a variety of looks, feels and textures worked into a single centerpiece that really fills out the reception table.  Discuss with your florist the different things you can do with alternate items such as fruits, herbs, plants and non-organic items when designing your wedding reception centerpiece.  You can really create something hot, new and one of a kind!