clearly lit

It's no secret I love the look of glass. What I also love is flexing a bit of creativity and frugality. Last week I took a stroll around several noted NYC floral shops idling for hours while admiring gorgeous budding centerpieces, crafted concoctions and towering trundles of petals... all to the tune of several thousand dollars. Cake I can handle, but since when did flowers become synonymous with celebration? So I got to thinking about the genius of using candle centerpieces as an alternative to floral arrangements.

If candles are bright and warm by definition, just think of a what a little whimsical thinking can do to dress up your reception. I'd stick to simple tall pillars and clear glass candlesticks. Surprise, there are endless possibilities at your fingertips.

At top, candles from Creative Candles and water lily crystal candle holders from Swarovski as featured in Brides. Crystal gives a room splash and sparkle and can transform a space with the pure power of light as evident in this dazzling Crystal Ball reception as featured in Brides.

Second from top, candle sticks from Red Envelope. Also check out Society candlesticks from Anthropologie and Juliette and Anya candle holders from Crate and Barrel. And last but not least, CB2 (still my ultimate resource) serves up delicately hand blown lumiere candle holders from $4 and in 5 different styles above. I bought 15 of each for under $400.

Candle holders don't have to be crystal to cause a stir. These vienna candle holders from $12 each at Crate and Barrel and tall tinis from CB2 for just $4 work well too. CB2 lire wine glasses can also play double duty as candle holders.

For more frugal design check out Ikea's selection of centerpieces, I mean steam ware and as always, Toast and Tables. Trolling flea markets—real or virtual (such as eBay) is also a great idea for tagging unusual finds. Think outside the box, will you.